Governor Janet Mills to deliver UNE's 2019 Commencement address

President James Herbert with Governor Mills at the gubernatorial debate hosted by UNE and the Portland Press Herald
President James Herbert with Governor Mills at the gubernatorial debate hosted by UNE and the Portland Press Herald

Janet Mills, Maine’s 75th Governor, will deliver the Commencement Address at the University of New England’s 184th University Commencement Ceremony on May 18, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine.

Janet Mills is the first woman governor of Maine. In her historic victory, she earned more votes than any governor in state history and is the first governor since 1966 to win a majority of the vote for her first term.

As governor, she is fighting to ensure that every Maine person has affordable, high-quality health care, that Maine has a strong economy with good-paying jobs in every part of the state, that every Maine child has access to a world-class education, and that Maine is a place where every young person can live, work, and raise a family.

“I am so pleased that Governor Mills will deliver our commencement address at UNE,” said President James Herbert. “She is a role model in so many ways for our students as they embark on their professional lives, and I very much look forward to her sharing her insights and wisdom with our community.”

Mills first entered public service as an Assistant Attorney General, where she prosecuted homicides and other major crimes. After a few years, she was elected District Attorney for Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties, making her the first woman to be elected as a DA in New England. Prior to becoming governor, Mills served as the Attorney General of Maine – the first and only woman to hold the job. She was born and raised in Farmington, Maine, where she still proudly lives today. She graduated from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and the University of Maine School of Law.

UNE will award more than 1,800 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, human services, education, management, and the liberal arts during the ceremony.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.