UMA mourns the passing of former President Richard J. Randall
The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) community and the entire University of Maine System mourn the loss of former UMA President, Richard (Dick) J. Randall. Dick died on the morning of Saturday, May 31, 2008, at his home with wife Mary Elisabeth and youngest son Adam by his side. Mary Elisabeth described his death as "peacefully slipping away."
A native of Pennsylvania, Dick graduated from the University of Maine (Orono), where he received a BA in 1966 and an MA in 1967, and met Mary Elisabeth. In 1967, Richard and Mary Elisabeth came to the University of Maine at Augusta. Dick served the University in many capacities over his forty year career. He was a Professor of Sociology, Dean of Students, Dean of the Faculty, and Vice President of Academic Affairs before his retirement in 2001. In 2005, Dick came out of retirement in troubled times for UMA, and served first as the Associate Provost, and then months later was installed as UMA's 10th President.
The UMA, University College of Bangor, and greater Kennebec Valley communities owe Richard Randall for his persuasive and dedicated ways when he served on the Governor's Task Force on Higher Education in the Kennebec Valley. For it was in this venue where he led the UMA delegation, and reversed what seemed to be the inevitable merger of UMA with the University of Southern Maine. Underscoring his arguments were the unique educational needs of the region, and how an autonomous university was the best solution to address those needs.
On the heels of the Governor's decision to keep UMA autonomous, Dick began the process to revise UMA's mission from a Carnegie Baccalaureate/Associate degree institution to Baccalaureate General. One year later on July 10, 2006 the Board of Trustees approved UMA's new mission as a regional baccalaureate university.
Dick's contributions to UMA have been profound. He was driven by a selfless passion to serve those of us who comprise the UMA community and the regions of Maine that we serve. President Richard J. Randall was a beloved friend and colleague and will be greatly missed by all of us.