Past Maine Campus Compact VISTAs

As the AmeriCorps*VISTA at the University of New England, Meg’s primary role is to act as coordinator for UNE’s College Community Mentoring Program. She is responsible for recruiting, training, and managing UNE students to serve as mentors for local children and youth in grades pre-K through 12.  Meg also works with a service-based orientation program called Trailblazers in the Community, coordinates the annual Community Service & Volunteer Fair, assists with service-learning seminars, and organizes college aspiration tours at UNE for local middle school students.

Brittany McGarry – University of Southern Maine

As the SGA VISTA at USM, Brittany is a resource to all student organizations for assistance with fund-raising, membership recruitment, event planning, basic organization, running effective meetings and anything else they may need. Brittany consistently helps to organize collaborations between student groups and regularly encourages community service to help strengthen an organization. For example, she is currently working to pitch a USM Day of Service for all student organizations to get involved and work together on a campus-wide project.

Becki Quimby — University of Southern Maine Lewiston Auburn College

Becki is one of the coordinators of the Office of Community Service Learning. She is coordinating college students to work with Big Brother Big Sister Androscoggin in a new mentoring program. She is also planning the fourth annual Community Partner Event.

Erin Reed — Downtown Education Collaborative

DEC is a new partnership between the colleges and non-profits in the Lewiston-Auburn area that is dedicated to creating a space where students, faculty, residents, and non-profits can come together to discuss issues in the city and brainstorm creative new programming that both addresses community needs and provides service-learning and community-service opportunities for students. Erin is responsible for running an after-school program at the Lewiston Public Library and for the College Student's Guide to Lewiston-Auburn. Erin is also responsible for coordinating the collaborations between the schools and the community for many one-time service events.

Alicia Sampson – University of Southern Maine

Alicia is the Service Learning Coordinator for USM's Office of Community Engagement (OCE).  She works with faculty and the OCE's community partners to develop projects where students can put into practice what they are learning in the classroom in anti-poverty projects.  Alicia is also the project coordinator for Civic Matters, USM's first annual symposium of community based research and projects.  Finally, Alicia works to develop and support campus/community partnerships for USM focusing on the arts. 

Jessica Sheldon – Maine College of Art

As MECA's Americorps VISTA Jess support the Service-Learning program by helping promote and maintain both service learning and civic engagement as an integral part of the curriculum and student life.

Sara Trunzo – Unity College

Sara is working in the department of Community Based Learning to help Unity College students and faculty connect with hands-on service opportunities that benefit local schools, food security organizations, and other community groups.  Students benefit by using the community as a learning laboratory.  Community partners benefit from having access to more hands, expertise, and energy to do their work in our rural community. 

2008 – 2009

Joel Biron – Maine Campus Compact

Joel is the VISTA Leader at Maine Campus Compact. His main goal is to assist the VISTAs with all of their personnel issues and provide professional development and team building opportunities to help them make the most of their year of service. He recruits and screens all VISTA applicants for the next year of service.

Craig DeForest – University of Maine at Orono

Craig is developing a program in collaboration with the Office of Community Standards, Rights, and Responsibilities in which conduct referral students can complete service through the Bodwell Center with an aspect of reflection and service-learning. He is also working on UMaine Cares – an annual day of service in celebration of National Make A Difference Day where students volunteer for the day at local community organizations. The Holiday Sharing Program is an upcoming project in which toys/gifts are provided to hundreds of Old Town area families in need.

Rachel Dingman – Colby College

Rachel's focus is working with Head Residents to design a community engagement program where the students will learn about a Waterville organization through community service. She also is working on Relay for Life, alternative spring break programming, and a joint can drive with local elementary schools.

Andrea Emch – University of Maine at Augusta

Andrea serves at the Office of Community Engagement at the University of Maine at Augusta. In her position, Andrea is responsible for guiding student-run programming and community engagement projects. Additionally, Andrea is working with faculty to increase the number and quality of service-learning initiatives available at the school.

Will Fassett – Colby College

Will works at the student-led Colby Volunteer Center. He is building the capacity of the center via staff and volunteer recruitment, developing training and student leadership programs, and serving as a consistent point of entry for members of the community. He has also been organizing campus visits for Maine middle and high schoolers through the MELMAC Aspirations program.

Melissa Grove – University of New England

Melissa is coordinating the University of New England's College Community Mentoring Program. She is particularly focused on making the program sustainable by encouraging student leadership. As organizer, she recruits, screens, trains and manages volunteer mentors while running programs within the mentoring program. Melissa also works with a service-focused freshmen orientation program called Trailblazers in the Community, helps with service-learning seminars, assists with UNE's Oxfam Hunger Banquet and coordinates the annual Service Fair.

Jennifer Livingston – Maine College of Art

Jennifer works for the Service Learning Department at Maine College of Art assisting with the implementation of a service learning component into the first year student curriculum. Helming the fledgling program, she works to integrate service learning into additional classes, programming, and events both this semester and in the future.

Aubrey Nelson – Bates College

Aubrey is working to provide winterization and fuel efficiency education in order to help keep Lewiston/Auburn warm this winter. She works with the girls' Hillview Aspirations program to organize fun and environmentally focused activities. She is helping Lewiston High School to develop an outdoor classroom, and is acting as a consultant to the Student Volunteer Fellows.

Erin Reed – Downtown Educational Collaborative

Erin is the VISTA at the DEC, a new partnership between the colleges and non-profits in the Lewiston-Auburn area that is dedicated to creating a space where students, faculty, residents, and non-profits can come together to discuss issues in the city and brainstorm creative new programming that both addresses community needs and provides service-learning and community-service opportunities for students. It is one of the few collaborations of its kind. At the end of September, a new after-school program – staffed by students from all four colleges and attended primarily by middle and high school students in the Somali and Sudanese refugee communities – was begun at the Lewiston Public Library.

Tammy Smith – University of Maine, Presque Isle

Tammy is serving with Upward Bound at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She is working on developing online tutoring and mentoring for high school students who seek to become first generation college students. Tammy is also mobilizing college student volunteers and faculty to help create and staff an online tutoring component for Upward Bound students. Through these avenues, she is improving students' college aspirations and readiness.

Natalie Wade – Aspirations in Mid-Coast Maine

Natalie is focused on finding ways to help five mid-coast high school guidance teams facilitate the movement of their students into post secondary education. This collaboration aims to provide resources such as information on existing programs, college fairs, college field trips, and an assessment of needs not met.

Michael Wilson – University of Southern Maine

Michael develops and supports campus/community partnerships for USM, focusing on Portland's neighborhoods and the arts. He also develops and maintains their website and helps to run their AmeriCorps Service Leaders program.

2007 – 2008

Matthew Barison – Maine Campus Compact

Matthew is the VISTA Leader at Maine Campus Compact. His main goal is to assist the VISTAs with all of their personnel issues and provide professional development and team building opportunities to help them make the most of their year of service. He recruits and screens all VISTA applicants for the next year of service. Matthew has a B.A. in English from Trinity College.

Katie Clark – Southern Maine Community College

Katie serves at Southern Maine Community College in the Center for Global Opportunities. Her main goal is to improve access and retention among multicultural students, which involves identifying MC students at SMCC and in the community and then welcoming them to campus and supporting them in all aspects of student life. Katie is also responsible for planning meetings between MC students where they are encouraged to share their cultural, academic, and social concerns. Katie has a B.A. in History from Bates College.

Melissa Grove – University of New England

Melissa is coordinating the University of New England's College Community Mentoring Program. She is particularly focused on making the program sustainable by encouraging student leadership. As organizer, she recruits, screens, trains and manages volunteer mentors while running programs within the mentoring program. Melissa also works with a service-focused freshmen orientation program called Trailblazers in the Community, helps with service-learning seminars, assists with UNE's Oxfam Hunger Banquet and coordinates the annual Service Fair. Melissa has a B.A. in Psychology from Wheaton College.

Andrea Emch – University of Maine at Augusta

Andrea serves at the Office of Community Engagement at the University of Maine at Augusta. In her position, Andrea is responsible for guiding student-run programming and community engagement projects. Additionally, Andrea is working with faculty to increase the number and quality of service-learning initiatives available at the school. Andrea has a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from the University of Maine at Augusta.

Tammy Smith – University of Maine, Presque Isle

Tammy is serving with Upward Bound at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She is working on developing online tutoring and mentoring for high school students who seek to become first generation college students. Tammy is also mobilizing college student volunteers and faculty to help create and staff an online tutoring component for Upward Bound students. Through these avenues, she is improving students’ college aspirations and readiness. Tammy has a BA in Business Management with a minor in history and an AA in Liberal Studies with a Concentration in social science from the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Melissa Cormier – University College of Bangor

Melissa is serving her third VISTA term at the Office of Community Engagement at University College of Bangor. A large part of what she does at UCB involves developing college aspirations in youth and improving access to college by providing assistance with the application process and teaching them about financial aid. Melissa also works with community organizations on anti-poverty issues to form Service-Learning partnerships and supports faculty in their S-L efforts. She is certified in CPR and holds periodic CPR trainings throughout the school year. Melissa has a B.S. in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from Eastern Oregon University.

Daniel Aiello – Bates College

Dan is serving at the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates College. His main goal is to build capacity at the Harward Center by nurturing relationships with community organizations and creating resources for student leadership development. Dan works with the Student Volunteer Fellows to develop leadership skills and increase civic engagement on campus. Dan has a B.A. in American Studies from Williams College.

Erica Tobey – University of Southern Maine

Erica works at the Office of Community Service at University of Southern Maine. Her main focus is increasing civic engagement on the campus by working with student groups to find service projects, finding placements for Service-Learning students and recruiting student volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters and other community organizations. Erica is also providing service projects and reflections for RAs in training and producing a newsletter for the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement. Erica has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Southern Maine.

2006 – 2007

Stefany Arsenault – Maine Campus Compact

Stefany is the VISTA Leader at Maine Campus Compact. Her main goal is to assist the VISTAs with all of their personnel issues and provide professional development and teambuilding opportunities to help them make the most of their year of service. She is also responsible for orienting all of MCC's part-time AmeriCorps volunteers and helping them find training opportunities. Stef helps to coordinate MCC's civic engagement awards and the yearly Days at the State House. She recruits and screens all VISTA applicants for the next year of service, too. Her most rewarding project is working on MCC's Campus Sustainability Conference. Stefany has a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture from University of Maine.

Melissa Cormier – University College of Bangor

Melissa is serving her second VISTA term at the Office of Community Engagement at University College of Bangor. A large part of what she does at UCB involves developing college aspirations in youth and improving access to college by providing assistance with the application process and teaching them about financial aid. Melissa also works with community organization on anti-poverty issues to form Service-Learning partnerships and supports faculty in their S-L efforts. She is certified in CPR and holds periodic CPR trainings throughout the school year. Melissa has a B.S. in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from Eastern Oregon University.

Joshua D. Dallaire – The Compass Project

Joshua is building capacity at The Compass Project through database formation, updating their website and researching public outreach methods. Josh is helping The Compass Project explore the world of Service-Learning by connecting to the Westbrook School Department. He is in charge of photo-documentation, journaling and reflection activities with students who visit The Compass Project. Joshua has a B.A. in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, and a minor in Communication, from the State University of New York at Potsdam and an A.A. in Humanities & Social Science from North County Community College in Saranac Lake, NY.

Anne Daly – University of New England

Anne is coordinating University of New England's College Community Mentoring Program. She is particularly focused on making the program sustainable by encouraging student leadership. As organizer, she recruits, screens, trains and manages volunteer mentors while running programs within the mentoring program. Annie also works with a service-focused pre-orientation program called Trailblazers in the Community, helps with service-learning seminars, assisted with UNE's Oxfam Hunger Banquet and recruited volunteers for Operation Keep ME Warm. Annie has a B.S. in Psychology from Fordham University in NY.

Nicole Hart – Bowdoin College

Nicole is serving in the Community Service Resource Center at Bowdoin College. Her main focus is promoting Service-Learning on the Bowdoin campus, including recruiting faculty to try S-L in the classroom, assessing past S-L projects and running a Service-Learning Symposium. Nicole is also supporting other civic engagement projects, including Operation Keep ME Warm and kNOw Poverty Week. Her most rewarding projects were Aspirations in ME: A Taste of the College Experience and Sponsor-a-Family for the Holidays. Nicole has a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Education from Bowdoin College.

Lila Jones – Southern Maine Community College

Lila is serving her second year as a VISTA at Southern Maine Community College in the Multicultural Student Center. Her main goal is to improve access and retention among multicultural students, which involves first identifying MC students at SMCC and in the community and then engaging them in one of several mentoring programs. Lila is also responsible for planning meetings between MC students where they are encouraged to share their cultural, academic and social concerns. She also coordinates activities for International Education Week and organizes trips to Boston and other areas of interest in New England. Lila has a graduate degree in Art History, Political Science, and Business from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

Sarah Joy – School Union 98

Sarah is helping to increase Service-Learning at the Mount Desert Island School Department. As a member of the Service-Learning Steering Committee, she spends a good deal of her time raising awareness of MDI's S-L projects by developing a Web site and communicating with the press. Sarah also works with teachers to start up and continue S-L projects and has worked with the MDI Water Quality Coalition to plan the 2007 Youth Watershed Forum. Sarah has a B.S. in Secondary Education from Oneonta State University in NY and a B.A. in Psychology from University of New York at Geneseo.

Sara Stone – Bates College

Sara is serving at the Harward Center for Community Partnerships at Bates College. Her main goal is to build capacity at the Harward Center by nurturing relationships with community organizations and creating new partnerships. Sara works with the Student Volunteer Fellows to develop leadership skills and increase civic engagement on campus. She also works with Empower Lewiston and Lewiston-Auburn College to mentor students in the community and recruits student volunteers to assist small organizations the community, provide college aspirations programs at Lewiston High School and run on-campus hunger events throughout the year. Sara has a B.A. in Women and Gender Studies from Bates College.

Erica Tobey – University of Southern Maine

Erica recently started her VISTA term at the Office of Community Service at University of Southern Maine. Her main focus is increasing civic engagement on the campus by working with student groups to find service projects, finding placements for Service-Learning students and recruiting student volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters and other community organizations. Erica is also providing service projects and reflections for RAs in training and producing a newsletter for the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement. Erica has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Southern Maine.

2005 – 2006

Rebecca Brochu – University of Maine at Orono

Rebecca is working with faculty and staff to increase the integration of service learning into curriculum, focusing on issues of social and economic inequality. Rebecca is also working to raise awareness of the nature, needs, and role as resource communities, such as the Hispanic Migrant workers.

Melissa Cormier – University College of Bangor

Melissa is working on expanding service learning and community service opportunities with local agencies. She is also working to create two Alternative Spring Break Programs that focus on anti-poverty issues. Melissa is also collaborating with the VISTA at the University of Maine at Augusta to expand the current Volunteer Clearinghouse so that students, faculty and/or staff may engage in volunteer work with local agencies.

Erica Famous – University of Maine at Machias

Erica is working with area secondary schools, community organizations and the University to increase the number of low-income local high school graduates who decide to attend and complete college through UMM Early College Program. In addition, Erica is developing a clearing-house and resource center for all service activities on campus and is assisting in the facilitation of a newly established annual program, "Celebrating Civic Engagement at UMM."

Jessica Hardy – Colby College

Jessica works with faculty and staff to develop and implement service-learning courses. She serves as a liaison between community partners and service-learning faculty. Jessica also supports the development of a student run Volunteer Center through programming ideas and advice.

Laurie Hearne – USM-Lewiston Auburn College

Laurie assists faculty and staff members to combat poverty through service-learning and leadership in the Lewiston-Auburn Community but also within the local rural communities of Androscoggin County by continuing to generate a network of educational volunteer resources and making them accessible for the campus and community to utilize in the future.

Lila Jones – Southern Maine Community College

Lila is working to enhance the civic engagement of SMCC students through community service programs and projects. She is responsible for developing programs that will encourage students to become involved in activities that promote participation in the democratic process and seek to make students aware of their ability to impact their communities through service.

Sarah Mountcastle – Bowdoin College

Sarah is working to build service learning infrastructure at Bowdoin College through building relationships with community agencies and supporting faculty that utilize service learning as an effective teaching tool. Sarah also organizes campus symposiums for service learning participants and is planning a spring conference on poverty.

Patrick Ochieano – University of Maine at Augusta

Patrick works with faculty and staff to develop and support service-learning projects with anti-poverty outcomes. He is involved in increasing the range of community service opportunities available for UMA students by establishing connections with local service agencies. Patrick will also be responsible for three alternative breaks in the coming year.

2004 – 2005

Rebecca Bogdanovitch – Bowdoin College

Rebecca is working to build service learning infrastructure at Bowdoin College through building relationships with community agencies and supporting faculty that utilize service learning as an effective teaching tool. Becky also organizes campus symposiums for service learning participants and is planning a spring conference on poverty.

Erica Famous – University of Maine at Machias

Erica is working with area secondary schools, community organizations and the University to increase the number of low-income local high school graduates who decide to attend and complete college through UMM Early College Program. In addition, Erica is developing a clearing-house and resource center for all service activities on campus and is assisting in the facilitation of a newly established annual program, "Celebrating Civic Engagement at UMM."

Laurie Hearne – USM-Lewiston Auburn College

Laurie assists faculty and staff members to combat poverty through service-learning and leadership in the Lewiston-Auburn Community but also within the local rural communities of Androscoggin County by continuing to generate a network of educational volunteer resources and making them accessible for the campus and community to utilize in the future.

Cyndi Longo – University College of Bangor

Cyndi is working on expanding service learning and community service opportunities with local agencies. She is also working to create two Alternative Spring Break Programs that focus on anti-poverty issues. Cyndi is also collaborating with the VISTA at the University of Maine at Augusta to expand the current Volunteer Clearinghouse so that students, faculty and/or staff may engage in volunteer work with local agencies.

Emily Quann – Colby College

Emily works with faculty and staff to develop and implement service-learning courses. She serves as a liaison between community partners and service-learning faculty. Emily also supports the development of a student run Volunteer Center through programming ideas and advice.

Brooke Robinson – University of Maine at Augusta

Brooke works with faculty and staff to develop and support service-learning projects with anti-poverty outcomes. She is involved in increasing the range of community service opportunities available for UMA students by establishing connections with local service agencies.

Crystal Silva – York County Community College

Crystal is working on a program to help low income community members break the cycle of poverty by obtaining education and training that will enable them to acquire employment to support themselves and their families. She also works with students and faculty to increase their involvement in community service in various ways.

Kai Takcatsuka – Southern Maine Community College

Kai is assisting in the creation, implementation, and enhancement of a new service learning component for SMCC's newly formed Liberal Studies Program. Kai also supports the development of campus-community partnerships, a new Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, and is helping to strengthen campus-wide awareness of service-learning.

2003 – 2004

Melissa Burlingame – VISTA Leader

Rose Fitch – Lewiston Auburn College

Kristen Fitts – Colby College

Cyndi Longo – U. College of Bangor

Caitlin McDonald – Bowdoin College

Anna Patkus – Southern Maine Comm. College

Isaac Record – U. Maine at Augusta

Crystal Silva – York County Comm. College

Tammy Zborel – Unity College

2002 – 2003

Syd Danforth – Lewiston Auburn College

Travis Doboszenski – U. of Southern Maine

Jennifer Farrell – U. Maine at Machias

Nicole Fernald – Eastern Maine Tech. College

Lissa Hardy – Unity College

Eric Morin – Bowdoin College

Anna Patkus – Southern Maine Comm. College

Katie Pinard – St. Joseph's College

Chris Sussman – Colby College

2001 – 2002

Travis Doboszenski – U. Southern Maine

Malcolm Easler – UM Presque Isle

Jennifer Farrell – UM at Machias

Teresa Hawko – Colby College

Karyn King – St. Joseph's College

Paula Maselli – Bates College/LAC

John Mathieu – UM at Fort Kent

Derek Michaud – Unity College

Amanda Patty – Southern Maine Tech. College

2000 – 2001

Lydia Bell – Bowdoin College

Rebecca Berson – Unity College

Lori Brown – UM at Machias

Malcolm Easler – UM at Presque Isle

Karyn King – St. Joseph's College

Emily Lantz – Kennebec Valley Comm. College

Paula Masselli – Bates College/LAC

Joseph McLean – UM Fort Kent

Heather Monroe – U. of Southern Maine

1999 – 2000

Raquelle Brennan – St. Joseph's College

Michael Cuzzi – Colby College

Carla Ganiel – UM at Machias

Penny Hilton – U. of Southern Maine

Amy Keith – Bates College/LAC

Jennifer Kelley – U. of New England

Emily Lantz – Kennebec Valley Tech. College

Joseph McLean – UM at Fort Kent

Tori Ryan – UM at Orono

Allyson Streeter – VISTA Leader

Dawn Wood – Kennebec Valley Tech. College

1998 – 1999

Kendra Aiello – Bates College/LAC

Nikki Bolka – VISTA Leader

Michael Cuzzi – Colby College

Sara Demers – Unity College

Penny Hilton – U. of Southern Maine

Jennifer Kelley – U. of New England

Tammy McBreairty – UM at Fort Kent

Catherine Merry – Kennebec Valley Tech. College

John Sauter Jr. – UM at Orono

Allyson Streeter – St. Joseph's College