FARMINGTON — University of Maine at Farmington President Theodora J. Kalikow recently welcomed Ben Pratt as the university’s new director of facilities management.

Pratt is responsible for the overall facilities operation and its interface with the campus and the general public. Working with faculty, staff, students and multiple constituencies on and off campus, Pratt will ensure a high-quality, sustainable physical plant and oversee all facilities personnel, strategic and financial planning, construction management, grounds maintenance, housekeeping and utilities operations.

Pratt comes to UMF from Georgia College and State University, where he served as assistant vice president for facilities and director of the physical plant and special projects. A professional with more than 17 years of successful experience in higher education physical plant management, Pratt has worked as an engineer and with construction and facilities operations throughout his career.

Pratt has directed physical plant operations and maintenance at public and private liberal arts colleges throughout the eastern U.S. Earlier in his career, he served as director of operations and campus engineer at Husson College in Bangor, and was responsible for overall operation and maintenance of buildings and grounds for Maine School Administrative District 37, in Harrington.

A Maine native, Pratt was raised in Jonesport. He received his bachelor of science degree in marine engineering from Maine Maritime Academy and holds a state of Maine boiler engineer’s license.