Our board

Aspirations. Ambition. Connections. Celebration.

Board of Directors, 2026

Emma Beaulieu, former elementary school teacher in San Francisco, Bowdoin College graduate, Emerson University graduate student in speech pathology, from Presque Isle.

Evan Bess, biomedical engineer, graduate of the University of Maine, from Madison, Mitchell Scholar.

Beth Clifford, former curriculum coordinator, Maine Indian Education.

Trinity Levesque, previous Future of Maine Scholarship recipient from Mars Hill, student at the University of Maine, Orono.

Roxanna MacGregor, graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, from Eastport, Mitchell Scholar, currently working in maritime logistics in Florida.

Thomas Trundy, previous Future of Maine Scholarship recipient, Bowdoin College graduate, current graduate student at Tufts Medical School Maine Track, from Bath, Maine.

Ellie Walker, marine science education coordinator at the University of Southern Mississippi, graduate of Maine Maritime Academy and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, from Blue Hill, Mitchell Scholar. (MeCC board chair)

George Wood, environmental consultant, Trenton, Maine and Winchester, MA.

 

Program Director

Bob Stuart grew up on the coast of Maine, inspired by the ocean and boats . . . and, of course, by the dream of being a star in the NFL. Despite being the starting quarterback on his junior high football team, that NFL phone call never came.

After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1977, he became a teacher, coach, and administrator at secondary schools in Colorado, Texas, and Maine. He earned a master's degree in education from Harvard. He later worked at Bowdoin College in student affairs, headed education and training efforts worldwide at Grinnell Corporation and Tyco International, and started a long career as an independent college counselor for students throughout the US and abroad. Those experiences, and his connections to Maine, helped him recognize the divide between those with information about the opportunities in higher education, and those without.

In 1992, he founded the nonprofit Foundation for the Advancement of Education, which later changed its name to Maine College Circle. That nonprofit effort has enabled him to commit himself and others to supporting the aspirations and educational opportunities of young students in rural Maine communities. He is convinced that it is the best path to a brighter future for the students and for the communities.

Over the past 25+ years, he has done over 1000 Aspirations Workshops in Maine, Colorado, and Massachusetts and he has done college admissions, financial aid, and workforce learning workshops in Maine, Colorado, Massachusetts, Illinois, Alabama, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.

In 2005, he brought lacrosse to Guatemala and to children at the Guatemala City garbage dump, in partnership with Safe Passage. Lacrosse in Guatemala continues to grow today with his ongoing support.

He never got that call from the NFL, but he is the father of three, married to a retired middle school science teacher, and is an increasingly slow but still active lacrosse player and competitive runner. And, today, he lives by the ocean in Trenton, Maine, with his wife . . . and a boat or three.

Past Board Members Emeriti/ae

Jeffrey Allum, education researcher, Washington, DC

Ralph Brandweide, business consultant, retired

Bayard Brokaw, educator, college consultant, early aspirations program coordinator in rural Idaho, Sun Valley, Idaho.

John Carpenter, attorney, Bernstein Shur Sawyer & Nelson, Portland. ME

Kent Chabotar, past President, Guilford College

Ray Cook, former educator

Ruth Ann Cowger, school counselor, East Grand School, Danforth

Paul Dexter, educator, University of Southern Maine

Genevieve Doughty, educator and social worker, Maine Indian Education, Perry

Sierra Goodridge, educator, college advisor, Mitchell Scholar, from Clinton

Adrienne Hansen, Bowdoin graduate, educator

David B. Hawkes, accountant, business consultant, retired

Mary Herman, Maine Department of Education, retired

Nell Hermann, middle school teacher, Blue Hill

Thomas Hyndman, educational consultant

Izzy Jorgenson, Bridgespan Group

Julianna Kiley, educator, Bowdoin College graduate

Barry Kurland, former COO, Cecelia Health, New York, NY, business consultant

Samuel Ladd, People’s United Bank, retired

Ann Luginbuhl, retired teacher, Charlotte Elementary

Michaela Marden, occupational therapist, Mitchell Scholar, from Bingham

Anna Martens, medical graduate student, Bowdoin College graduate, from Denver, Colorado

Emily McCadden, Bowdoin graduate, college counselor, from Calais

CJ Moody, nurse at Eastern Maine Medical Center, former student at University of Southern Maine, Mitchell Scholar, from Old Town

Stuart Newell, developer, Portland, ME

Christopher Pierce, Dingley Press, retired

Joan Samuelson, athletic consultant

Hunter White, Bowdoin graduate, college advisor, Hong Kong