Joseph McDonnell
President
tel 207-778-7256
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jmcdonnell@maine.edu
Before being appointed UMF President, Joseph McDonnell had most recently been a Professor of Policy, Planning and Management in the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine (USM), where he previously served as Dean of the College of Management and Human Services, and later as USM Provost.
At USM, McDonnell was Interim Dean of the School of Business and prior to that, was a Research Professor at Stony Brook University in New York. He has also held senior leadership positions in the private sector.
McDonnell brings to Farmington higher education leadership experience and a record of creating innovative academic programming through partnerships that meet student and employer needs, including in areas aligned with UMF’s strengths.
At USM, for example, McDonnell initiated a doctoral degree in Education Leadership as a joint venture between the Muskie and Education schools, and a program in Tourism and Hospitality.
Christine Wilson
Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
tel 207-778-7087
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christine.wilson@maine.edu
Dr. Christine Wilson came to UMF from the University of Connecticut, where she was Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Director of Student Activities, and an Instructor in the university’s graduate program in Higher Education and Student Affairs.
Wilson has more than 25 years of strategic leadership experience in student affairs, including administration of Title IX programming and student activities. Her other roles in student affairs include serving as Assistant Director for Student Leadership at the University of Rhode Island and an Instructor in the school’s Master’s in College Student Personnel program, Director of Student Activities at the University of Baltimore, Assistant Director of Residential Life at SUNY–New Paltz, and Coordinator of Residential Life at Penn State University.
She received a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Rhode Island. a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Indiana State University.
Laurie Gardner
Chief Business Officer
tel 207-778-7272
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lgardner@maine.edu
Laurie Gardner started at UMF in 1989 and has held various roles over the years leading to her current position as Chief Business Officer. She is proud to work at an institution that encourages personal growth and values every student.
In addition to her work at UMF, she also sits on the Board of Directors for Franklin County Network (fcNet) whose mission is to provide a pathway to the future, promoting higher educational opportunities to the residents of Franklin County and is the Treasurer for Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) whose mission, in part, is to provide services to alleviate the conditions of economic uncertainty and advocating for changes to eliminate the cause of poverty.
Katherine Yardley
Associate Provost and Dean of Education, Health and Rehabilitation
tel 207-778-7154
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kyardley@maine.edu
Dr. Katherine Yardley is the Co-Provost and Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Rehabilitation at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF), a role she assumed in 2023. She has held leadership positions at UMF since 1995, including Associate Provost, Dean, and Chair of the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Beginning her UMF career in 1987 as an Assistant Professor and Educational Director of the Sweatt-Winter Child Care Center, she earned tenure in 1992 and became a full professor in 1998.
Dr. Yardley has been deeply engaged in institutional leadership and teacher education accreditation at both state and national levels. She has served on numerous leadership councils, developed graduate education programs, and contributed to accreditation efforts for UMF and the State of Maine. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Bowdoin College and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Steven Quackenbush
Associate Provost and Dean of Arts & Science
tel 207-778-7518
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steven.quackenbush@maine.edu
Dr. Quackenbush is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Steven Quackenbush completed his Ph.D. in social-personality psychology at Kansas State University in 1996. As a UMF faculty member, Dr. Quackenbush has taught a broad range of courses, including General Psychology (PSY 101), Adulthood and Aging (PSY 226), and Cognitive Psychology (PSY 314). His scholarly interests include the history of psychology and narrative approaches to the study of lifespan personality development. Dr. Quackenbush’s recent publications have explored issues relevant to the narrative structure of personal identity as well as the general problem of theoretical unification in the social sciences. Of his various accomplishments, Dr. Quackenbush is especially proud of his long track record of involving undergraduate students in original research.
Office of the President
University of Maine at Farmington
Merrill Hall
224 Main Street
Farmington, Maine USA 04938
tel 207-778-7256
fax 207-778-8189
TYY (via Maine Relay Service) dial 711