ORONO – Former University of Maine Alumni Association President John Diamond ‘77, ‘89G has been awarded the title of President Emeritus from the University of Maine Alumni Association Board of Directors. The term “Emeritus” is a title awarded to only a few select individuals in recognition of distinguished and extraordinary service.
Diamond, who earned a BA in journalism from UMaine in 1977 and a graduate degree in speech communication in 1989, served as the CEO/President of the Alumni Association from 2015 until his retirement in 2022.
Through the Alumni Association, Diamond continued his years of advocacy for his alma mater, helping to keep UMaine in the hearts and minds of not only alumni and friends, but also through supporting important bond measures which increased state funding to the university. He and his wife, middle school principal Marcia LaRochelle Diamond ’02G, established the John and Marcia LaRochelle Diamond Scholarship Fund through the UMaine Foundation, which provides need-based financial support to first-year students. From start to finish, Diamond’s career was guided by a passion for service to the College of Our Hearts Always and the people of Maine.
Diamond retired in 2022, having left an indelible impact on the University of Maine, the UMaine System, and the entire Black Bear community. He lives in Blue Hill with his wife of 37 years, Marcia.
In April of 2023, Diamond was awarded the Alumni Association’s Suzanne Kay Hart ’68 Alumni Service Award, which honors an individual whose leadership and service have advanced the organization’s success and reputation. Aside from CEO/President of the Alumni Association, Diamond has held numerous leadership roles in the UMaine community over the past three decades, from Senior Director of Public Affairs, to Executive Director of External Affairs for the UMaine System.