UNE honors two Maine women leaders at 2024 Deborah Morton Awards

The University of New England recognized the achievements of two remarkable Maine women at the 62nd Annual Deborah Morton Society Convocation and Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 14. 

Andrea Cianchette Maker, J.D., president of FocusMaine, and Patricia “Trish” Riley, M.S., were bestowed the Deborah Morton Award in a formal ceremony held in the Arthur P. Girard Innovation Hall on UNE’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences.

The Deborah Morton Award recognizes distinguished Maine women who have made an extraordinary impact through their careers and public service or leadership in civic, cultural, or social causes. 

The award celebrates the memory of UNE’s own distinguished Deborah Morton of Round Pond, Maine. She was valedictorian of the Class of 1879 of Westbrook Seminary, the forerunner of Westbrook College, which merged with the University of New England in 1996. Following her graduation, Morton served as a dedicated faculty member at the seminary and was a staunch advocate for equal rights in the social, political, and economic spheres.

In honor of her legacy, the Deborah Morton Society continues to champion education and leadership for future generations of Maine women. In addition to the annual award, the society grants scholarships for women studying in the Westbrook College of Health Professions, recognizing outstanding qualities of character, leadership, and academic prowess akin to those exemplified by Deborah Morton.

For the past six decades, the Deborah Morton Society has consistently emphasized the significance of women in society. It inspires young women throughout the state and encourages them to embody Morton’s values and service-oriented mindset.

“This event exemplifies UNE’s appreciation for its roots and continuity as it evolves,” Alicia Fereday, MBA, vice president for Institutional Advancement at UNE, said before an audience including guests from across the state of Maine, former award recipients, and UNE community members. “Gathering like this to celebrate our newest Deborah Morton Society awardees allows us to reflect on the remarkable contributions of our state’s women leaders through the years, and it ensures that our proud Westbrook (College) lineage remains central to our work as new generations of women come to UNE to gain the skills and knowledge to play leadership roles in the Maine and points far beyond.”

UNE President James Herbert remarked that many aspects of UNE give him a mix of pride and gratitude, including the University’s commitment to nurturing women leaders — a core value of the Deborah Morton legacy.

“The impact of this commitment can be felt in our Maine hospitals and clinics, where our graduates make us the Number One provider of health care professionals for the state; in the Gulf of Maine, where our students and graduates play leadership roles in assessing and mitigating the effects of climate change; in our P.D. Merrill Makerspace, where our student innovators develop the skills and aptitudes to be successful inventors and entrepreneurs; and throughout the Maine economy, which receives a steady influx of UNE graduates especially prepared to meet the needs of today’s dynamic workforce,” Herbert reflected.

Herbert went on to say UNE’s commitment to inclusivity has deep historical roots, reaching back to 1831, when Westbrook Seminary first opened on what is now the Portland Campus for the Health Sciences and began admitting women.

“The women of Westbrook blazed paths for today’s UNE students to follow,” Herbert said. “At UNE, we go to great lengths to ensure the transformational education we provide young people is accessible to all qualified Maine students. Our message to them is that we are an inclusive and supportive community, and if they are hungry to learn and grow, there is a home for them here at UNE.” 

Learn more about this year’s awardees.