Emma Bouthillette '08

Why UNE

While UNE is touted as a leader in medical studies and science, it should not be discounted for its humanities programs as a liberal arts college. I came to UNE in a roundabout way, but I am forever grateful that I landed in those two English courses my first semester. It provided me the opportunity to identify my passion for literature and writing and run with it. After declaring my major in English, I added fine art and history as an excuse to continue taking courses with professors I adored and further tap into my creative side. 

Today, I am a content marketing specialist for a national engineering firm writing about the work we do to protect water and the environment. I get to spend my days talking with engineers, scientists, geologists, and our business leaders to learn about project work and share these stories. I think back on the environmental studies and environment in literature courses I took at UNE and realize this job has brought me full circle back to doing what I love with awareness of the footprint humans leave on this planet daily. 

Welcoming Community

The English Department at UNE may be small, but that is what I love about it. More than a decade later, I still have relationships with my professors who have become lifelong mentors that I continually turn to for advice and they are always willing to support me. I doubt many gradates of larger English departments could say the same. 

While the University has grown exponentially since I graduated, I still think the community atmosphere holds true today. Even though I did not live on campus, I developed close friendships and felt I was part of the community. Still living in Biddeford, I often run into former professors who are always excited to see me and ask what I’m up to.