Acting University of Maine president to remain an extra year

Acting University of Maine President Susan Hunter will stay on for an additional year at the Orono campus after her contract was extended to 2017, the University of Maine System announced Tuesday.

Hunter, who will continue to earn $250,000 a year, was named to a two-year term as president in June 2014 to succeed Paul Ferguson, who left for the presidency at Ball State University in Indiana.

Hunter, a cell biologist, previously was the system’s vice chancellor for academic affairs. She has also served as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost on the Orono campus.