Andy Paul
Hope the winter wasn’t too hard on everyone. For those of us residing in northern New England, winters only make us appreciate the arrival of warm weather that much more. We usher in the summer with some great news from the Class of ’82.
Kim Stanfill-McMillan brought us up to date on what she’s been doing since graduating from UMaine with a degree in wood technology. Kim followed up with an MS degree from Colorado State University and another BS in civil engineering from UMaine in 1986. She worked for the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and then worked in private practice as a structural engineer. In 1992, Kim moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to work as a research engineer for the U.S. Forest Service in its Forest Products Laboratory. In 1999, she became a stay-at-home mom (three kids) and opened a paint-your-own pottery studio in 2005, which she still owns in Madison. Kim recounted her favorite teacher memory: “Ralph Griffin saying, ‘there is no bad weather, just improperly dressed students,’ and then he cut our field time in the forest short for the first time that we ever knew.” She would love to hear from other UMaine alumni in the Madison area.
Margaret Armstrong ’93G was appointed assistant superintendent of Maine School Administrative District 75, consisting of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, and Topsham. Peg brings 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and social worker to her new job, and leaves behind many fans at Wiscasset Middle / High School, where she served as principal since 2015. We wish Peg well in her new position.
Jim Bouchard joined the American Red Cross as executive director of the Central and Mid-Coast Maine Chapter. The Red Cross is benefiting from Jim’s experience in fundraising, communications, and volunteer engagement gained through his previous positions with Maine Preservation in Yarmouth, Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, United Way of Mid- Coast Maine, Maine Medical Center, and the YMCA of Greater Portland. Jim earned his bachelor’s degree in forest management at UMaine and he continues to respond to forest fires, serving as a firefighter team leader.
Maine Central Institute named Alicia Johnson Nichols dean of advancement. Alicia has three decades of fundraising experience, including the last 14 years as a consultant. To date, she has raised $22 million for Maine nonprofit organizations. Before consulting, Alicia was director of corporate support at Maine Public Broadcasting Network and she served as vice president for fundraising for the UMaine Alumni Association. Alicia played on UMaine’s first women’s hockey team back in the day.
Ben Graffam had his first book published in March. Reimagining the Educated Mind brings a new argument to the current debates regarding school choice and curricular design by placing significant power in the hands and minds of students — not parents or legislators. In Ben’s design, called Student Choice Curriculum, students would negotiate with their teachers, choosing and designing their own educational path — the topic, the in-depth investigations, even the evaluative processes.
After UMaine, Ben spent 10 years teaching in Cornish, ME. He then earned both master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of South Florida before returning to the classroom at two different International Baccalaureate schools. He conducted his dissertation research in Orono in 2004, when then-dean of education Bob Cobb allowed him the use of an office in Shibles Hall.
Mark Haskell has joined Blank Rome LLP’s Energy group as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. He advises his clients on a wide breadth of energy industry-related matters involving regulation, compliance, enforcement, transactions, and litigation.
Do you have any news or want to share what’s going on in your life? Perhaps you just want to give a shout out to your classmates — if so, please drop me a line.