Six Women Promoted or Granted Tenure at the University of Maine

The University of Maine has announced that 15 faculty members have been promoted and/or granted tenure. Of these promotions and tenurings, six went to women.

Anne K. Knowles, professor of history, was granted tenure. She began teaching at the university this past fall after serving on the faculty at Middlebury College in Vermont. Professor Knowles is the author of Mastering Iron: The Struggle to Modernize an American Industry, 1800 – 1868 (University of Chicago Press, 2013). Dr. Knowles holds a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Amanda A. Olsen was promoted to associate professor of earth science and granted tenure. Dr. Olsen’s research focuses on quantifying the rates of water-rock interactions and examining factors that can significantly affect mineral dissolution rates. She holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

Michelle Smith, who holds the C. Ann Merrifield Professorship in Life Science Education, was promoted to associate professor of biological sciences. Dr. Smith was also granted tenure. A graduate of Hanover College in Indiana, Dr. Smith holds a master’s degree from the University of Dayton and a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Washington.

Marcella Sorg, a medical and forensic anthropologist specializing in health policy, was promoted to research professor of anthropology. She also serves as director of the rural drug and alcohol research program at the university’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center. Dr. Sorg is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in physical anthropology from Ohio State University.

Stephanie Wellcomer was promoted to full professor of management. She is also an associate dean of the Maine Business School. Professor Wellcomer teaches in the areas of strategic management, organizational behavior, and business ethics. She earned a Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University.

Gayle Zydlewski, an associate professor of marine sciences, was granted tenure. Her research is focused on how environmental conditions impact fish behaviors. Dr. Zydlewski joined the faculty at the University of Maine in 2004.  She is a graduate of Southeastern Massachusetts University. Dr. Zydlewski holds a master’s degree in zoology from the University of Rhode Island and a Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of Maine.