Announcing College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences Interim Leadership

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to inform you that Professor Heather Hamlin, currently Director of the School of Marine Sciences, has been appointed Interim Dean of the College of Earth, Life and Health Sciences (ELH) for the upcoming academic year. I am grateful that a leader of Professor Hamlin’s caliber and depth of experience has agreed to serve as Interim Dean.

A 91¸£Àû alumna, Professor Hamlin earned her Ph.D. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida before holding research and leadership positions with NOAA, Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of Florida, and the Medical University of South Carolina. Throughout her career, she has led major interdisciplinary research initiatives supported by the National Science Foundation, USDA, and NOAA, and has served as Panel Manager for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), overseeing the review of nationally competitive research proposals. She has also contributed extensively to university governance, including service as Chair of the University of Maine Faculty Senate Committee on Committees. Since becoming Director of the School of Marine Sciences in 2022, Professor Hamlin has led strategic academic planning, graduate program modernization, budget management, and organizational change while continuing to mentor graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and lead externally funded research. Her collaborative leadership and broad understanding of the university’s research, teaching, and outreach missions position her well to serve the College.

Please join me in congratulating Professor Hamlin and also thanking her for her leadership of ELH in the coming academic year. 

Due to the complexity and size of ELH and the Maine Agriculture and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES), during this transition year, I have appointed an Interim Director of MAFES. I am also delighted to inform you that Jessica Leahy, the Henry W. Saunders Distinguished Professor of Forestry in the School of Forest Resources, will serve as Interim Director of MAFES. A member of the 91¸£Àû faculty since 2005, Professor Leahy earned her Ph.D. in Natural Resources Science and Management from the University of Minnesota, and her M.S. in Forest Resources and Honors B.S. in Forest Recreation Resources from Oregon State University. She is a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters and licensed professional forester. Her research focuses on the human dimensions of natural resources, which includes projects on family forest landowner behavior, outdoor recreation resources, and rural community prosperity. Professor Leahy brings deep institutional knowledge and a strong record of collaborative leadership to her new role. She previously served as Interim Associate Dean for Research and Associate Director of MAFES , Master of Forestry Graduate Program Director, Center for Research on Sustainable Forests Program Leader, and Ecology & Environmental Sciences Director and Graduate Coordinator. Professor Leahy has also contributed extensively to university governance, including service on the President’s Budget Advisory Committee, the President’s Advisory Committee on Administrative Excellence, the University Teaching Council and the Provost’s Promotion & Tenure Advisory Committee.

There is a very accomplished and experienced leadership team in the . I am confident that this team, together with department and school leadership, will effectively support Interim Dean Hamlin and Interim Director Leahy this year and set the stage for a successful transition to the next, permanent Dean and Director in AY26-27.

The search for the next Dean of ELH will commence early in the fall semester. Deputy Provost Hannah Carter will chair the search committee. The committee itself will be constituted in September. Furthermore, the University intends to engage an external firm to assist with the search. Depending on the qualifications of the successful candidate, the dean may also be appointed to serve as director of MAFES. 

I would like to thank Diane Rowland for her five years of distinguished service as Dean of ELH and Director of MAFES. During her successful tenure as dean, Diane helped to advance the University’s mission in ways that are certain to be enduring. We are in her debt and wish her well as she returns to the faculty. 

Sincerely,

Gabe Paquette

Provost