AUGUSTA (AP) – University of Maine at Augusta President Charles Lyons has been granted a one-year sabbatical to prepare for his return to the classroom as a faculty member at the University of Southern Maine.

Lyons plans to take his leave starting on July 1 in the final year of his term at the Augusta campus. After that, he’ll return to the University of Southern Maine, where he maintains his rank as a tenured professor of special education.

“I have been honored to serve the University of Maine at Augusta for the past four years,” said Lyons. “Having been out of the classroom for more than a decade, however, I look forward to the opportunity to return to a role that I love, working directly with students.”

The Augusta campus will become part of the larger University of Southern Maine as part of a reorganization undertaken by University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph Westphal.

Westphal praised Lyons’ service and said he considers himself lucky that Lyons has elected to remain within the system: “We are fortunate that he will continue to serve the university system as a member of the faculty of the University of Southern Maine.”

Lyons joined the University of Maine System in 1973 and has held numerous positions including interim president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle and president of the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Lyons was appointed to the post in Augusta in March 2002 by the trustees after serving as interim president.

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