As part of our 60th Anniversary series, A Tradition of Excellence, A Future of Opportunity, we’re proud to spotlight one of UMA’s own: Ariel Cassista.
If you have connected with admissions, chances are you have met Ariel. She is often the first voice, the first email, or the first encouraging conversation in a student’s UMA journey. But before she helped guide hundreds of others, Ariel was charting her own path here.
What began as a role as an administrative assistant with a high school diploma grew into a career shaped by purpose, perseverance and possibility. Along the way, Ariel earned two degrees from UMA and stepped into her current role as Assistant Director of Enrollment Communications and CRM Administrator.
Today, she helps open doors for students across Maine and beyond, sharing the opportunities higher education can create. And in many ways, her story reflects the heart of UMA: when access meets support, transformation follows.
How did you come to be a part of UMA?
I started working at UMA in 2006, hired as an Administrative Assistant with only a high school diploma. Even though I had held professional roles before, UMA was the first place where I could truly picture building a career. Nearly 20 years later, my role has evolved significantly. I now manage systems and data and help build strategic communications that support our students. Along the way, I also earned my associate degree in 2018 and my bachelor’s degree in 2025.
What role has UMA played in your story?
When I first joined UMA, I was a 25-year-old looking for a job with benefits and weekends off. What I did not know then was that UMA would become much more than a place to work. It became a place where I could learn, grow, mature, and find opportunities that helped shape the person I am today. As I look back on my journey, I am proud to say I am a first-generation college graduate, a respected professional, and someone who truly considers UMA home. UMA gave me something I never thought possible. They did not just hire me, they believed in me. They gave me the chance to prove to myself that I was capable of more than I ever believed. Professionally, UMA challenged me to keep growing and step into work I never imagined I would be doing. Personally, it brought people into my life who changed me, including my soon-to-be husband, and incredible students who are still in my life today. I have watched many of them grow, mature, build careers of their own, and even start families. UMA has opened doors I never imagined I would walk through, and those opportunities have truly changed my life.
What role have you played in UMA’s story?
I would like to think I have helped UMA grow, just as much as it has helped me grow. Being part of the shift from paper-based processes to digital systems that better support students has been a meaningful part of my work. Helping build the structure behind how we manage student information, data, and communication has strengthened connection and improved the student experience in real, measurable ways. But the part I am most proud of is the human side of that work. Connecting with diverse populations of students and encouraging them to realize their potential, while simultaneously realizing my own, is something I cannot quite put into words. I know this impact is real because I have lived it myself, and I see it every day in my role at UMA. I get to help people recognize what they are capable of, even when they do not see it yet. So many of them remind me of who I used to be, unsure of their path, questioning their abilities, and sometimes feeling just average. Some were even told they could not do it, just like I was. I hope to share my story over and over again, because if it helps even one person find purpose in their choices and take the next step forward, it is worth it. And when I look back, it feels incredible that a girl nobody thought would ever step foot on a college campus is now helping shape its future.
What is different in your life or the lives of others because of your time at UMA?
Because of my time at UMA, my life looks completely different than I ever imagined it would. I gained confidence, direction, and the belief that I was capable of more, both professionally and personally. Earning my degree changed the way I see myself, and it still catches me off guard sometimes to realize how far I have come. But the biggest difference is that I now get to be part of that same transformation for other people. In my role, I help remove barriers, create clearer pathways, and build communication that supports students who may feel unsure, overwhelmed, or like they do not belong in college. I have seen students arrive questioning everything, and I have watched them grow into graduates. Being able to support that kind of progress, and to believe in students before they fully believe in themselves, is something I will never take for granted.
Is there a special memory or anything else you would like to share about your time with UMA or where you are now?
There are a lot of moments I could point to, but the one that stands out most is walking across the stage at graduation. For a long time, I did not think it would be a big moment for me. I saw finishing my degree as something I simply needed to do. But it ended up being truly life-changing, and I still catch myself thinking, “Oh, I have a bachelor’s degree.” Even more meaningful, I crossed the stage alongside three of my student ambassadors. Sharing that milestone with them is something I will never forget. Now I am taking the next step and starting my master’s program, and it still feels surreal to say out loud.