Current BOV Membership
Randall Liberty, ’98 (Chair)
Commissioner Randall Liberty was hired by the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office in 1989 as a Deputy Sheriff. Over twenty-six years, he served as a Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Major, Chief Deputy and as the elected Sheriff for nine years. During his tenure as Sheriff, he focused his efforts on Justice Involved Military Veterans, Drug Enforcement, and the treatment of Addiction. He assisted Military Veterans in their transition from the battlefield through advocacy, programming and Veterans Court. He served as the President of the Maine Sheriffs Association, as the Chairman of the Maine Drug Enforcement Advisory Board and on the Board of Visitors at the University of Maine (Augusta).
In addition to his active duty service as a Military Policeman in Korea, Warden Liberty performed an additional twenty-one years in the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. During this time, he served as a Mountain Infantryman in Italy, as a Drill Sergeant, and as an Instructor at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. Liberty’s last assignment was in 2004 as the Command Sergeant Major of a Military Transition Team, embedded with 772 Iraqi Infantryman in the City of Fallujah.
Liberty is a three-time State of Maine Law Enforcement Officer of the year. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the National Sheriffs Leadership Institute and the New England Chiefs of Police Command Course. He earned a Masters in Management and Leadership from Liberty University and a B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Maine (Augusta). Liberty formerly served as the Warden of the Maine State Prison. He was appointed as the Commissioner of Corrections for the State of Maine by Governor Janet Mills in 2019.
Diane L. Dunn (Vice Chair)
Brigadier General Diane L. Dunn is currently the adjutant general of the National Guard in Augusta, Maine. She previously served as chief of staff at the Joint Force Headquarters in Augusta, as well as commander of the 120th Regional Support Group in Bangor. In her 36 years of military service, Dunn’s roles have included pre-mobilization training and evaluation commander, public affairs branch chief, commander of the 240th Regiment Regional Training Institute, and assistant professor of military science.
Dunn also served as the commander of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion for Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Some of the 18 military honors she has earned include, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
In her civilian life, Dunn previously owned a mortgage company, and worked as a licensed social worker. She now owns and operates Jim Dunn Stable LLC, with 8 to 10 harness race horses that compete along the east coast from Maine to Florida.
Professional memberships include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Officers Association of America, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Transportation Honorable Order of Saint Christopher, Quartermaster Distinguished Order of Saint Martin, and she has been inducted into the Saint Bonaventure University Army ROTC Hall of Fame.
Dunn holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Houghton College, as well as master’s degrees in public administration from the University of Maine, and in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Jennifer Riggs (Immediate Past Chair)
Jennifer L. Riggs, MSN, RN, is the Chief Nursing Officer for MaineGeneral Medical Center and the CEO for MaineGeneral Community Care. She spearheads the organization’s nearly 1,600 nursing team members, overseeing nursing practice across all of MaineGeneral Health with responsibility for Nursing, Care Management, Radiology, Cardiology, Emergency and Surgical Services, HomeCare & Hospice, and Behavioral Health Services.
As a member of the health system executive team, she supports and facilitates an interdisciplinary team approach to the delivery of care. This includes creating a nursing environment in which collaboration is valued and excellence in clinical care is promoted and achieved.
Jennifer holds a master’s degree in nursing and healthcare administration from Saint Joseph’s College. She is involved in several industry organizations and non-profits. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the Association of Nurse Executives (AONE); the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA), and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrical and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). She also serves on the Board of Directors for Delta Ambulance and Maine Dartmouth Family Practice Residency.
Susan Baker
Professor Susan Baker retired in 2024 after 41 years of teaching sciences at the University of Maine at Augusta. She holds a degree in biochemistry from Brown University and a graduate degree in education from the University of Maine. During her tenure, she served as Coordinator of the Biology Program and taught courses in chemistry, biology, and a global health capstone course that included international service-learning experiences.
Professor Baker was an active member of the Faculty Senate and chaired numerous committees, including the Academic Policy Committee and the Athletic Advisory Board. From 2020 to 2024, she co-chaired the President’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. Her scholarship centered on applied research in partnership with communities in Haiti and South Africa. For more than two decades, she directed a youth science program that reached hundreds of children each year—many of whom later became UMA graduates. She also led numerous disaster recovery teams to the U.S. Gulf Coast and served as a medical and community health educator in Haiti, Zambia, and South Africa.
She has been honored with the Meritorious Service Award for the College of Arts and Sciences, the Haworth Award for Service-Learning, UMA’s Distinguished Educator Award, a Trustee Professorship, and induction into the UMA Athletic Hall of Fame. She also received the Student Choice award for faculty excellence multiple times. In retirement, Professor Baker continues her lifelong commitment to service, volunteering with the Mount Vernon Food Bank, Moose Maine Kids, her church, and UMA athletics, while also leading national and international health and disaster recovery efforts.
Shenna Bellows
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is Maine’s 50th Secretary of State, sworn into her first two-year term in the position on Jan. 4, 2021. Secretary Bellows is Maine’s first female Secretary of State.
Secretary Bellows previously served two terms in the Maine Senate from 2016-2020, representing 11 towns in southern Kennebec County. In the Maine Senate, she served as Senate Chair of the Labor and Housing Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee. She was a 2020 presidential elector in the Electoral College.
Secretary Bellows most recently led the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine as executive director from 2018 to 2020. Previously, she owned Bellows & Company, a non-profit consulting business, where she worked with organizations such as the Sierra Club’s Maine Chapter, Consumers for Affordable Healthcare and the Maine Women’s Lobby. She also served as interim executive director of LearningWorks. In 2014, Secretary Bellows was the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in Maine.
From 2005 to 2013, Secretary Bellows was executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. She was a member of the first Right to Know Advisory Committee and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. She served on the Executive Committee of the 2009 and 2012 ballot campaigns to pass marriage equality in Maine, and co-chaired a successful 2011 statewide ballot campaign to restore same-day voter registration. She was an original member of the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting.
Currently, Secretary Bellows is serving on the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Elections Committee, Business Services Committee, Cybersecurity Committee, Awards Committee and International Relations Committee.
Secretary Bellows grew up in Hancock and is a graduate of Ellsworth High School. She holds a B.A. in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College. She volunteered with the Peace Corps in Panama and AmeriCorps VISTA in Nashville, Tennessee.
Secretary Bellows lives with her husband, Brandon, in Manchester, where she serves on the Manchester Conservation Commission.
Justin Chenette, ’21
Justin Chenette is the Chief Communications Officer at Sweetser, one of Maine’s largest behavioral health organizations. He leads all external and internal communications, public relations, business development, government affairs, and advancement initiatives. Justin is a seasoned strategic communicator with a diverse background in journalism, marketing, government, and nonprofit leadership. His career began with running a public access TV station, hosting a statewide TV show, producing broadcast news, and being named the National Student Broadcast Journalist of the Year. He later worked in various marketing roles, including handling newspaper digital advertising and running a strategic communications consulting firm.
Justin’s public service is marked by a series of historic firsts. He was appointed by the governor to the Maine State Board of Education at 17, becoming the first-ever student member. At 21, he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, becoming the nation’s youngest openly gay lawmaker. At 25, he became Maine’s youngest and only openly LGBTQ+ state senator during that term. In 2022, he was elected to the York County Commission, making him the first Millennial and only openly LGBTQ+ person to become a commissioner. Justin is a state appointee on the Maine Right to Know Advisory Committee.
Justin awards college scholarships to young leaders through his nonprofit foundation, the Chenette Scholarship Fund, and is the published author of the children’s book, The Great Whoopie Pie Debate: A Kids’ Guide to the Maine Legislature.
He earned a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine at Augusta, a B.S. in Broadcast News from Vermont State University-Lyndon, and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Justin’s achievements have earned him national and state recognition, including being named to The Advocate magazine’s 40 Under 40 and Mainebiz’s 40 Under 40 lists. He also received the Volunteer Service Award from two U.S. Presidents, Governor’s Exemplary Service Award, Lyndon’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and UMA’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Mathew Collins, ’12
Mathew Collins, MBA, is Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships at Andwell Health Partners, Maine’s largest independent nonprofit home and community-based healthcare organization. In this role, he leads strategic planning, service line development, partnerships, and new ventures. Previously, as Vice President of Medical and Community Services at Andwell, he oversaw a broad portfolio including primary care, audiology, palliative medicine, pediatrics, psychology, and home care services—achieving retention rates nearly double the national average.
Mathew has also held leadership roles at Central Maine Healthcare and Northern Light Health, where he drove operational improvements and clinical innovation. He is a member of the National Alliance for Care at Home Advisory Council, the National Emerging Models and Clinical Innovation workgroup, and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has also served on the Maine Council on Aging Board of Directors.
A proud UMA alumnus, Mathew earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Maine at Augusta, where he was student commencement speaker, Rising Scholar, Team Haiti member, and Student Ambassador. He later earned an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and holds certifications in process improvement, analytics, and change management. Identifying as neurodivergent, Mathew leverages the strengths of ADHD and Dyslexia to approach challenges with creativity and innovation, and he is committed to advancing neuro-inclusivity in education and healthcare.
TJ Herlihy, ’24
TJ Herlihy, CPFA, is a Financial Advisor with Means Wealth Management. He has more than a decade of experience in the financial services industry, including previous roles with Maine’s largest bank where he gained expertise in payroll, human resources, financial technology, and customer relationship management.
TJ is credentialed as a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, demonstrating his knowledge and commitment to supporting retirement plan sponsors and participants. He takes pride in helping clients create personalized plans to meet both current and future financial goals.
A University of Maine at Augusta graduate, TJ is also active in his community. He serves on the Penobscot County Board for Junior Achievement, the state board of Make-A-Wish Maine, and the Boy Scouts of America Katahdin Area Council Board. He lives in Orono with his wife, Emily, their two sons, Kiernan and Camden, and their dog, Duchess.
Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson comes to the Board of Visitors with a wealth of experience in employment, training and professional development, having worked for more than 20 years in job development, employment placement and career readiness in the Greater Bangor area. His passion is helping people find their calling, not just a job or career.
At the center of this core belief is educational attainment, which Mike knows from experience is not easy for everyone to access and accomplish, and what led him to become a charter member of the UMA Board of Advisors. A Maine Air National Guard veteran, Mike began his educational journey right out of high school at what was then known as Aroostook State College, now the University of Maine at Presque Isle. He took some additional classes at the University of Maine for a time, then family life detoured his degree attainment until 1995, when he proudly graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Studies from UMaine.
A long-time public servant, Mike also spent time on the Brewer City Council and the Brewer School Committee. Today, Mike is retired from his professional career and spends his time advising and participating in local community groups such as the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, and Maine Military Community Network. He also enjoys umpiring softball for local middle and high school teams, as well as spending time with his eight grandchildren.
Amy Marston, ’04
Amy Marston is a seasoned public relations professional with over 20 years of experience connecting businesses, nonprofits, and educational partners. She is the founder of Edison Public Relations, a firm dedicated to helping trade-focused companies grow their brand, build charitable and workforce strategies, and expand community impact.
Amy has served on numerous boards, including the Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Foundation, Jobs for Maine Graduates, and the Augusta Food Bank. With a focus on supporting Maine’s workforce, she works to strengthen partnerships that advance economic growth and opportunity.
Amy holds an MBA from Thomas College and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Maine at Augusta. Outside of work, she enjoys cheering for her daughter’s barrel racing competitions, planning community events, and experimenting with soap making at her home.
Angela Oechslie, ’12
Angela Oechslie ’12 is the Director for STEM Pathways & Innovation at Educate Maine, where she connects students and adults across the state with educational pathways and career opportunities in technology. She also created and hosts a career exploration podcast highlighting Mainers working in technology roles. Passionate about expanding access to quality jobs, she focuses on education and training programs that strengthen Maine’s workforce.
Angela brings extensive experience in workforce and economic development, including leading federal jobs-related grant programs and building statewide partnerships. She is a past chair of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce’s Building Bridges steering committee and a graduate of the 2018 Bangor Region Leadership Institute.
Angela earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a certificate in Human Resources Management from the University of Maine at Augusta and a master’s degree in Organizational Communication from MSU. A first-generation college student, she chose UMA for its accessibility and support from faculty who guided her through her academic journey. She serves on the Maine Technology Institute’s IT Tech Board, is a Microsoft TechSpark Fellow, and contributes to the CSforALL SCRIPT Steering Committee. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, and kayaking throughout Maine.
Soumia Tber
Soumia Tber is the Director of Statewide Payroll in the Office of the State Controller. Soumia previously served as Officer in Charge of legal matters in Morocco.
Soumia also leads the Board of Directors of the Capital Area New Mainers Project. Their work focuses on embracing immigrants as ‘New Mainers’ who bring much-needed diversity, energy and vitality to our area. With robust programs and a strong network of volunteers, the CANMP aims to cultivate personal relationships within the region, meet immigrant needs and educate the broader community about diverse cultures and immigration issues.
Soumia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in private law in 1998. She also earned degrees in business administration and computer science.
UMA Board of Visitors
Bylaws
Adopted: September, 1998
Revised: Effective July 1, 2016
Administration of the Board of Visitors is managed by the Office of the President, which is typically open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Office of the President
University of Maine at Augusta
Alumni Center
46 University Drive
Augusta, ME 044330
207-621-3041
Fax: 207-621-3393