Setting out to advance its role as a regional leader in business education, the University of New England on Wednesday announced its first P.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business and a director of the P.D. Merrill Makerspace.
The hires were made possible by a $1.3 million gift last year from the P.D. Merrill Charitable Trust Foundation to honor the legacy of a community business leader who headed UNE’s board of trustees during its merger with Westbrook College in 1996.
“UNE has historically been known for our health sciences programs,” and for having Maine’s only medical and dental schools, UNE President James Herbert told Mainebiz at the time the gift was announced. “Part of what I’ve been doing, without losing sight of our core business, is to really expand into other areas.”
As UNE’s first J.D. Merrill Endowed Chair of Business, John Austin will…
