Ceremony draws local leaders and community members in support of continued access to higher education in York County
UMA hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, April 10, to celebrate the new downtown location of its Saco Center. The event welcomed approximately 60 attendees, including University of Maine System (UMS) Chancellor Dannel Malloy, UMA President Jenifer Cushman, Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail and University of Maine System Trustee Pat Flood.
The Saco Center moved to 209 Main St. in January, continuing UMA’s more than 40-year commitment to higher education access throughout York County. The new location was designed to reflect how today’s students access learning — with smaller classrooms, high-speed connectivity and strong local support services.
“UMA has been part of the Biddeford-Saco area for decades, and this move into the heart of downtown Saco shows our ongoing commitment to this community,” said Dan Philbrick, regional director of UMA’s Coastal Centers and director of the Saco Center. “While we no longer need as many large classrooms, the need for in-person support, connections and community partnerships remains just as strong.”
In her remarks, President Cushman emphasized UMA’s statewide role in making higher education accessible through flexible options and local centers. “This is how education becomes real — through relationships, through inspiration and through programs that open doors students didn’t even know existed,” she said.
Local support was evident, with strong representation from the City of Saco, including City Administrator John Bohenko, Economic Development Director Tracey Desjardins and multiple city councilors. Jim LaBelle, executive director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and member of UMA’s Board of Visitors, also offered remarks.
UMA Saco Center student Yiyang “Joyce” Jiang spoke about how the center helped her grow in confidence, creativity and connection. “Before UMA, I didn’t know what I liked – I always just did what teachers, parents or bosses told me,” she said. “But through UMA, I learned to express myself, to try new things like painting, and to believe in my own ideas.” Joyce shared how her advisor, Elizabeth, encouraged her to take a painting class. “That class helped me realize that when I focus only on my goals, I forget to slow down and notice the beauty around me,” she said. “The faculty and staff here at the Saco Center support me academically and personally. They not only provide a place of learning, but also have a big impact on my life.”
In addition to serving students in the greater Saco and Biddeford areas and all of York County, the center also supports statewide initiatives such as UMA’s Prison Education Partnership, which provides college courses and advising at the Maine Correctional Center, the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center and the Maine Correctional Center Women’s Facility in Windham.