Psychology News

Committed to offering programs that align with students’ goals and career aspirations, the University of Maine at Fort Kent has recently renamed its Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Science program to the Bachelor of Science in Psychology. The program offers the same exemplary education that UMFK is known for. Students interested in studying human behavior, mental health, and social dynamics often search for “psychology degrees” when exploring colleges, and the name change will allow UMFK’s program to be more discoverable in online web searches.

Although Behavioral Science graduates discover that their degree leads to many pathways to the professions they desire, many college-seeking students shared that the degree name “Behavioral Science” didn’t clearly reflect what they were looking for in a college credential. To support this discovery, the mentalfloss.com article, The 50 Most Popular College Majors, According to Web Searches by CaLea Johnson, revealed which college degrees were most searched for in 2024. Psychology topped the list at number one. This “data set [was compiled] using Google’s Keyword Planner, a free resource that shows how many searches keywords get per month” (Johnson, 2024).

By renaming the program to Psychology, UMFK ensures that students immediately recognize the program as a strong foundation for the careers they want to pursue. The curriculum remains grounded in hands-on experiences, offering students opportunities for job shadowing, service-learning projects, and internships. Coupled with learning from faculty who are practitioners in the field, these experiences help students build real-world skills for meaningful careers or advanced studies in psychology-related fields.

“The program name has been revised to Psychology to more accurately align with our academic focus,” said Dr. Shawn Graham, UMFK Associate Professor of Counseling, Behavioral Science Unit Chair, and Faculty Assembly Chair. “This adjustment underscores our commitment to delivering a rigorous curriculum grounded in evidence-based theory, fostering critical thinking, and promoting the practical application of skills to prepare students for professional careers and advanced study in graduate programs.”

In addition to the name change, UMFK has also expanded its Psychology portfolio to now offer a fully online Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. This was driven by the increasing number of students who are looking for flexibility to accommodate their busy lives, often balancing work, family, or other responsibilities. The online option ensures that students can access the same high-quality education as those on campus, with courses designed to be engaging and applicable to real-world careers.

With both on-campus and online options, students can now choose the path that works best for them, making it easier to earn a Psychology degree no matter where they are. In addition to preparing students for advanced studies in Clinical Counseling and Psychology, graduates are prepared for jobs such as substance abuse counselors, adult and child case managers, and social work.

By listening to students and evolving to meet their needs, UMFK continues to offer programs that help students succeed—both in the classroom and beyond. To learn more about UMFK’s Psychology program, visit the UMFK Psychology program webpage.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent is a rural, public university committed to providing students with exceptional educational experiences. It is free to apply. For entry into the fall 2025 term, the UMFK Admissions Office recommends applications be submitted by August 15th.

Traditions are important to college campuses. They help instill a sense of unity throughout the campus community and across the generations of classes as they pass through the doors. The University of Maine at Fort Kent community hopes to instill a new tradition for the campus through a project that was incorporated into this year’s Homecoming celebration.

The UMFK Gratitude Project is an effort to build community among students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, businesses, and Fort Kent residents. The focal point of the project consists of hand-written sentiments of gratitude on colorful ribbons that now hang on the campus’ trees. The visual installation provides a reminder that gratitude creates a more vibrant space and life.

“Service learning is an important aspect of the Behavioral Science curriculum. When I brought the concept of the Gratitude Project to other members of campus, I also knew it would provide an excellent opportunity for students to bridge the connection with the Fort Kent community,” said Dr. Shawn Graham, UMFK Associate Professor of Counseling, Behavioral Science Unit Chair, and Faculty Assembly Chair, “The response has been outstanding. It has been well received.”

Behavioral Science students Ryan McAtee and Andrew Pierce have supported the project by connecting with interested community members prior to Homecoming weekend to have them participate by writing their statements on the ribbons and collecting them when they were completed.

”It is so important for a small college to be involved in the community,” Pierce said, “And I absolutely think it will look pretty awesome.”

McAtee added, “I wish we would have had this when I was a new student. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed when you first go to school. There’s a lot of changes to get used to. The Gratitude Project is a way of grounding, as a reminder of what is most important to you.”

Participants were able to choose the color of ribbon that they wrote their sentiment on and had the opportunity to do multiple ribbons. Children at MSAD#27 and business owners were some of the groups that were included in the project.

Visit the UMFK website for more information on the Behavioral Science program at UMFK.

The University of Maine at Fort Kent Behavioral Science program and club, Aroostook Mental Health Center, Fish River Rural Health, Life By Design, Aroostook County Action Program, and Michael’s Active Recovery have been working together to host their annual Recovery Celebration on September 14th at the Fort Kent Riverside Park Lion’s Pavilion.

September is National Recovery Month, a national observance held every September to celebrate people in recovery while highlighting the benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery from substance misuse.

Katia Sirois, LADC, CCS, a Substance Abuse Counselor and one of the event organizers, shared, “Witnessing the annual growth of this event has been incredible, demonstrating the power of planting seeds! I am proud of how the community is breaking stigmas around substance misuse, inspiring others to challenge their views on addiction.”

The event begins at 11 a.m. with free food and music by Ryan Remalia. Starting at noon, speakers will share their recovery stories, followed by time for networking and open conversations about recovery.  Community organizations and groups will have tables with information about available resources and support.

“We hope the community will join us to help strengthen the recovery community, supporting our friends, families, and people living in our communities. National Recovery Month is about celebrating recovery and supporting people on their recovery journeys,” said one of the event organizers, UMFK Associate Professor of Counseling and Faculty Assembly Chair Dr. Shawn Graham.

Doug Levesque LCSW/LADC/CCS, a Behavioral Health Therapist with Fish River Rural Health and one of the event organizers, said, “The beauty of watching people come out of a dark place with their addiction to a place of hope and watching them come alive and grow is truly a blessing and a gift. The celebration gives an opportunity for many of us to show that addiction is not the end and can be a great new beginning.”

Sponsors of the event also include the Town of Fort Kent, Hannaford Supermarket, and Tim Hortons.

For more information about the September Recovery event, please contact Katia Sirois at (207) 316-3288.

On April 28th, Maine Campus Compact celebrated its 22nd Annual Awards Ceremony at the University of Maine at Augusta to recognize outstanding work in public service and civic engagement by Maine faculty, students, and community and corporate partners. The University of Maine at Fort Kent Assistant Professor of Counseling and Behavioral Science Unit Chair Dr. Shawn Graham was one of the selected honorees.

Dr. Graham was one of three faculty members presented with the Donald Harward Award for Faculty Service-Learning Excellence, which recognizes individuals who integrate community or public service into their curriculum and who work to institutionalize service-learning.

“Dr. Graham is a treasured faculty member at UMFK. He is also well-respected among his University of Maine System faculty colleagues and our clinical practice partners in Aroostook County, in Maine, and beyond,” said UMFK Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Erin C. Soucy, Ph.D., RN, “Dr. Graham is passionate about service learning as evidenced by the countless hours he spends with students outside of the classroom participating in service learning activities.”

Dr. Graham is known for collaborating with colleagues across disciplines as well as working with community partners to enhance his students’ experience. Last fall, he organized a Reunification Drill that included more than 80 students in the behavioral health, nursing, and public safety programs at UMFK and included community partners such as Aroostook Emergency Management Agency, AdCare Maine, and the Maine Centers for Disease Control. Students received training in Disaster Behavioral Health and Psychological First Aid prior to the drill.

Dr. Graham’s expertise is in counselor education and supervision, which guides his work as an educator and his practice as a clinical counselor. He actively works to promote the well-being and mental health of individuals and communities by encouraging students to become engaged citizens. His work is focused on responding to community needs and challenging the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction. Through his work, he partners with numerous organizations, involving students in the planning and implementation of service projects and events.

Dr. Graham earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision with a concentration in Advanced Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. He is currently the Unit Chair of the Behavioral Science program at UMFK. Dr. Graham has been working in the behavioral health field for more than 25 years. His primary research focus is peer support. He holds several licenses in the State of Maine: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor; Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor; Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician – Community; and is certified as a Disaster Behavioral Health Responder.

“Perhaps the best testament to Dr. Graham’s dedication to quality education, service learning, and instilling a sense of civic pride among students is demonstrated by the number of his alum who return to campus to help with annual events, speak to students about the profession, openly discuss how meaningful their time was at UMFK, and serve as mentors and preceptors for our students,” added Dr. Soucy.

The other two 2023 recipients of the Donald Harward Award for Service-Learning excellence are Camilla Bridge, Instructor and Lab Coordinator, Biology Department at Saint Joseph’s College, and Anelise Hanson Shrout, Assistant Professor of Digital and Computational Studies at Bates College.

The award is named for Donald W. Harward, valued founder of Maine Campus Compact and former board member of national and Maine Campus Compacts. Award winners have shown clear evidence of reflection, community benefit, reciprocity with community partners, and a commitment to advocating for service-learning and/or community action on campus and beyond.

Established in 1994, Maine Campus Compact is a coalition of 16 member campuses whose purpose is to catalyze and lead a movement to reinvigorate the public purposes and civic mission of higher education. The coalition seeks to transform campuses in ways that develop better-informed, active citizen problem-solvers, stronger communities, and a more just democratic society. The group’s philosophy is that campuses must be vital agents and architects of a flourishing democracy.

To learn more about the Behavioral Science program at UMFK, please visit the Behavioral Science program webpage.