The University of Maine at Presque Isle is welcoming 12 new employees in the first part of the 2013-2014 academic year, including a new vice president, professor, and several professional staffers.
Marty Parsons has been hired as the new Vice President for Administration and Finance, the University’s chief financial officer. Parsons, who brings with him extensive experience in financial and administrative management at the higher education level, began work on Oct. 9. Parsons has served most recently as the Senior Vice President for Administrative Services/Chief Financial Officer for NorthWest Arkansas Community College. From 2008 to 2010, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for the University of Delaware’s College of Engineering. For many years before that, he was at the University of Michigan in two major financial capacities. From 1999 to 2007, he served as the Director of Budget and Administrative Manager for the Office of University Development, and from 1988 to 1999, he served as an Assistant Financial Manager for the institution, managing the University’s Accounts Payable, Travel and Procurement Card Office.
Parsons holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Michigan. He also has completed several National Association of College and University Business Officers [NACUBO] professional development activities. He has spoken at several national conferences on a variety of financial, procedural and organizational topics.
The University is welcoming one new faculty members to its academic team.
Wendy Ross joins the College of Education as an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education and Director of the Early Childhood Education Program. She has served as an adjunct instructor with UMPI’s College of Education for many years, and also has served as the Director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center in Washburn since 2009. She previously served as the Principal of New Sweden School and as a teacher at Fort Fairfield Elementary School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1988 and her Master’s of Education degree in 1999, both from the University of Maine. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership at the University of Maine.
The University also is welcoming 10 new employees to its professional staff.
Doug Carter joins the University as the Women’s Basketball Coach and Sports Information Director. He comes to the University from the University of the Cumberlands, where he served as the first assistant women’s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator. He previously has held coaching positions at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Community College of Allegheny County-South, United States Merchant Marine Academy, and Lock Haven University. Carter earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education in 2000 and his Master’s degree with a Sports Administration concentration in 2002, both from Lock Haven University.
Jane Caulfield rejoins the University as a part-time Administrative Clerk, working in the Prometric Testing Center. Caulfield previously served as Development Director and as a freelance grant writer for UMPI. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Art with a Business minor from UMPI in 1986. She most recently served as the Economic Development Director at the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. Prior to her work there and at UMPI, she worked for more than a decade at Northern Maine Development Commission. She co-owns Morning Star Art and Framing in Presque Isle.
Nicole Fournier joins the University as Director of Career Preparation and Employer Relations in the Career Services Office. Fournier comes to the University from the Aroostook County Action Program, where she served in several different capacities, including as a teacher, Resource Development Center Coordinator, Youth Job Counselor, and, in the Health Services area, as a Community Education Specialist, Clinical Specialist, and Family Life Educator. Fournier earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UMPI.
Nicole Like joined the University late in the Spring 2013 semester as the Administrative Specialist for the College of Arts and Sciences. She came to the University from the Crow’s Nest, where she served as bookkeeper. She previously served as an account manager at ECI, a student-insurance broker, and as an administrative assistant with Specialty Sports Venture in Colorado. She brings with her a wealth of administrative, accounting and office management experience. Like holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Studies and a second Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Kim Masse joins the University’s Physical Plant as a Mechanical Specialist. He most recently served as an area manager for Sprinkler Systems Inc. in Lewiston. He also has served as a project manager for Maine Fire Protection and as a plant fire technician at Louisiana Pacific Corporation.
Sandra McDougal joins the University as an Administrative Specialist in the Athletics Office. She most recently served as an administrative assistant at Lucerne Farms, and has past experience as an administrative assistant at L.L. Bean and S.W. Cole Engineering, Inc., and as a medical transcriptionist at St. Joseph Hospital.
Sara McPherson joins the University in two different capacities—she will be splitting her time between the Prometric Testing Center and the Residence Life Office, serving as an Administrative Clerk. She most recently served as the guidance office secretary at Presque Isle High School. She has previously worked as a Medicare insurance billing specialist at Pines Health Service and as an office assistant at Tempo Employment Services. She earned her Associate’s degree in the Legal Administrative Assistant program from Northern Maine Community College in 1998.
Mike Pankow joins the University as the Baseball Coach. He comes to UMPI from Northland College in Wisconsin, where he served as assistant baseball coach. He previously has held coaching positions at Washburn High School in Washburn, Wis., and at the White Lake School District, where he served as the Athletic Director, Head Baseball Coach, Girl’s Head Basketball Coach, and Physical Education Teacher. Pankow earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a second Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education: Broad-Field Science, both from Northland College.
Jennifer Roshto joins the University as the TRiO College Access Advisor for Talent Search, working from the Houlton area. She comes to the University with teaching and tutoring experience, including as a tutor for TRiO/Upward Bound and an Open Learning Center tutor/teacher for Houlton/Hodgdon Adult Education. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education-English from UMPI in 2013, and her Associate’s degree in Accounting from NMCC in 1995.
Lanette Virtanen joins the University as a Transfer Admissions Counselor/Academic Transcript Evaluator in the Admissions Office. Virtanen comes to the University after earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a minor in Professional Communication and Journalism from UMPI in May 2013. She also received her Associate’s degree in Applied Arts from UMPI in 2011, and has more than 15 years of experience as a Softline supervisor and lead for Sears.
