FALMOUTH, Maine, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --In an interview today withTideSmart Talk with Stevoe, a weekly radio show that takes a macro approach towards society and culture,University of Maine President Paul Ferguson joined host and 2014 Maine gubernatorial candidate Steve Woods to discuss the ties between Maine's university system and the state's economic growth potential.
The show will airSaturday, April 27, from11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.on News Talk WLOB 1310AM and will be live streamed at http://www.wlobradio.com. A podcast will be made available viaiTunesand athttp://www.tidesmartradio.com.
In an hour-long interview, Ferguson and Woods talked about education goals, collaboration between higher education institutions and the local business community and what makes Maine special. Reflecting on his two years at the helm of Maine's flagship university, Ferguson discussed the University's five-year strategic plan known as "The Blue Sky Project." The plan aims to reconnect the university to the people of Maine so that the university can have a major impact on the future growth and prosperity of the state.
"We are one state, which has incredible affection of its people, but there is this inherent concept about how difficult it is to move forward," Ferguson said when discussing perceived opportunity among some graduates. "We've got to get beyond that and realize that what we have is really attractive to people. We have to provide something to keep them (graduates) here for a longer time."
Woods added that Maine's ability to attract and maintain highly educated students, often in the 18-34 demographic, would play a significant role in determining Maine's economic future.
"It's the age group where people start families and start multigenerational investment, literally and figuratively, in the state of Maine," Woods said. "We need to figure out how to recruit and keep that vital, energetic, dynamic group here in Maine."
Also on theApril 27 TideSmart Talk with Stevoe show, Woods was joined for an in-studio interviewwith The Mallett Brothers Band, Maine's best-known alt-country band. During the show's opening segment, The Mallett Brothers Band played several songs from their newest album, "Land" which will be released on Saturday, April 27.
Since launching TideSmart Talk with Stevoemore than one year ago, Woods has hosted more than 100 high-profile guests including famed attorneyF.Lee Bailey, mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, two-termMaineGovernorJohn Baldacci, Shipyard Brewing Company PresidentFred Forsley, longtimeMainebroadcast journalist Bill Green,Portland Sea Dogs OwnerBill Burke,PortlandMayor Michael Brennan, Former Chief of Staff to Sen.Susan Collins(R-Maine) and currentUniversity of MaineAthletic DirectorSteve Abbott, MaineSenate PresidentJustin Alfond and former congressman Tom Allen.
SOURCE TideSmart
