John C. Volin
John C. Volin, PhD serves as the 18th President of Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
Following a postdoctoral fellowship in plant physiological ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Volin accepted a faculty position at Florida Atlantic University, where he rose to the rank of full professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and served as the director of the Environmental Sciences graduate program. Volin joined the University of Connecticut in 2007 to head the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, advancing to serve as Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. Since 2020, Volin has served as the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the University of Maine, where his portfolio includes oversight of more than 1,000 faculty and staff and a budget of over $250 million. Volin is recognized as a national leader in using evidence-based practices to support holistic student wellbeing. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Coalition for Transformational Education and is a cofounder and senior advisor of LearningWell magazine.
Born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Volin holds a BS in botany and biology and an MS in agronomy from the South Dakota State University, and a PhD in forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Volin and his wife, Valeria, have five children and six grandchildren.
Mission, Vision, and Core Values
Explore our mission, vision, and core values; our roots in Swedish heritage; our commitment to ELCA Lutheran higher education; and our acknowledgment of the Indigenous history of the Minnesota River Valley. These guiding principles form the foundation of who we are and shape the direction of who we strive to become.