FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington and the Maine Chapter of the Fulbright Association are honored to announce a talk featuring U.S. Sen. Angus S. King, I-Maine, on current international issues.

The event is free and open to the public and will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23, in Lincoln Auditorium, Roberts Learning Center at 270 Main St., Farmington.

“We are very pleased that Sen. King will be sharing his views with us as we begin the new academic semester,” UMF President Kathryn A. Foster said . “UMF is committed to expanding the international horizons and awareness of our students, faculty and staff, and we look forward to his address, given his unique Washington perspective.”

Foster’s comments were echoed by Robert Lively, president of the Fulbright Association, Maine Chapter.

“The Fulbright Program is committed to furthering international communication and understanding through individual contacts, and we are confident that Sen. King’s comments will contribute to that ongoing discussion,” Lively said.

There are 15 current and recently retired Fulbright scholars at UMF. The campus was recognized as a 2012 Fulbright Scholar “top producer” by the Institute of International Education and the U.S. Dept. of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs — sponsor of the Fulbright Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

King was sworn in as Maine’s first independent U.S. senator on Jan. 3, 2013. He joins a long line of independent leaders from the State of Maine and is an advocate for the need for greater bipartisan dialogue and relationship-building among legislators.

As a U.S. senator, he sits on the Rules, Intelligence, Armed Services and Budget Oversight committees.

In 1994, King was elected Maine’s 72nd governor. During his two terms in the Blaine House, he focused on economic development and job creation, as well as reforms in education, mental health services, land conservation, environmental protection and the delivery of state services.

He was UMF’s 2006 Commencement speaker.

King is married to Mary Herman and has four sons, one daughter and six grandchildren. He lives in Brunswick.