UMA Board of Visitors

Current BOV Membership

Jennifer Riggs (Chair)

(2021-2024 2nd term)
Augusta ME, 04330

Jennifer L. Riggs, MSN, RN, is the Chief Nursing Officer for MaineGeneral Medical Center and the CEO for MaineGeneral Community Care. She spearheads the organization’s nearly 1,600 nursing team members, overseeing nursing practice across all of MaineGeneral Health with responsibility for Nursing, Care Management, Radiology, Cardiology, Emergency and Surgical Services, HomeCare & Hospice, and Behavioral Health Services.

As a member of the health system executive team, she supports and facilitates an interdisciplinary team approach to the delivery of care. This includes creating a nursing environment in which collaboration is valued and excellence in clinical care is promoted and achieved.

Jennifer holds a master’s degree in nursing and healthcare administration from Saint Joseph’s College. She is involved in several industry organizations and non-profits. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the Association of Nurse Executives (AONE); the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA), and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrical and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). She also serves on the Board of Directors for Delta Ambulance and Maine Dartmouth Family Practice Residency.

Shenna Bellows (Vice Chair)

(2021-2024 1st term)
Manchester ME, 04351

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is Maine’s 50th Secretary of State, sworn into her first two-year term in the position on Jan. 4, 2021. Secretary Bellows is Maine’s first female Secretary of State.

Secretary Bellows previously served two terms in the Maine Senate from 2016-2020, representing 11 towns in southern Kennebec County. In the Maine Senate, she served as Senate Chair of the Labor and Housing Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee. She was a 2020 presidential elector in the Electoral College.

Secretary Bellows most recently led the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine as executive director from 2018 to 2020. Previously, she owned Bellows & Company, a non-profit consulting business, where she worked with organizations such as the Sierra Club’s Maine Chapter, Consumers for Affordable Healthcare and the Maine Women’s Lobby. She also served as interim executive director of LearningWorks. In 2014, Secretary Bellows was the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in Maine.

From 2005 to 2013, Secretary Bellows was executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. She was a member of the first Right to Know Advisory Committee and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. She served on the Executive Committee of the 2009 and 2012 ballot campaigns to pass marriage equality in Maine, and co-chaired a successful 2011 statewide ballot campaign to restore same-day voter registration. She was an original member of the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting.

Currently, Secretary Bellows is serving on the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Elections Committee, Business Services Committee, Cybersecurity Committee, Awards Committee and International Relations Committee.

Secretary Bellows grew up in Hancock and is a graduate of Ellsworth High School. She holds a B.A. in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College. She volunteered with the Peace Corps in Panama and AmeriCorps VISTA in Nashville, Tennessee.

Secretary Bellows lives with her husband, Brandon, in Manchester, where she serves on the Manchester Conservation Commission.

Diane L. Dunn

(2024-2027 1st Term)
Rome, ME 04963

Brigadier General Diane L. Dunn is currently the adjutant general of the National Guard in Augusta, Maine. She previously served as chief of staff at the Joint Force Headquarters in Augusta, as well as commander of the 120th Regional Support Group in Bangor. In her 36 years of military service, Dunn’s roles have included pre-mobilization training and evaluation commander, public affairs branch chief, commander of the 240th Regiment Regional Training Institute, and assistant professor of military science.

Dunn also served as the commander of the 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion for Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Some of the 18 military honors she has earned include, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

In her civilian life, Dunn previously owned a mortgage company, and worked as a licensed social worker. She now owns and operates Jim Dunn Stable LLC, with 8 to 10 harness race horses that compete along the east coast from Maine to Florida.

Professional memberships include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Officers Association of America, the National Guard Association of the United States, the Transportation Honorable Order of Saint Christopher, Quartermaster Distinguished Order of Saint Martin, and she has been inducted into the Saint Bonaventure University Army ROTC Hall of Fame.

Dunn holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Houghton College, as well as master’s degrees in public administration from the University of Maine, and in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Jim LaBelle

(2024-2027 1st Term)
Biddeford ME, 04005

Jim LaBelle is the Executive Director of the Biddeford & Saco Chamber of Commerce, and has led this non-profit organization since 2018. He also serves in a number of local Board of Director positions including at the Biddeford City Theater and the Biddeford Mills Museum. Prior to his current role, he spent 32 years in the private sector in the food & beverage and technology industries. His experience includes senior management roles in sales, marketing and finance for a variety of companies including Digital Equipment Corporation, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Wine.com, and Fishery Products International. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Masters Degree in Economics from Northeastern University. He and his wife Amy live in Biddeford.

Randall Liberty

(2021-2024 1st term)
Clinton ME, 04927

Commissioner Randall Liberty was hired by the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office in 1989 as a Deputy Sheriff. Over twenty-six years, he served as a Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Major, Chief Deputy and as the elected Sheriff for nine years. During his tenure as Sheriff, he focused his efforts on Justice Involved Military Veterans, Drug Enforcement, and the treatment of Addiction. He assisted Military Veterans in their transition from the battlefield through advocacy, programming and Veterans Court. He served as the President of the Maine Sheriffs Association, as the Chairman of the Maine Drug Enforcement Advisory Board and on the Board of Visitors at the University of Maine (Augusta).

In addition to his active duty service as a Military Policeman in Korea, Warden Liberty performed an additional twenty-one years in the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. During this time, he served as a Mountain Infantryman in Italy, as a Drill Sergeant, and as an Instructor at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. Liberty’s last assignment was in 2004 as the Command Sergeant Major of a Military Transition Team, imbedded with 772 Iraqi Infantryman in the City of Fallujah.

Liberty is a three time State of Maine Law Enforcement Officer of the year. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the National Sheriffs Leadership Institute and the New England Chiefs of Police Command Course. He earned a Masters in Management and Leadership from Liberty University and a B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Maine (Augusta). Liberty formerly served as the Warden of the Maine State Prison. He was appointed as the Commissioner of Corrections for the State of Maine, by Governor Janet Mills in 2019.

Soumia Tber

(Term expires 2026 – 1^st Term)
Augusta, ME 04330

Soumia Tber is the Director of Statewide Payroll in the Office of the State Controller. Soumia previously served as Officer in Charge of legal matters in Morocco.

Soumia also leads the Board of Directors of the Capital Area New Mainers Project. Their work focuses on embracing immigrants as ‘New Mainers’ who bring much-needed diversity, energy and vitality to our area. With robust programs and a strong network of volunteers, the CANMP aims to cultivate personal relationships within the region, meet immigrant needs and educate the broader community about diverse cultures and immigration issues.

Soumia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in private law in 1998. She also earned degrees in business administration and computer science.

Bylaws

ARTICLE I: Name

The name of this organization is the University of Maine at Augusta Board of Visitors. It is established pursuant to P&SL 1997, c. 37 as amended by P&SL 2003, c.14. In these Bylaws the University of Maine at Augusta is referred to as UMA and the Board of Visitors is referred to as the Board.

ARTICLE II: Purpose

The Board shall:

Advocate for UMA;
Raise private funds for UMA;
Advise the UMA President on community issues and regional needs;
Review for final recommendation to the University Board of Trustees tuition increases, new academic programs and the 5-year plan of the University; and
Submit an annual report of its activities to the University Board of Trustees which shall be submitted to the Legislature and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters by the Board of Trustees each January as part of the report required by the Maine Revised Statutes.

ARTICLE III: Membership

Section 1

The Board shall consist of up to twenty (20) members, not including ex-officio, non-voting members, recommended by the UMA President and confirmed by the University Board of Trustees. Membership should reflect the mission of UMA and the regions in which it operates and must demonstrate sensitivity to diversity. The UMA President shall be an ex-officio, non voting member of the Board.

Section 2

The regular term of appointment for appointed members shall be three (3) years and shall expire on July 1st of the appropriate year. In the event of a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of a term, a successor may be appointed to fill the unexpired term. Appointed members may serve a maximum of two consecutive full terms, not counting any initial appointment to fill a partial, unexpired term. A Board member who has termed out may be considered again for appointment to the Board after being off the Board for one (1) year. Members may be appointed for terms of less than three (3) years as necessary to maintain proper staggering of terms.

ARTICLE IV: Meetings

Section 1

Regular meetings of the Board shall be held quarterly for transacting such business as shall be properly brought before it. Additional meetings outside of the predetermined schedule may be called by the Chair. The last quarterly meeting of the fiscal year ending June 30th of each year shall be considered the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting, the Board shall establish a schedule of meetings for the coming year.

Section 2

Appointed members present at any meeting of the Board may vote and shall be entitled to one vote. Unless otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, all votes shall be by affirmation of a majority of members present and voting.

Section 3

Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order Revised to the extent not inconsistent with the requirements of these Bylaws. Meetings of the Board are considered “public proceedings” under Maine law and shall be conducted in accordance with applicable laws.

Section 4

Members of the Board may receive reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses for attendance at Board meetings.

Section 5

The President of UMA, or designee, shall be responsible for maintaining all records and correspondence of the Board and for administering the Board’s finances. The President, or designee, shall also be responsible for ensuring that accurate minutes are kept of all meetings and actions of the Board.

ARTICLE V: Officers

Section 1

At the Annual Meeting, the Board shall elect from among its members a Chair and a Vice-Chair to hold office for the coming year or until their successors are elected and qualified.

Section 2

The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The Chair shall perform all the duties commonly incident to the office and such other duties as the Board shall from time to time designate. The Chair shall work with the President of UMA to establish the Board agenda.

Section 3

The Vice-Chair shall, in the absence of the Chair, preside at meetings of the Board and shall fulfill the other duties of the office of the Chair when the Chair finds it impossible to fulfill them. The Vice-Chair shall perform such other duties as the Board shall from time to time designate.

Section 4

If any office of the Board becomes vacant, the Board may elect a successor to hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VI: Committees

Section 1

The Board shall have a standing Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) to five (5) Board members appointed annually by the Chair. The Nominating Committee shall nominate candidates for election at the Annual Meeting to the offices of Chair and Vice Chair. Additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted. The Nominating Committee shall also make recommendations to the President of UMA of individuals to fill vacancies on the Board.

Section 2

The Chair may, from time to time, appoint such other standing or ad hoc committees as necessary to carry out the work of the Board. The Chair shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE VII: Resignation/Removal

Any member or officer of the Board may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President of UMA and the Chair of the Board. The Board may, by majority vote, remove a member if it determines that such member has committed or engaged in any act, omission or other practice which has been or would be detrimental to the best interests of UMA, including lack of consistent performance of a Board member’s duties.

ARTICLE VIII: Conflict of Interest

The Board shall adhere to the Conflict of lnterest policies of the University of Maine System. Any Board member with a direct financial interest in a matter to be decided or recommended by the Board shall excuse themselves from participation in any related discussion or vote.

ARTICLE IX: Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board members present and voting at any regular meeting of the Board, provided the proposed amendments have been submitted at a previous meeting of the Board or notice of such amendments has been sent to all Board members at least one month prior to the meeting.

Adopted: September, 1998
Revised: Effective July 1, 2016