Former Faculty Member Makes Lasting Impact Through Scholarship

Scholarships are at the heart of USM’s mission to widen access to a college education. Since 2015, USM has made scholarships and student support programs a priority. These efforts have resulted in a nationally recognized increase in student retention by 7% over the past five years, a more diverse and academically accomplished student body, five consecutive years of reduced student loan debt, and steady increases in total scholarship dollars awarded annually. Recognizing the importance of these awards to students, one former faculty member helped cement the lasting impact of the Robert L. Woodbury International Scholarship through a generous planned gift as a distribution from their irrevocable trust.

Robert L. Woodbury (1938-2009) was a visionary leader of the University of Southern Maine and Maine’s public university system. Today, his portrait graces the Robert L. Woodbury Welcome Desk in the new McGoldrick Center for Career & Student Success, a centerpiece of USM’s Portland Campus Transformation initiative.

Throughout Woodbury’s life, he remained deeply committed to serving Maine communities and was highly respected by all who knew and worked with him. In 1979, a year after the University of Portland-Gorham became the University of Southern Maine, President Woodbury took the helm and shepherded USM into the modern institution we know today. He then served as Chancellor of the University System from 1986 to 1993.

In 1998, Robert L. Woodbury, along with his friends and colleagues, established the Robert L. Woodbury International Scholarship at USM. The scholarship is awarded to a USM student who will be studying abroad. Access to these opportunities creates a lasting impact on students who are looking to acquire global skills and enrich their educational journey. When financial barriers are high, it takes scholarships paired with student support programs to open the doors to a successful future. Through planned giving, you too can play a pivotal role in meeting essential student needs, while making extraordinary, life-changing experiences available to all students.