The University of Maine at Presque Isle welcomed 16 new staff members during the Spring 2024 semester.
John Ala joins UMPI as the new Head Women’s Soccer Coach. Ala previously served as Assistant Coach for UMPI’s 2019 women’s soccer team. Collectively, with the Fort Fairfield School and Caribou Recreation, Ala has 14 years of coaching expertise within an educational setting, as well as experience as a Summer Program Director and Soccer Director. In addition to soccer, Ala has coached student athletes in baseball and basketball. He is an UMPI alum, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and followed with a Master’s in Education from the University of New England.
Dori Beane is a new YourPace Enrollment and Academic Success Coach. Beane has eight years of higher education experience, obtained during her employment with the Universities of Maine at Augusta and Farmington. She has served as an Assistant Director of Housing and Student Engagement, Academic Advisor, Graduate Activities Coordinator, assisted undergraduates with navigating online classes, and executed administrative-based tasks for the Graduate and Continuing Education Division. Beane earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology through UMF and her Master’s degree in Adult & Higher Education through the University of Southern Maine.
Taryn Beaumont is a new Degree Audit Specialist. Beaumont brings a fresh perspective to campus after serving 13 years in the healthcare industry, as well as time spent operating her own small business. She has worked with individuals in a wide range of capacities as a Physical Therapist and Lymphedema Therapist. Beaumont earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology/Human Movement Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy through Husson University. She holds three professional certifications, six relevant training completions to include a one year long Professional Organization and Development Program (POD), and is currently working toward another advanced competency.
Jacob Bradley joins UMPI as a YourPace Admissions Specialist. Bradley is a recent UMPI graduate, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. During his time as an undergraduate, Bradley was inducted into the Society of Leadership and Success and served in student leadership roles, including as President of the UMPI Business Club and Secretary for the Student Government Association.
Elizabeth Butterfield is the newest Assistant Transfer Officer. Butterfield joins UMPI from Northern Light Health A.R. Gould Hospital, where she worked as a Guest Relations Specialist. An UMPI alumna with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management and Leadership, she served two terms as the Student Government Association Treasurer/Secretary. In high school, she competed at SkillsUSA where she placed 1st in Maine and 5th in the nation, later serving as a chairperson for the SkillsUSA Career Pathways Showcase.
Megan Desjardins joins UMPI as Budget Manager and Senior Financial Analyst. Desjardins has 10 years of accounting experience, five within the University of Maine System, including analytical analyzing, budget building, and managing, as well as knowledge in financial laws, policies, and workplace compliance. A University of Maine (Orono) alumna, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Business Management. She has served six years as a coordinator for the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, organizing various components for the event.
Amy Dias is UMPI’s Assistant Director of Early College. Dias has been with the University of Maine for eight years, most recently within the Upward Bound program as a Language Arts Instructor, Program Counselor, and Afternoon Services Director. Previously she was a Student Assistant and Upward Bound Instructor. Dias graduated from Orono with a Bachelor’s degree in English and later obtained a Master’s degree in Higher Adult Education from the University of Southern Maine. While attending USM, she received the Linda Bradford Nontraditional Student Award in 2018 and the Nontraditional Student Achievement Award in 2019.
Candace Elliott joins UMPI as a new Administrative Specialist for University Advancement (Title III Projects). Elliott comes to campus from New York City’s Department of Education, where she served eight years, completing various administrative and payroll-related tasks for the principal and school community. She has more than 20 years of administrative experience, specifically relating to inter-office communications, scheduling, purchasing, and budgeting. She earned her Associate’s degree in liberal studies from the Borough of Manhattan Community College prior to attending Norfolk State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication.
Nikki Enlow is a new YourPace Admissions Specialist. Enlow is a proud graduate of UMPI’s YourPace Program, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Leadership. She also earned an Associate’s degree in Visual Communications from Hazard Community and Technical College, as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Additionally, she has years of experience within higher education with her most recent employment at University of Louisville’s School of Nursing. She has participated in numerous research presentations and completed various professional development trainings.
Stephanie Ferland is the new Internship Coordinator. She has more than 20 years of professional experience in education in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, most recently as Principal for Washburn District Elementary School. An Aroostook Scholar Coordinator for GEAR UP Maine, her work focused on helping students from rural and low-income communities to succeed and persist during their first year of college. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Writing & Literature with a minor in Education and Teacher Certification from Upper Valley Educators Institute, and her Master’s degree in Teacher Leadership at Mt. Holyoke College.
Jaydyn Fox joins UMPI as a YourPace Admissions Specialist. Fox has five years of professional experience in the education field. Most recently, she served as an Accounting and Payroll Specialist at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics. She is an UMPI alumna, graduating in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Fox previously served as a Work Study Student in UMPI’s Financial Aid Office.
Jonathan Guimond is a new Senior Staff Associate. Guimond is a 2024 UMPI graduate. During his time as an undergraduate, he completed an internship in the Advancement Office as a Content Manager, which allowed him to be part of revising the scholarship program. In addition to serving as President and Treasurer of the UMPI Business Club, he was a student representative on the Financial Literacy Task Force Committee, and National Society of Leadership and Success Presidential Nominee (GPA 3.9 or higher).
Janelle Humphrey returns to UMPI as the new TRIO College Access Services Administrative Coordinator/Data Tracking Specialist. She has almost 10 years of professional experience in the education field. Most recently she served as District Data Facilitator for Eastern Aroostook RSU #39, following her time with UMPI serving as an Administrative Coordinator and Data Tracking Specialist. She is an UMPI alumna, graduating Cum Lude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Benjamin Novotny is a YourPace Admissions Coordinator. Novotny has nine years of management experience from his previous role as CBCW manager for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, specializing in recruitment. During this time, he worked with employees to develop personalized goals and streamlined the training program, reducing training time by 15%. He is an UMPI graduate through the YourPace program, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, and Leadership.
Kayla Pike is an HR Project Assistant. She joins UMPI from Phaidon International where she managed pre-employment and onboarding for all seven of their U.S. offices, processing an average of 90 new hires a month, and providing general HR support and operations to stakeholders. She specializes in career development, performance improvement, employment law, and USCIS compliance. She previously served as an Equal Opportunity Officer for Loring Job Corps Center and a SAS Advocate/Community Educator for AMHC.
Matthew Wallhead joins UMPI as a new Assistant Professor of Agricultural Science and serves as the Dr. Robert Vinton Akeley Chair of Agricultural Science and Agribusiness. Wallhead joins UMPI with eight years of teaching experience encompassing introductory to advanced agricultural science courses across Maine and New Hampshire. He has a profound background in Plant Biology and Geospatial Science with over two decades of experience in agricultural education, research, and leadership roles. Wallhead obtained his Doctorate in Plant Biology from the University of New Hampshire. He served as Assistant Professor of Horticulture at the University of Maine in Orono and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of New Hampshire.
The following part-time faculty also have joined campus since Fall 2023: Emma-Marie Banks, St Nicholas Burrus, John Dennis, Kathryn Harnish, Jordan Henry, Chris Hinson, Daniel Jackson, Leslie Randolph Anderson, Paul Reyes-Fournier, and Andrew Vernon.
In addition to these new faculty and staff, several familiar faces have taken on new titles or accepted new positions: Jessica Cameron, Assistant Director of YourPace Admissions and Admissions Marketing Specialist; Pam Easler, YourPace Professional Academic Advisor; Heather Nunez-Olmstead, Assistant Professor of Fine Art and Art Education; Sandy McDougal, Manager of Athletics and Recreation Business Operations; Tyna Rolon, International Student Advocate; Colby Phillips, Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach; and Seth Woodman, Instructional Designer.