From the President

I just finished reading an extraordinary book. In The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science, Richard Holmes tells a series of rivet- ing stories profiling the eighteenth century pioneers of chemistry, biology, and astronomy. Hol- mes portrays the close interconnection between science and art as intrinsic to the creative process. At the source of scientific discovery is the remarkable quality of wonder—the deep and resilient desire to better understand the origins of life and the cosmos, not just to quench an unrelenting curiosity, but also to learn how to reside well on our remarkable planet. Perhaps this is the holy grail of science education—the inevitable intersection of creativity and analysis. Wonder requires both a poetic sensibil- ity and a rigorous empiricism. This is the heart of At the source of scientific discovery is the remarkable environmental learning as well. At Unity College quality of wonder-the deep and resilient desire to better we strive to provide our students with an empir- ically-based, methodologically rich approach to understand the origins of life and the cosmos, not just field biology and ecology. Our students know that to quench an unrelenting curiosity, but also to learn they belong in the field. Indeed, they thrive there. how to reside well on our remarkable planet. But that is merely the starting point. What ques- tions emerge from their experiences? How might they explore those questions and turn them into sound research? Or interesting works of art? When you spend your time in the field, creative inspiration is directly encountered. The Unity faculty is currently engaged in a thorough curricular review. The outcome will provide us with a suite of pertinent and visionary majors, supported by robust learning objectives. These programs will do more than prepare a new generation of environmental professionals. At their core we hope to cultivate the very best of romantic science, linking discovery and vocation, creativity and research, and engagement with action.

Mitchell Thomashow President, Unity College

2 | UNITY Summer 2009 america’s environmental college

Winter 2009

Features 10 Lab Tested Laboratory training sparks research and collaboration

14 A Week in the Life of a Unity Student Gaining a glimpse at options day and night

18 21st Century Environmental Education: The New Basics

22 More Than Meets the Eye At Unity the campus itself is a sustainability laboratory

Perspectives My Slovenian Sojourn 4 Amy Arnett’s Fulbright experience

Building Bridges of Understanding 6 Life lessons from south of the equator

Students: One Size Doesn’t Fit All 9 Unity helps with self-discovery

In Our Element 26 Campus News Orion, Reflections, and Triumphs Alumni 41 Class Notes 31 New & Noteworthy Honors, Scholarships, and Skywriting Alumni Profiles 44 Jeff Nichols ’92 38 Faculty Notes Barn Building, Conferences, and Beginnings 51 Laura Craver ’08

On the Cover Jill Easterday ’12 of Emeryville, Calif., holds a drive rod while drilling for lake sediment on Unity Pond. Assistant Professor Kevin Spigel led the research gathering activity as part of an Environmental Citizen course for first year students. Photo taken by Olivia Hanson ’11. From the Editor

Unity Magazine Volume 23, No. 2

Managing Editor Mark Tardif From the Lab to Field Work, Science Designer/Production Manager Connects All Aspects of Unity College Susan Fedoush Student Editor The greatest challenge with each issue of Unity, the magazine of Unity College, is Marissa Smith ’12 to find space for everything that ought to be expressed. There is an enormous volume Class Notes Editors of material that is available for each issue. Every person who works on the magazine Kate Grenier Letters Dot Quimby understands that Unity College is truly on the move. A clear, central goal expressed by Editorial Assistants President Mitchell Thomashow is for the College to attain a place alongside the very Reeta Benedict Unity College Centre for the Perform- ing population of Unity alumni and staff Thanks to the internship opportu- Robert Constantine ing Arts Continues to Flourish becoming involved with social media as a nity that I pursued while a student at best small environmental colleges in the United States. In many ways the magazine is a Kate Grenier In the few years since the Unity means of staying informed and connected, Unity College, I developed leadership, place to express why such an aspiration is not only realistic, but to serve as a repository Cynthia Schaub Centre for the Performing Arts became or in some cases way to reconnect. interpersonal and professional skills that for vistas along the journey. Contributing Writers Dr. Amy Arnett, Doug Fox, Dr. Amy Knisley, a part of Unity College, also changing I’ve personally found old and dear have served me extraordinarily well. My What will Unity receive in return by achieving its lofty goals? The College will Dr. Aimee Phillippi, Lois Ongley, Dr. Kevin its name to the Unity College Centre friends from the 1970’s era of Unity Col- Unity education gave me the tools and Spigel, Mark Tardif, Cindy Thomashow, regularly use its national presence to weigh in on environmental issues of the day, while Sara Trunzo ’08, Dr. Mick Womersley for the Performing Arts (UCCPA), the lege on Facebook. The informal and visual confidence to aim high. Today, I use my nature of Facebook has allowed glimpses education each day as the chief executive also attracting the best and brightest students from across the country and abroad. Contributing Photographers vision of Bert and Coral Clifford for a into the lives of people I haven’t seen for 35 officer of an agricultural development Science in all of its forms at Unity serves as the central theme for this issue. The Dr. Amy Arnett, Olivia Hanson ’11, vibrant place for the arts in Unity has Melora Norman, Patrick O’Roark ’10, been honored. years. The Unity website and networking corporation. As a director on several tremendous range of faculty and student science projects may surprise some who are Orion Society, Dr. Aimee Phillippi, Lucas Sanders (Associated Press), Dr. Kevin Through collaborative efforts and connections such as LinkedIn permit access boards, I find that I frequently use skills new to this community and even some within. Spigel, Mark Tardif, Joyce Tenneson our own enhanced programming to personal websites and business links, that I developed at Unity. Believe it or The core values and mission of the College are also showcased in stories about the UCCPA has brought top flight, further promoting employment related not, I also draw upon my Unity educa- student internships, community service and service-learning projects. Often science and interaction among alumni. tion as host of a weekly talk radio show. Board of Trustees nationally known musical talent to a connection to the curriculum is also present. Dr. Mitchell Thomashow, President; Unity. This year we will stage nearly If you have a listing with the Unity My time at Unity College changed Mr. William Glidden, Chair; Mr. William fifty performances, a significant Alumni online page, or if you are a and shaped my life more than I could ever From its humble beginnings to the present, it is talented, committed and insightful Zoellick, Vice-Chair; Mr. Donald Foster, achievement in a rural location and a Facebook or LinkedIn user, then con- have imagined while a student. individuals who serve as the beating heart of all the College aspires to achieve and has Treasurer; Ms. Juliet Browne,Secretary; Mrs. Joan Amory, Mr. John Bielenberg, huge opportunity for area residents. sider using both. There are Facebook Thank you, Unity College for the achieved. There are few borders to contain members of the community from the upper Ms. Sharon Bloome, Ms. Eleanor Briggs, groups by year of graduation and fields wonderful experiences. Mr. Pete Didisheim, Mrs. Martha Dolben, Far from being merely a musical reaches of their scientific research, as is evident in the narrative by Associate Professor Mrs. Margot Kelley, Mr. Mac McCabe, venue, the UCCPA has also continued of interest, and as well as friends who Jay Matteson ’90 Amy Arnett about her Fulbright Fellowship to the University of Maribor in Slovenia. Mr. Mark Miller, Mrs. Nadine Mort, to serve as community meeting place, art have reconnected with each other by us- Adams, New York Mr. Robert Pollis, Mrs. Arlene Schaefer, A story about the sustainability of Unity College buildings explains the ongoing Mr. Matthew Shejen ’00, Ms. Gloria Sosa gallery, performance space, community ing the Facebook name search function. ’80, Mr. Robert Tonge,Dr. Paul Wade, Links to the Unity College website and work of Associate Professor Mick Womersley, Sustainability Coordinator Jesse Pyles, kitchen, movie theatre, and ideal Remembering a Dearly Missed Friend Mr. Jeffrey Wahlstrom, Mr. Kenneth location for special events. Alumni Body are found on Facebook. I and other faculty, staff and students. Winters, Mr. James Horan, Faculty; Dave “Fly” Champine passed away in Ms. Hannia Candelario ’11, Student Next year the UCCPA will celebrate hope to meet you there. The link between owl research and cutting-edge technology is explained in a story March of 2009. He was one of my best its ten year anniversary. There is every Annette Hanser ’73 about the affiliation between Professor Dave Potter and Unity students, and researchers buddies from my time at Unity College. reason to believe that the commitment Monroe, Maine Those were the best four years of my life. from the Massachusetts Institution of Technology. It is but one more bit of evidence that We want to hear from you. Letters to the editor, story ideas, or of Unity College employees, friends and I made some incredible, lifelong friends Unity College is evolving into one of the best environmental colleges in America. address changes may be sent to: community partners that has made the Considering the Far Reaching Impact there and Dave was my best friend among We hope you will enjoy this issue and gain insight into what a dynamic place Unity Email: [email protected] UCCPA so special will ensure that its of a Unity College Education great friends. Just as the experience of Mail: Letters, Unity Magazine best days are yet to come. Please be sure proves itself to be each day. Unity made a tremendous difference in being a Unity student brings back fond 90 Quaker Hill Road to catch a show soon. Unity, Maine 04988 my life. In the summer of 1986, I was an memories, sharing a friendship with Dave Web: www.unity.edu John Sullivan Mark Tardif intern studying wildlife corridors in the is inextricably linked to my college years. Director, UCCPA Anyone who got to know Dave was a Managing Editor We reserve the right to edit submissions north Maine woods. My classmate and for length, clarity, and style. Submissions friend, Diane Borden ’87, and I spent the very lucky person. I miss him every day should be no longer than 250 words. Keeping Track of Friends in New Ways summer collecting data to assist our Pro- and know others do as well. I was lucky Many Unity Alumni are now familiar fessor, Dr. Christine Maguire. I only wish enough to be his friend and will always Unity Magazine is printed by Franklin with the Active Involvement pages on I was able to present my work as current remember our times at Unity and there- Printing, Farmington, Maine, an FSC the Unity College website, with links to students did in the Student Conference after. God Bless you “Fly”. (Forest Stewardship Council) certified printer and printed on Rolland Enviro alumni information, mentoring possibilities Showcases Arts and Science Projects, fea- Tammy Ciesla ’91 100, a 100% post-consumer paper and email addresses. There is an ever grow- tured in an article in the last magazine. Windsor, MA manufactured using biogas energy.

2 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 3 Perspectives academics academics Perspectives

Slovenian Sojourn: A Fulbright Experience By Professor Amy Arnett the hills around Maribor searching for ant lion larvae (lace-winged Neurop- terans whose larvae dig pits in sand) for an experiment with my colleague Dr. Dušan Devetak. Dušan and I are interested in the connection between the types of soil substrate that larvae are found in nature and the type of substrate (based on particle size) that larvae choose in the lab. After collect- ing approximately 50 larvae and feed- ing them ants in the lab for two weeks, we placed them into “cakes” that con- tained eight different sand particle Professor Arnett visited Predjama Castle located near the town of Postojna in southwestern sizes, from fine powder to fairly large Slovenia. Part of her Fulbright experience was to act as a cultural ambassador. pieces. The project went well, with the larvae responding in the way that we many different “faculties” (departments) housed around the had predicted, and during the 2009-2010 academic year we city. I was part of the faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sci- will be writing the results for publication. ence, along with a handful of other biologists. My teaching Another unexpected but pleasant research collaboration oc- responsibilities were a course in insect ecology to third year bi- curred with a professor of speleology, Dr. Toné Novak. The ology students, a graduate student field methodology seminar, karst (limestone) region of Slovenia has some of the most im- plus helping with general ecology labs. pressive caves in the world. Toné has studied the biodiversity of invertebrates in caves for many “I think teaching in Slovenia has helped me appreciate years now, and prior to leaving Slovenia we began collaborating Traveling has always been a passion of mine. As an under- I applied for a Fulbright Lecture Award in August 2007 the freedom of pedagogy and individual attention to on a study regarding the ecologi- graduate student I set off on my own from small-town Michi- and received the announcement in June 2008 that I had been cal differences among approxi- gan to explore the Pacific Northwest, Wyoming, Australia, awarded a Fulbright to teach at the University of Maribor in students that is encouraged at Unity College.” mately 50 caves in northeastern New Zealand, Hawaii, and Guatemala – typically with the Slovenia. After a lot of packing and logistics, in February 2009 Slovenia. I am excited about con- positive results of new friendships, skills, and environmental my family and I were on our way to Europe. The Slovenian students in my class were at first very shy with tinuing this conversation and work regarding biodiversity in and cultural experiences. Slovenia is a small country, approximately the size of New me. I had them conduct several active discussions about articles such an extraordinary and rare habitat. As a professor at Unity, I still long to travel, but these days Jersey, positioned between Austria, Hungary, Croatia and It- and by the second class they were much more open and eager, By no means was my Fulbright experience all about work it is often to visit family or to attend a conference, not for the aly. Maribor is located in the northeast portion of Slovenia, but commented on how they were not used to any teaching though. My family and I traveled almost every weekend. We experience of traveling itself. So during 2008 as I was review- very close to Austria, and is Slovenia’s second largest city style besides lectures. Despite this, I received several very nice had wonderful trips to the mountains of Austria, visited Salzburg ing articles for a Slovenian colleague, Dr. Dušan Devetak (the with approximately 133,000 people. We found Maribor to be notes from students at the end of the semester explaining how and Graz, explored the coast of Croatia down to Dubrovnik, organizer of the Tenth International Symposium on Neurop- an appealing city with many outdoor cafés and old red-tiled much they had learned and enjoyed my teaching style. I think traveled around Venice, and extensively through Slovenia itself. terology, being held in Slovenia) it occurred to me that Slovenia buildings. The beautiful mountain and ski-hill of Pohorje is teaching in Slovenia has helped me appreciate the freedom of Overall my Fulbright semester was rich with teaching, trav- would be a great place to visit, and a Fulbright Award might located on one side of the city and vineyards on the other, with pedagogy and individual attention to students that is encour- eling, meeting new people and learning new things. I gained be the best way to get there. The Fulbright Program, the U.S. the river Drava wending its way through it. Overall, we were aged at Unity College. new perspective and experience teaching in another academic Government’s flagship international exchange program, has al- struck by the charming culture of the city and the beauty of the Because my teaching schedule was fairly low-key, I found institution and returned home happy about my adventures and ways been at the back of my mind as a way to teach and conduct natural environment. that I spent much more time discussing and conducting research grateful to have been given the opportunity to explore a new research, plus travel and explore new places and ideas. The University of Maribor was established in 1961, and has than I had anticipated. This pleasant turn of events led me into corner of the world.

4 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 5 Perspectives Changing the world changing the world Perspectives

While in Nicaragua, Unity College students pursued a wide range of activities, from helping to improve structures to planting crops. The em- phasis was on service and forging strong personal bonds. Students gained an appreciation for the optimism of Nicaraguan villagers, who are A Nicaraguan Adventure Creates open, hard-working, and highly optimistic despite facing political, economic and social challenges that are virtually unknown in comparitively Bridges to Understanding affluent American communities like Unity, Maine. By Assistant Professor Aimee Phillippi

The trip didn’t begin well. After bat- great friend on the trip. We toured their the river and when we passed by a village, no books, no supplies. Some of our helped with some of the chores (although harvest beans and attempted to improve tling a snowstorm on the way to Bos- demonstration farm and helped plant there were usually women in the river students were really struck that Miguel I imagine we were more in the way a community water supply, but the rain ton, we discovered our flight had been some pejibaye/beach palm (Palmito or washing clothes. We also saw many locals only had a soccer ball to teach about than help). We traveled by foot to the and mud made it feel like we were run- canceled. Some quick work by Delta palm heart, a gourmet vegetable with an in boats. Some had motorboats and were the world, there were no maps or globe neighbor’s house (it usually takes them ning in place. airlines staff had us in Managua, Nicara- expanding world market) seedlings. The taking goods to, or bringing them from, available. Very often parents would keep 15 minutes, but it took us half an hour), Despite the initial rough start, the trip gua, on time. The sixteen of us (four- demonstration farm is where they try out Bluefields. But many were paddling dug- their children home from school to do which was a tiny hut of poles. Here we was a great success. Our host families teen Unity College students and two new crops and techniques, but the real out canoes. Greg and Mercedes (our trip work. We spent the afternoon cutting worked on a grain storage facility so they and the SHI staff were incredibly wel- faculty members) headed to the Miskito work of SHI is in el campo, the country- leaders) said that paddling from Bluefields grass with machetes and digging up the could better keep their crops dry. While coming. We all learned a tremendous coast of Nicaragua early the next day. side, working with individual families. to San Pancho takes about 12 hours. compacted soil with the children, who there, Doña Inez showed us her family’s amount about Nicaraguan culture and We were here to work with Sustainable The next morning we were loaded We stopped at Asentimiento, a village loved finding worms and putting them water supply – a very muddy shallow the environmental issues impacting and Harvest International (SHI) promot- into small boats to head up the Kukra with a school. The homes were small, on us, and then running away giggling. well that they drink straight from. impacted by the people. ing sustainable agriculture practices that River, into the jungle. We were told wooden shacks. There were chickens, The next day we divided into two The other group hiked five hours Upon return to Unity, we hosted both increase productivity for subsistence the water was so polluted from sewage pigs, and dogs everywhere. Some of the groups. One group traveled four hours through knee-deep mud to El Colo- a fundraiser where we served typical farmers as well as reduce ecological de- that when it splashed onto our faces we students amused the villagers by trying by mule, through many rivers and mud radito where they stayed with Don Nicaraguan food and showed a movie struction from slash-and-burn. should wipe it off with our clothing. The to catch chicks, but we had real work holes, to Las Breñas. Here we stayed Mariano and Doña Julia in a home with the students made about the trip. More We all had to be weighed before four hour ride up the river was incred- to do. We were here to help the school with Don Cipriano, Doña Marta, and its few walls covered in newspapers. than $400 was raised and sent back to the boarding the questionable looking ible. There was lush vegetation spilling children build a garden to grow food their family, seeing firsthand the im- Kitchens in these homes have dirt floors school in Asentimiento to further their Soviet-era plane to Bluefields. In Blue- into the river, strange and beautiful birds for their lunches. The schoolteacher, mense amount of work it takes to make and are completely open to the elements garden and well projects. Hopefully Unity fields we met some of the Nicaraguan everywhere, and turtles sunning them- Miguel, told us about the struggle of a basic living. We slept in hammocks and animals that wander everywhere. can continue a relationship with SHI and staff, including Carla, who became a selves. We passed some small homes along maintaining a school here. There were strung up all through their home and While in El Coloradito, we helped create future opportunities for students.

6 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 7 Perspectives students students Perspectives

Finding a Passion for Science in the Jungle

It is late afternoon in the Indonesian fellow researchers entered in the data they jungle. The heat and humidity are stifling. gathered during the day. This included Patrick O’Roark ’10, a captive wildlife care how high in the trees the Bouton Ma- Building the Ideal Unity Student, No One Size Fits All and education major, has been trying to caques were foraging or resting, and spe- keep hydrated, a tough task in this demand- cifics related to behavior classified by age Each year on Move-in Day, the Unity A common but complex question pon- ing environment. The dense jungle poses a and sex classes. campus is brimming with hopeful first year dered by parents, administrators, faculty and different set of challenges. One wrong step Despite the challenges and physical students and their families. The students are students themselves is whether there is an might bring a nasty fall or a snake bite. discomfort during the dry season (no stepping into a new world with justifiable jit- “ideal” Unity student. The short answer is Usually he spends the evening at the research can be done during the rainy ters, hopes and expectations. The vast ma- a firm “no.” The long answer is much more base camp in a village of Labundo Bundo, season) O’Roark reveled in the experience, jority have already begun to make friends, involved and relates to adolescent develop- though he occasionally camps in the jungle. feeling a sense of achievement each day For some such a demanding environ- and feeling a certainty that he made the having taken a Nova trip over the summer. ment, personal proclivities and preferences, ment would be considered hardship duty, but the experi- right career choice. Within the months to come, they will begin to along with the academic and social support ences O’Roark is gathering will, in the end, solidify his O’Roark quickly developed a researcher’s sense for connect with their intended major programs systems in place at Unity. Individual student career choice. his subject, knowing when to move closer to the Buton while building a strong base of general skills. choices also play an enormous part in inter- O’Roark spent the summer of 2009 pursuing an intern- Macaques and when to avoid eye contact so as not to incite College is said to be among the best in- personal development that occurs over the ship as a biodiversity researcher for Operation Wallacea, their territorial instincts. vestments any person could make in their course of a Unity education. based in the United Kingdom. He was based on the Indo- “I learned the basic procedures for observational field lifetime. There are many statistics that bare Some changes simply relate to the fact nesian Island of Sulawesi, where he tracked three troupes studies with wild animals,” noted O’Roark. Upon arriv- witness to issues like personal fulfillment and that the average college age range of 18-22 of Bouton Macaques, a species of monkey. ing in Indonesia his initial training by Operation Wallacea earning power over a lifetime that increase is a period of enormous psychological tran- “We wrote of the behaviors we observed for the en- included the basics of living and working safely in the jungle. with a four year degree, and change further sition regardless of whether a person is at- ergy budget survey of Buton Macaques,” said O’Roark. Upon graduation O’Roark hopes to work for a zoo and with the attainment of a graduate degree. tending college or not. Back at Labundo Bundo each evening O’Roark and his eventually earn a graduate degree in primatology. What is less widely known outside the com- Attending Unity College with its particu- munity of higher education professionals is lar curriculum, community and emphasis on the process put in place to help students hands-on learning, arguably plays the largest develop from move-in day to the receipt of role in shaping the individual who steps to Science Plays Out in Big Sky Country their degree. the stage to receive his or her degree. That process can vary greatly from insti- The most important element of a Unity If Susan Bard ’10, a wildlife biol- aspect of Bard’s job. tution to institution. College education is the change from being ogy major from Plainville, Con- “I would take a kayak out on the necticut, couldn’t wait to finish final lake with a yagi (antenna) to find a passive to an active learner. Unity students learn to become advocates for their own exams and hit the road, who could them,” said Bard. “Our goal was to Life at Unity College is filled with daily academic and interpersonal development. blame her? locate nests from these scaup and opportunities for academic challenge, civic Being an active, lifelong learner is the single Bard spent the summer of 2009 as monitor them until they hatched.” engagement, exploration, adventure, fun and a Biological Technician working for Another project she worked on greatest skill that a Unity experience should creativity. The range of activities includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at was nest searching, mainly for scaup. impart to all students regardless of major. travelling to Washington, D.C. to lobby mem- Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Of the nests located, they were The “ideal” student is the one who goes bers of Congress on environmental issues, Refuge in Lakeview, Montana. monitored on average once every on to lead an engaged, deliberate, reflec- participating in national conferences, and The project to which Bard was seven days until they hatched. tive and self-aware life that involves service performing community service in tornado assigned focused on determining “This year was the first that web- to profession (often related to the environ- how body condition affects breeding tagging was used on ducklings,” said ravaged Tennessee. Students pursue a wide ment), community and family. propensity of Lesser Scaup, Aythya Bard. “Once the ducklings started range of nature oriented activities, from im- affinis, a diving duck. pipping I would go out and poke a promptu canoeing excursions on Maine lakes “Their populations have been hole in the side of the egg, pull the to rock climbing in Camden Hills State Park. declining drastically over the last ten foot out, put a tag on their webbing, years,” said Bard. She helped to im- and then place the foot back in and plant thirty-four Lesser Scaup with tape the hole. The purpose of this radio transmitters. was to determine duckling success. “I used telemetry from the truck In mid-September of 2009 that data to triangulate their positions,” Bard was gathered by biologists using a explained. The tracking was a daily diving duck trap.

8 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 9 A Collaborative Community A Step-by-Step Approach During the fall semester of 2009, Professor Amy Arnett and Associate Professor Emma Creaser says laboratory research Assistant Professor Alysa Remsburg collaborated in this way. sharpens thinking skills and is valuable far beyond beakers and Arnett’s students conducted research on invertebrate biodi- pitre dishes. versity and abundance in relation to environmental variables. “If you go to the grocery store and buy a somewhat suspect This involved collaborative lettuce and make a salad out research in the campus wood- of it and get sick, you might lot with all roads leading back return to buy the same kind to laboratory analysis. of suspect lettuce to see if you Students from several get sick again,” said Creaser. courses including ecology, bi- “If you keep getting the same ology I and II, and field ecol- results you will know that ogy worked on permanent slimy lettuces are bad and plots in the college woodlot. make you sick.” The students learned how to “In a basic way that is ap- collect and identify (to an plying the scientific method,” extent) earthworms, ants, she continued. “You learn and beetles. They also col- from prior experience, you lected information about the extrapolate meaningful situa- plot regarding light, leaf lit- tions and that is logical think- ter depth, soil characteristics, Associate Professor Aimee Phillippi and a student in a Cell Biology lab. ing and the scientific method. and woody debris. You can do it with no techni- Arnett also had her field ecology class work on macroinver- cal skills or you can add technical skills as you go along.” Laboratory Training Sparks tebrate monitoring of stream quality, along with conducting Some Unity students pursue laboratory projects that gain observational surveys. notice beyond the campus and even shape their future plans. She incorporated some of her research on the ant lion con- Shawn Devlin ’03 is in a Ph.D. program at Wright State Research and Collaboration ducted in the spring and summer of 2009 at the University of University in Dayton, Ohio. For his senior thesis project at Moribor in Slovenia, where she pursued a Fulbright Fellow- Unity, Devlin collected snails from seven different islands off ship. This involved lab-based behavioral studies. the coast of Maine. He assembled his collection while working The popular conception of Unity students pursuing studies in the great outdoors is true, but it’s only part of the experience and curriculum. Experiential or hands-on learning often means pursuing projects in the Faculty and Student Research Pay Dividends laboratory, gaining the skills upon which careers are built, whether those Every month of the year, even during cations important to the state of Maine,” Professor Emma Creaser, who has careers begin after commencement or graduate school. breaks and the summer, Unity College said Cinnamon. He designs his lab ori- involved students in her ongoing faculty are pursuing research. For some ented research projects to teach ana- research project at Moosehead Lake in faculty like Associate Professor Emma lytical thought and mathematic skills. Greenville, Maine. Many courses have a laboratory component. Faculty generously involve Creaser, a single research project unfolds Students learn to observe the world in In 1972, a little species of shrimp, with a combination of field research and ways that a scientist does rather than Mysis relicta, was introduced to the lake. students in their research, help students to design their own research lab work over the span of years. She in- observing a preconceived concept of “Somebody thought it would be a good projects, and on occasion connect students from different courses volves students in different aspects of this the world. source of fish food for the fisheries,” complex, sprawling research as appropri- Associate Professor Amy Arnett, a Ful- Creaser explained. through collaborative research projects. ate to their skills, interests and even their bright Scholar, has often involved Unity “In other lakes it has actually eaten career goals. students in her research. the preferred food of the fish, Daphnia,” J J J J Professor Jerry Cinnamon focuses on “In the curriculum we stress the noted Creaser. She and her student real world lab projects. process of science and how to arrive research assistants are seeking answers By Mark Tardif “We work with environmental appli- at a hypothesis to test,” said Associate as to the impact of Mysis relicta. Photos by Olivia Hanson ’11

10 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 11 for the National Audubon Seabird Restoration Project (Project design how to test it.” The considerations extend to the number Puffin), of which Scott Hall, husband of Arnett, is the research of times a hypothesis should be tested, and how to analyze the supervisor. Five students from Unity have worked on the Puffin data to get meaningful results. Project in the past. Creaser says that students learn to consider both the implica- “The question that Shawn (Devlin) was interested in is tions of sloppiness and rewards of careful reasoning. For ex- whether the populations of snails on the islands differ in body ample, a ecological research might require the researcher to go size,” Arnett explained. “We considered the mechanisms that out to collect field data every two weeks for six months. What might be driving any differences. Shawn found a significant in- happens if when it comes time to analyze data the researcher crease in body size and latitude.” realizes an extra measurement or data point should have been “I thought his study was publishable, but we needed more data,” taken? The answer is not pretty: start over. said Arnett. “In 2007 I asked Scott’s interns to recollect snails for “We work with our students to think about that (the cost of me and I measured them, then added them to Shawn’s data.” mistakes),” said Creaser. “Math is a very powerful tool but it is Arnett is currently in the process of writing the findings. more important as to what it means. There are people who will tell you math can tell you anything, because it’s how you inter- The Process of Science pret the data. You can use it to tell you the sky is red when it is “In the curriculum we stress thinking and the process of sci- blue. But you need to understand what you have done with the ence,” said Creaser. “Students arrive at a hypothesis to test and statistics and relate the results to the real world.”

Developing New Technology for Animal Research Why did a top engineering researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology (MIT) choose owls as a subject for research? Because owls are out at night and cell phone minutes are often cheaper or free during late evening hours. Students examining skull bones in a mammalogy class laboratory. And a chemistry student searches for information to solve a lab problem. There is both utility and inspiration in scientific research along with an occa- Creaser offered an example of how work in the laboratory is “It really depends on the course,” Assistant Professor Erika sional dash of luck. As the latter part of the inextricably linked to field work. Latty explained. “In an introductory course usually we start research equation would have it, a Unity “A student might be in a lab staining a cross section of the with guided research projects. I might pick the overall tech- College professor crossed paths with an arm of a very small animal,” Creaser continued. “From that they nique and idea. For example, there’s a lab we do where we look MIT researcher in need of boots on the might learn that the animal has acid mucus. When they examine at stomata densities and I show students how we can measure ground. The result has been an associa- animals in the literature and real life, they might see that the stomata densities, and teach them the importance of regulation tion that several times a year gives Unity animal is a burrowing animal.” Further inquiry might reveal of gas exchange in leaves.” students the opportunity to participate in that the animal uses the mucus to glue the sides of its sandy bur- “I give them the background material on the topic, some cutting-edge research. row together so that the burrow does not collapse. methods and I have them design a hypothesis, that’s guided re- The flourishing association between Professor Dave Potter led students to a comprehensive understanding of the research process. “Students go from this tiny focused thing that they did in search,” Latty continued. “Students are given a lot of support Unity College and Dale Joachim of the MIT cheapest to record are owls because owls “Here was a whole group of people in the lab to a very large scale world picture,” Creaser stated. “You but there is some element of creativity that makes it their own Media Lab, a world class technological re- call at night, and you don’t necessarily Maine that were willing to go out at night can’t design experiments to really answer everything at once, project.” search center, came together thanks to the have to pay for minutes at night.” and do these crazy things, this has worked you have to break it down into small bite sized, doable pieces so Latty teaches students standard field and lab techniques, as do involvement of Professor Dave Potter and Several times a year Joachim and other well,” Potter said. that you get meaningful results.” her science colleagues on the faculty. Unity students in the Maine Owl Monitor- researchers from MIT visit Unity College to Participation in the data gathering is “It’s hard for students to do research if they don’t understand ing Program. work with Potter and student volunteers open to all Unity College students who No Shortcuts to Success methods,” said Latty. “They need to learn actual scientific tech- Joachim needed reliable volunteers to record owl calls. The researchers train don’t mind losing sleep to gain a firsthand Unity science faculty stress that when it comes to research, nique in addition to the process of science. By the time they’re with expertise. The manpower and orga- the Unity volunteers on accessing the perspective on world class research. Pot- there are no shortcuts. Some faculty, like Assistant Professor in upper level courses they can have a lot more control over their nization that Unity is able to provide made M.I.T. server with cell phones, playing the ter estimates that up to 60 Unity students Alysa Remsburg, draw pedagogical inspiration from personal projects because they have a lot more experience to draw from.” for a perfect match. recorded owl calls from the server while have participated. epiphanies. Assistant Professor Kevin Spigel sees the laboratory as inex- “Dale is interested in using simple, ubiq- in the field, and using those same cell A Bangor Daily News story with “I’ve done ecological research in many places on plants, tur- tricably linked to his teaching. uitous, off the shelf technology to survey phones to record the owl responses on the photos about the project is online at tles, logs, frogs, and bugs,” Remsburg noted. “I remember feel- “It is inherent to the geosciences that you have a lab com- wildlife,” explained Professor Dave Potter. server. This information in turn contributes www.unity.edu/NewsEvents/News/ ing pretty helpless as an undergraduate student researcher who ponent,” said Spigel. “It’s all an applied learning environment. “A cell phone is something that most of us to engineering research, helping research- BDN4609.aspx. hadn’t paid much attention in statistics class. My students groan Some things related to the geosciences require you to go outside have, and with manipulating the cell phone ers refine communication technology. Also, visit The Owl Project www. at how I emphasize the role of statistics in science, but I think to collect data and bring it back to the lab to process or analyze.” technology minimally you can record wild- This arrangement has worked ex- owlproject.media.mit.edu and Maine they’ll thank me someday.” “Being outside (for hands-on learning) and lab work go life sounds. The wildlife sounds that are tremely well. Audubon at www.maineaudubon.org The choice of which research project to pursue and approach hand-and-hand in the geosciences.” used in each class can be critically important to overall success The same sentiment is echoed by many faculty focused on in reaching learning goals. different topics across the science curriculum. J

12 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 13 Monday Tuesday Most every day I try to get some exercise. Several times I am able to sleep in a little later on Tuesday. No early a week I do free weights, usually in the morning. There are classes. Today I met friends for brunch from the à la carte a week in the life always other physical activities to pursue, everything from menu in the Student Center café. There are pool tables, ultimate Frisbee to spending time on the climbing wall. couches, snacks all day, music and even instruments if you of a Unity student I actually get a fair amount of exercise in some classes. At want to do a little jam. Unity, a class might take you to the Unity Bog, a half hour My Bio II class covered about a chapter today. Some days walk each way from the nearest road. a class will focus on discussion, on other days like today Today I got up just after six, left my roommate sound there will be an intensive review. This usually precedes a asleep, and headed for the gym. Forty-five minutes later I was quiz. I feel solid with the material and concepts, but there back for a shower and then breakfast in the cafeteria. I made is no question that courses like biology require a specific set it to my 8 a.m. composition class with a few minutes to spare. of skills. Since it was a nice day we met at the fire circle. A lot of The social scene at Unity is surprising in more ways professors take advantage of the campus not just for field than I can count. What people find surprising initially is work, but for outdoor classes when the weather is right. that you can hang out with friends in the cafeteria and tell There are times when you do find yourself in a lab or class- stories about dissecting the brain stem of a white tailed room, but the hands on approach keeps things interesting. deer in Bio I lab, then at the next table they’re talking Aside from some study time and chem. lab, one of my about their Music and the Environment class taught by favorite classes is Universal Programming, which meets at the President. That’s not to say every discussion is an the ropes course by the soccer field. The class focuses on academic one. developing, planning and implementation skills to help disabled people pursue adventure activities.

Living on the campus of an environmental college can be a transformative experience at a time of life when change is constant. There is a pulse to campus that shifts from hour-to-hour, day-to-day, and season-to-season.

The fall semester begins with a palpable feeling of nervous excitement. There is a pervasive optimism and ‘getting-to- known you’ openness present. New students seek to make their mark and develop an identity within the Unity community. Weeks pass quickly in a flurry of academic, club, athletic and social events. Friends are made and interests shared. By late-fall there is a lull and increasing pressure. Assignments are due, midterm grades given, adjustments made, help sought, and habits formed. The academic breaks come and go. The end point for the semester is in sight. Personal arrange- ments are made for winter break including work and trips. Students are ready for a change and a breather, however brief. The campus slows for winter break, then quickly jumps to life with the start of the spring semester. A sense of joy en- velops the culture with the melting snow. Seniors begin to anticipate commencement. Another year is winding to a close. There is a burst of excitement with the achievements celebrated at commencement, and sadness at the loss of each departing senior. In short, a college campus is an ecosystem.

14 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 15 Friday Sunday Two classes, one lab, work study shift turning compost I hung out with friends today. We signed out a college and helping Assistant Professor Alysa Remsburg with her van and trailer, loaded up the trailer with three canoes, and ongoing invertebrate biodiversity research project on the went to Unity Pond for an excursion. The water was calm wood lot pretty much sums up today. Tonight I went to see with just a hint of crisp air, a reminder that fall is on the the jam band The Brew at the UCCPA. What a day! way. By the time we stopped on one of the deserted islands in the middle of the pond, we were all ready for lunch. Good thing we picked up our boxed lunches from the caf- Saturday eteria before we left. There is nothing better than a picnic I got up way too early for a van ride to participate in the under a big sky with the sounds of nature all around. First Annual Clifton Climbers Weekend Service Proj- After making our way back to campus and unloading the ect. We joined climbers from across Maine to support an canoes, we all went our separate ways. I went to the library ongoing effort to maintain well-used climbing cliffs across for some study time. At about 10 p.m., I went down to the Maine. On this day we addressed two cliffs, Big Chick and fire circle next to the South Coop where members of the Parks Pond cliffs, in Clifton, Maine. We worked to main- Outing Club had a nice, warm fire going under the stars. tain the trails, cleared back brush from the staging points We all swapped stories from the day. Now I’m in my room adjacent to the cliffs, and cleaned up trash. and drowsy. Sleep will be most welcome. My week is over and now I’m really starting to imagine all the wonderful possibilities. Life at an environ- mental college will prepare me for a career and adventures, and there’s no doubt that my life at Unity will feature plenty of adventure.

Wednesday Thursday Today my North American Wildlife class met outside First thing before breakfast I was on the climbing wall Quimby Library for a comprehensive demonstration of dif- with a few other people. The hours are flexible and there ferent wildlife trapping techniques. We don’t trap wildlife is a serious climbing community at Unity, so you can find but this aspect does relate to legal activities and as such, we people at the climbing wall at 8 a.m., that’s common. are learning about it. I went over to the computer lab to work on a Global One of my friends is on the student government associa- Positioning System (GPS), accessing information from the tion and this year they are taking on planning duties for the Maine GIS Data Catalog for my independent study project. flannel formal ball, so today I went to the volunteer plan- There is a network of trails adjacent to the Unity Col- ning meeting in the cafeteria. What’s a “flannel formal”? lege campus and I am developing a map of those trails using It’s a Unity-style “formal” dinner and dance that takes GIS. This means a lot of trips up to the wood lot to take place every semester. Since Unity isn’t the type of place that position readings, then back to the lab for data input. I’ve either encourages or discourages formal attire for its version gotten so used to doing this that I actually consider these of a “prom,” the difference is split and most everything GIS data gathering hikes to be a fun escape. regarding attire is welcome. You will see everything from After an early dinner at Crosstrax Restaurant in town flannel with sandals and torn jeans to, one of the best outfits with friends, we car pooled over to the Unity College from last year’s ball, a pink crushed velvet tuxedo. Where Centre for the Performing Arts. With its concert stage, art do you get one of those anyway? gallery, and meeting spaces, the centre is a great place for lectures, movies and concerts. My Environmental Policy class is meeting there, we have a guest speaker from Maine House of Representatives tonight. He shares his firsthand experiences working on conservation issues as a member of the legislature.

16 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 17 21st Century Environmental Education the new basics

By Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Knisley

was intrigued to learn this summer that, according to The New York Times, some of the best minds in venture capital have decided it’s time for their business to “go back to basics.” During Ithe dot-com boom and bust about a decade ago, and the recent high flight and crash landing in financial markets, venture capitalists found themselves awash in dollars demanding investment. Business start-ups that might in ordinary times warrant a half-million in investment, found more than twice as much pressed upon them. But in many cases underlying fundamentals weren’t up to snuff, and young enterprises were unable to convert the investment into a real asset—a strong-sell- ing product, a patentable process, a service consumers suddenly realize they cannot live without. Smaller and sounder is the ticket, or so argued many interviewed for the Times piece. This and countless other tales from the recession crypt remind us that there is “wealth,” and then there is wealth. When the number attached to one’s net worth is a cork afloat on market- made tides, a market as responsive to boasts as to real demonstrations of value, that cork and your “worth” are bound to bob and eventually vanish under the high seas of market corrections. But this is easy to say, and see, in hindsight. In the midst of all the apparent bounty—stock returns soaring, upper-middle-class burgeoning, multi-million dollar bonuses flying, 401(3)(b) and (k) retirement accounts fattening—what does it take to see, right then, that the emperor’s naked, or at any rate scantily clad? Well, to an extent it’s information—in this case, information about money and the markets. And yet, this and other types of information are abundant and available. More fundamentally, what’s required is a capacity of mind, certain skills of discernment. And cultivation of this capacity, these skills, is right at the heart of an environmental college’s work as we roll into the cascading complexities of the 21st century. This is not about understanding money, although money makes an illustrative case study. It is about understanding baseline elements of sustainability, of wealth properly understood: tangibles like potable water and intangibles like a peace of mind, over time and across forms of life. Which conditions are conducive to “sustainable wealth” if you will, and which are not? What exactly do we mean by “sustainable wealth”—what forms does it take, and for whom? Which conditions do we control, and which control us? “Sounds like critical thinking,” you say, “what’s special about that? Don’t all colleges do that?” Well, yes and no.

Photos by Joyce Tenneson

18 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 19 While we would be hard-pressed to find a college that does not claim to improve students’ critical thinking abilities, traditionally the emphasis is on analysis—sorting ar- gumentative wheat from chaff, so as to accept the better and reject the worse. “Analysis” derives from Greek terms ana, meaning “up” or “back,” and lyein, meaning “loose” or “loosen.” To analyze is to loosen the strands one from another, to separate a thing into its parts. We do it to understand and rightly judge the thing. A critical thinking exer-

tion’s usefulness is readily apparent. At Unity and other places where “the environment” But what are those two trees doing, standing together, in the first place? Beyond spatial proximity, what is the sets a stage for what we teach, a systems standpoint relationship? And what’s useful about understanding it? At Unity and other necessarily complements carefully focused analysis.” places where “the environment” sets a stage for what we teach, a systems standpoint necessarily complements cise might involve sifting through a passion- and presumption-laden class discussion on carefully focused analysis. whether joining the military counts as worthy public service, plucking out grains of ac- Study from the vantage of systema- tual evidence, and setting them upon the scales of justice to determine the weightier, and ticity can be elusive. Shifting the focus winning, position. Critical thinking, so understood, is crucial. But it is also incomplete. of inquiry is one way to develop the So, let us analyze critical thinking for a moment. What, in addition to the ability (and skill. In law enforcement, for instance, inclination) to pull apart and assess do the most compelling questions home in we seek to cultivate, in a 21st century on individual actions and cases. Person A traffics in protected specie X; person B hunts collegiate environmental education? specie Y out of season. The action and the rule—the violation in short—leaps into the Remember the venture capitalists’ les- foreground, and our focus snaps around the case to be made. But the background is re- son: back to basics. What are the basics plete with opportunities for a more thorough, college-level, understanding. Who is the for students coming of age as global cli- person—a Congolese mother ? a Maine high school student? What is the rule’s history, mate change, rapid increase of the hu- what purposes does it serve? Are there some it disserves? What is the specie in question, man specie, rapid decline in others, and why is its presence important and for whom? And we ask these questions not to test a hard-shifting geopolitical relations all rule’s validity (although we could), but to experience the fact that when it comes to swell and spill into potent, intersected matters environmental, it’s all of a piece. Tug on a policy thread, and a biodiversity issue and unpredictable rings of consequence? twines out; raise a question of aesthetics, and suddenly the history of land use planning is What skills and habits of mind will in play. In a 21st century collegiate environmental education, we and our students must serve as we gather our energies around deftly negotiate the landscape of this modern world. cultivating the conditions for sustain- The new basics include a broadened and deepened understanding of critical thinking, ability? The list is long, but this note is for starts. What else should be on the list? As it happens the Unity faculty is asking itself short, so I’ll discuss only one. Analyt- that question, as it revises the college’s learning outcomes. And as we do, we keep our icity must be wed to systematicity. The end in view—the graduate who is undaunted, but not naively so, by the scale and pace of Greek word systema meant an “orga- environmental change and who can, even in its midst, ask the right questions and chart a nized whole, a body,” and combines right course. As we’ve learned in this most recent recession, hindsight gives a clear view, syn, “together” and histanai, “cause to but cold comfort. A graduate who can understand, and effectively advance, the underly- stand.” Analysis distinguishes this sugar ing conditions for genuine sustainability. The graduate who can comprehend the notion maple from that red, and the distinc- that the unprecedented collective power homo sapiens exercises over those baseline con- ditions requires that we ask new questions, and develop new answers, about collective responsibility and action.

Claire Cain Miller, “Venture Capitalists Look For a Return to the ABC’s,” The New York Times, 7 July 2009, p. B1.

20 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 21 More than Meets the Eye At Unity the campus itself is a sustainability laboratory

s an environmental college that is younger than “It is important for every college to consider sus- A50 years, Unity College has some interesting tainability in buildings,” said Pyles. “We’re equipping challenges related to the sustainability of its buildings. students to deal with pressing environmental issues. At Most community members know that this campus an environmental college like Unity, we are uniquely fo- was a regionally important industrial poultry hatchery cused on hands-on environmental learning. The campus until 1965. The founders recycled the hatchery into a itself becomes a sustainability laboratory, and buildings college. From those humble beginnings Unity has been become educational as well as operational assets.” thrifty, recycling buildings many times over the years to The newest campus building, Unity House, home of meet changing needs and serve new programs. President Mitchell Thomashow and his wife, Cindy, is The campus architecture runs the gamut. The cam- also by far the most sustainable, and most exemplary. pus includes buildings that were once hatchery ware- It uses no fossil fuel at all beyond what is embedded houses, new high-end modern suite style residence in the steel, aluminum, hi-tech wood composites, and halls, an early 19th century farmhouse, a sweep of other über-modern materials of its construction. Named boxy 1960s buildings that may have used off-the-shelf LEED Platinum and less than a year old, this space-age plans from military architects, the chalet style Quimby home has attracted national attention. Several versions Library, and the Alison M. Hall Welcome Center. of Unity House are now being marketed by Benson- Every building has an interesting and unique story. wood Homes of New Hampshire, which helped design Sustainability Coordinator Jesse Pyles and As- and built the house as part of the Massachusetts Insti- sociate Professor Mick Womersley, a sustainability tute of Technology’s Open Prototype Initiative. expert, are intimately involved with the sustainability “Blueprints for Unity House are free and available of campus buildings. for download on the web,” said Womersley. “That’s During a walking tour of the campus, Womersley what Open Prototype is all about, having an open and Pyles shared their insights about the history and source for construction plans which is intended to sustainability of Unity College buildings. drive innovation in the construction industry.”

22 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 23 Bensonwood Homes is also market- a year. That’s enough fuel “We intend to do a more thorough ing three versions of Unity House in to run two new dorms the energy analysis soon, supported in part by the United States. The homes run in or size of Maplewood.” grant funding through our involvement around the $200K range. The progress is easily with the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Ac- “That’s not a bad price when you quantified. celerating Campus Climate-change Ini- consider that you’ll never have a heat or “In 2008, fifty nine tiatives program,” Pyles explained. “That power bill,” said Womersley. percent of our greenhouse analysis should better help us to identify Pyles and Womersley are frequently gas emissions came from priorities from an energy perspective seen about campus with spreadsheets in heating buildings,” said with specific emphasis on the return of their hands. Pyles. “We know that any investment for any improvements made When they look at buildings, they attempt to decrease emis- to multiple campus buildings.” quote numbers like the annual kilowatt- sions from campus opera- Unity College is carefully considering hours they consume, or the oil they use. tions will have to address its building options through an unfold- This gets confusing for the lay listener, the heating efficiency of ing master planning process. Regard- but the numbers look good. Greenhouse buildings.” less of the shape the new master plan gas emissions from campus energy use Pyles feels that there is will take, campus building renovation have decreased over 20% from 2001 a balance to be struck be- projects will balance sustainability with levels despite adding new buildings and tween efficiency and pre- Center, Cianchette Residence Hall, and for heating campus buildings if we hope functionality, aesthetic appeal and his- record enrollments. serving historical aspects of the Allison M. Hall Welcome Cen- to decrease emissions,” noted Pyles. torical context. In 2007-2008, the most recent year the College. ter, integrate sustainability design and “Replacing oil boilers with wood pellet Unity’s greenhouse gas inventory with available data, Unity College “I would argue that function well,” Pyles stated. They’re no boilers where appropriate is one ap- report is online at acupcc.aashe.org. emitted 1,091 tons of carbon-dioxide historical value must be Unity House, but these buildings were proach being considered now.” Comprehensive information about sus- equivalent climate pollution. Reductions seen as a component of constructed with thermal efficiency in Analysis is the lifeblood of sustainabil- tainability achievements at Unity Col- are attributed to efficiency upgrades our sustainability assess- mind. “As we pursue new construction ity, a fact that often shapes his priorities. lege is online at www.unity.edu. in older buildings (new insulation in ment of buildings,” Pyles on campus, these buildings will be the Constable Hall, Eastview and Westview said. “Constable Hall, for example, has Sometimes the right decisions can model that we work from.” several years ago), and an efficiency great historical and aesthetic value to be made for the wrong reasons. While Womersley praises the workmanship Sustainability Priorities for focus in new construction (eg, the recent our community and has been beautifully not applying this concept to the Unity of Joe Bellerose’77, the general contrac- Campus Buildings construction of Maplewood, a residence renovated to increase efficiency. In some campus, Pyles says that certain principles tor on many recent building projects, • Constable Hall could benefit from a renewable heat supply such as a heat hall, features super-insulated ceilings and cases, increasing efficiency in existing provide the right framework. with the exception of Unity House pump or pellet boiler. walls, and low-e windows). buildings could be more environmen- “Generally speaking if you are re- which was built by Bensonwood Homes • Westview and Eastview would benefit from new windows and more exte- “We will eventually need to knock tally sensitive than starting placing windows and insulation, you’re of New Hampshire. rior wall insulation, likely foam board under new siding. the old buildings down,” said Womer- from scratch.” decreasing energy use, and therefore “One day when you’re walking • The North and South Coops would benefit from a plethora of improve- around campus, just walk up and look at ments, including adding insulation and replacing failing siding. A compli- “We’re in the business of sustainability education the siding and windows (of most build- cating factor adding cost and complexity is asbestos board insulation within and we want our campus and its buildings to ings like the Allison M. Hall Welcome the structure. Center), and notice how well they are • Among the least sustainable buildings on campus is the Student Activities reflect our sustainability values ...” sealed,” Womersley urged. Building which houses the gym, student affairs, classrooms and the student The challenges that Unity College has center, and the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC). Womersley feels that the sley. “It’s not good just building new “Our sustainability commitments can’t increasing the economic efficiency of addressed have been many and varied. OAC has few redeeming qualities from a sustainability perspective, while green buildings. However efficient they just be about some end result because if building operations,” said Pyles. “Finances have certainly been a chal- occupying a key site that could be home to a larger building that might use are, they will add climate emissions if we only wanted to decrease greenhouse Both Womersley and Pyles feel there is lenge,” Pyles stated. “The upfront cost less energy. you don’t also retire some inefficient gas emissions, we would close down,” much that was done well in recent years. for sustainability in construction and • The cottages are the very least sustainable of all campus buildings and most older buildings at the same time.” he continued. “We’re in the business of They credit Director of Facilities and Pub- design can sometimes prove to be cost- degraded. They must be replaced and Womersley urges their replacement An old farmhouse formerly home sustainability education and we want our lic Safety Roger Duval and his staff as the prohibitive, even when the payoff from take priority. One possibility is to remove them one-by-one, and place new to the Health and Wellness Center and campus and its buildings to reflect our unsung heroes of college sustainability. operations down the road could make buildings on the old slabs, using the same services. the Office of College Advancement sustainability values, including personal “Not many employees and students the investment a wise choice. Of course, • Maplewood is new and highly efficient, as is Cianchette. that once stood at the entrance to the well-being, comfort, and ease of use. know of the insulation projects in the campus Master Plan, Unity 2020, has • The health center is also new and efficient. Maintenance Complex was demolished These are all important components to Eastview, Westview, Koons, along with been drafted with sustainability criteria • Aside from needing a new wood pellet boiler new boiler and replacement in 2008. the esthetic aesthetic appeal of the place.” the North Coop and South Coop,” said in mind, and the Master Planning Com- windows, Quimby Library is very sound. Womersley places the boiler as a “Removing that terribly inefficient “Building projects must consider user Womersley. He also praised the effi- mittee has addressed sustainability in a priority, and would put foam board insulation down the next time the roof building was necessary,” said Womersley. needs,” Pyles says. ciency data compiled by Roger Duval. far-sighted way.” and siding are replaced. “It could not be repaired. The demoli- “It’s not just about the efficiency of “All of our more recent construc- Pyles highlighted one theme as key to • Koons Hall faces a variety of ongoing problems relating to space and sched- tion of this building saved Unity College materials and fuels, it’s also about encour- tion projects, including Maplewood continuing progress: heating. uling, though it has been renovated in recent years. nearly two thousand gallons of heat oil aging sustainability behaviors,” he noted. Residence Hall, the Health and Wellness “We must consider renewable fuels

24 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 25 in our element campus news campus news in our element

Quimby Project Dedicated to Earth Activists Train at Unity Stephen and Tabitha King The training provided a full perma- culture and ecological design certifica- On Friday, June 12, Quimby Webb Library at Unity College tion program combined with earth based dedicated a renovated space to Stephen and Tabitha King. spirituality and practical know-how. Two Through the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Inc. the Bangor-based television stations, WABI- Kings have generously supported the library. Funding to enhance TV Channel 5 and WVII-TV Channel the public function of the library was used to create the new space 7, filmed stories about the training which serving as a children’s section. aired on their respective stations. “The renovations included the relocation of children’s books to Detailed information about Earth Ac- a more centralized location on the first floor,” noted Unity College tivist Training and Starhawk, an interna- Librarian Melora Norman. “Child friendly and attractive whimsical tionally recognized environmental and book shelves and furnishings were part of the renovation. A color- social justice activist, author, and facili- ing table, play square, storytime seating, and brightly colored carpet tator of the training at Unity College, is were also added.” Roland Watier, of the Golden Raven Storytelling Circle of Union, available online at www.earthactivist- Maine, presented storytelling programs for area children and adults Norman added that a second floor balcony area reading corner training.org. Unity College Professor was established as part of the renovation. Quimby Library is open at the dedication. The presentation was made possible through a grant from the Rose and Samuel Rudman Library Trust. Doug Fox also led several sessions during to the general public. the training. Earth Activist Training is held sev- Earth Activist Training students pursue a hands-on, soil learning project. The comprehensive eral times a year in northern California, training focused on permaculture, which teaches how to weave green solutions together into Events Celebrated at Unity Oregon, and North Carolina. This is the systems that can meet human needs and regenerate the natural world. first time that this training was held in tems that mimic natural systems using a during the two-week course. the Northeast. The course was taught by minimum of energy and resources. This The training approach recognized that Starhawk, author of nine books including is the cornerstone approach of permacul- the bioremediation which happens with The Spiral Dance, The Fifth Sacred Thing, ture. permaculture systems often must be ac- and most recently The Earth Path: Ground- Students studied a variety of nature- companied by ‘socio-remediation,’ creat- ing Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature. based solution challenges such as urban ing communities, along with social and The training was a rigorous permacul- gardening, organic farming, natural political systems, that support sound eco- ture design program that combined class- building, bioremediation, greywater sys- logical design. The course explored the room lecture with small-group project tems, ecoforestry, soil building, and wa- strategies and organizing tools that may design time and hands-on experiential tershed restoration. Hands-on learning be needed to make a place for permacul- learning. Students learned how to heal approaches enabled students to design and ture in the community. soil, cleanse water, and design human sys- install one or more permaculture projects

College Hosts Belfast Chamber On Thursday, September 10, Unity College hosted a Belfast A Happy 44th Founders’ Day Making Friends...One Lobster at a Time Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts. Members On September 7, Unity College celebrated Founders’ Day with Each summer the Office of Admissions takes full advantage of of the chamber enjoyed networking with refreshments from a cake social at the office of Vice President for College Ad- Unity’s rural location to entice guidance counselors to campus. local area restaurants in Unity. A drawing for donated prizes vancement Rob Constantine in Constable Hall. A large group On July 10, Admissions hosted 17 guidance counselors for the was held. Vice President for College Advancement Rob Con- of students, faculty and staff stopped by to mark the occasion. 3rd Annual Guidance Counselor Lobster Dinner. Counselors stantine serves as board member of the chamber. Founders’ Day, September 7, 1965, marks the day when the col- were invited to spend one or two nights on campus to learn more lege was founded. The first class arrived a year later for the first about the Unity College curriculum, hands-on approach to learn- From left, Unity College Vice President for College Advancement Rob fall semester in 1966. College founders included: John A. Bur- ing, approach to sustainability and environmental mission. “Our Constantine, Glenn Burgess of the Belfast Area Chamber of Com- well, Bert G. Clifford, Donald S. Constable, Maxwell O. Fortier, goal is to expose guidance counselors to the ‘Best Value’ educa- merce, and Jeremy Marden of Marden, Mailloux, Marden and Baard Donald Higgins Jr., Gordon S. Parsons, Christian O. Smart, Ken- tion available at Unity,” said President Mitchell Thomashow, who Attorneys at Law. neth Tozier Jr., W. T. Vickery and Robert G. Wyman. attended the lobster bake. Counselors in attendance hailed from New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

26 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 27 in our element campus news campus news in our element

Landscape at Unity House Education in a Changing Climate Education in a Changing Climate is an annual event a Triumph of Careful Planning jointly sponsored by The Orion Society (publishers of Orion Magazine) and Unity College. Twelve educators from across the country and as far away as Australia In the Unity College landscape we can see back into a gathered at Unity College this past summer to work time when the campus was merely a base camp from which with poet and author Alison Deming, Middlebury students would leave to study nature that mattered—a re- College Professor John Elder, a specialist in nature mote bog, mountaintop or virgin forest relatively untouched writing, and Unity faculty using field-based nature by humans. study, the humanities and the arts to better understand We can also see the emergence of another ethic on our and educate about climate change. “I campus, one that complements our historical emphasis on found my time at Unity to be both re­ wilderness. In this more recent “garden” ethic, humans affirming and intellectually stimulating. are not a blight on the land but have a place in nature, co- You managed to integrate just the right existing and seeking opportunities for reciprocity. In these amount of art, humanities, science (who landscapes, natural guilds—associations of interdependent will forget our march to the peat bog), Above, participants work on individual plants, animals and humans—are developed that provide and passion. Powerful environmental art projects with material gathered from food and shelter to various life forms from nesting birds to thinkers and educators surrounded us the peat bog excursion led by Professor professors grabbing a handful of blueberries on the way to a each day. I am grateful to have had the Dave Potter. meeting, to students seeking a cozy place out of the wind for chance to listen and learn from [them] Left, Professor Amy Arnett leads an their study group. all,” said Dan Shipp from College of the exercise to examine insect biodiversity Professor Doug Fox at the butterfly garden outside Unity House The landscape around the Unity House is developing into Pacific. —Cindy Thomashow in the field adjacent to Unity House. a model of the garden ethic, a place where nature and cul- paving on the patio that reflects rather than absorbs sunlight. ture can thrive together. Landscaper Brian Gaudet of Moon- The passive solar design required careful placement of plants shine Gardens of Unity, Maine, designed and installed an including a trellis system that provides summer shade and al- attractive, functional landscape that will grow and evolve, its lows winter sun. Throughout the landscape there are spaces course shaped by its human and nonhuman residents. for gatherings of people, quiet study, new gardens and, as The landscape contributed essential LEED points to the designer and writer Christopher Alexander puts it, “places Unity House Platinum Award. Features include low main- where real stories can be made…places to experience the tenance, noninvasive plants to supply food to wildlife and measure of the freedom, difficulty, and incongruity of being people; swales to direct and retain water, and low albedo human.” —Professor Doug Fox

Wellness Fair The Unity College Wellness Fair, sponsored by Inland Hospital of Waterville and organized by Unity College Director of Student Health Services Unity College Centre for Performing Arts Lives Up to Hype Anna McGalliard and the Unity Barn Raisers dur- The Unity College Centre for the Per- The Rustic Overtones (left), a well-estab- a mainstay of the Riverdance orchestra for ing the spring semester 2009, was an unqualified forming Arts (UCCPA) lived up to its reputa- lished rock band from Portland, Maine, that nearly a decade. success. Among those participating was Jake Harr tion for attracting top notch talent during the has worked with artists like David Bowie, During the Get Hooked on Unity weekend ’09, who helped to fix a bike owned by Samuel summer and fall seasons of 2009. Among surprised and delighted fans with an acous- concert John Eddie (right) seized the audi- Eldridge, age 9, of Troy. Harr helped to organize a the talented performers and bands that tic performance of their best known songs ence from the first note, showing why he Unity area organization that advocates bicycle use took to the stage were John Eddie, Irish backed by three violinists and a cellist. is frequently mentioned alongside Bon Jovi for fun, fitness and sustainability. violinist Niamh Ni Charra, and Maine’s own Award-winning Niamh Ni Charra (center) and Bruce Springsteen as among the finest Rustic Overtones. displayed the talent and range that made her performers ever to hail from New Jersey.

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New to Unity A Life in Service to the Environment Full-Time Faculty Every Unity College student values role models. Chairman of the Board of Trustees Tim Glidden is a role model who, like President Mitchell Thomashow, embodies what a life spent in-service to the environment means.

Now in his second term as Chairman, Glidden is Director of the Land for Maine’s Future Program, the primary source of state funding for land conservation activities across Maine. Working with an eleven member board, Glidden manages $8 to $10 mil- lion annually in conservation projects including parks, trails, ecological reserves, farms, working forests and waterfronts.

To date Land for Maine’s Future Program has helped in the Kathleen Dunckel joins the faculty as an Craig McLaughlin joined the faculty as an Janet Preston joined the faculty as an conservation of more than half a million acres, ensuring the Instructor in Computers. Dunkel earned a Associate Professor in Wildlife. McLaughlin Instructor in Mathematics in the fall. sustainability of some very special places. M.S. in Environmental Science from Alaska earned his Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from Preston earned an M.S. in Mathematics Board Chair Tim Glidden and Director of Student Health Services Pacific University, and a B.A. in Environ- University of Maine, Orono, his M.S. in from Northeastern University, and a B.S. in While Glidden’s achievements to benefit the environment Anna McGalliard at the 2009 commencement exercises. mental Science from the State University of Wildlife from Pennsylvania State Univer- Mathematics and teacher certification from are readily apparent to Unity students, what is less appar- New York at Plattsburgh. Dunckel comes sity, and his B.S. in Wildlife Conservation Wesleyan University. She is a long-time ent are the details of how his contributions to the wise fiscal is to keep our eye on the future, looking for challenges and to Unity College from Cape Cod Commu- and Management from the University of resident of Maine with a significant teaching oversight of the College helped it reach solid footing in a opportunities Unity will face.” nity College, where she has been providing Wyoming, Laramie. McLaughlin comes background, including serving as an adjunct challenging higher education marketplace. leadership in GIS instruction, and brings a to Unity College from the Utah Division of at Unity College for several semesters. She “My political awakening in the late 60’s and early 70’s was blend of computer instruction and environ- Wildlife Resources, where he served as is a member of the Center for Biodiversity; “As a trustee, I feel a deep responsibility for the fiscal health grounded in the environmental movement,” Glidden said. mental education background. Dunckel is a Wildlife Program Chief, capping many years she and her family reside in China, Maine. of the College and for the integrity of its strategic direction,” “My entire career in the public service and nonprofit sector member of the Center for Natural Resource in state fish and wildlife programs in Maine, said Glidden. “The most important thing we do as trustees has been devoted to promoting environmental sustainability.” Management and Protection. Vermont and Utah. Craig is a member of the Center for Natural Resource Management and Protection. Supporting Operation Game Thief Full-Time Staff In September, Unity College supported who turn in poachers. Six students from the golf tournament. “Unity College has wide announcement. “All of her references College in Boston, Massachusetts. Her the 2nd Annual Operation Game Thief Unity College participated and served as been a supporter of Operation Game Thief speak glowingly about her intelligence, professional experiences include serving with an 18 hole scramble and auction golf volunteers at the “Harvest Fun Shoot,” and for over a decade,” said Tim Peabody ’81, experience, versatility, collaborative style, as a media planner specializing in travel integrity, and mentoring qualities.” Driscoll and tourism for ISM, Strategic Marketing in tournament at the Fairlawn Golf Course in several students served as volunteers at Associate Professor and former Colonel of brings a varied financial background to Poland, Maine, and the “Har- the Maine Warden Service. the position, including serving in various vest Fun Shoot” at the Hermon “The environmental mission positions with Price Waterhouse, Soft Key Skeet Club on Blackstream Road and hands-on learning that Software Products , Visibility, Inc., and in Hermon, Maine. Proceeds takes place at Unity led to our Founder and Principal of Business Advisory from the events were donated to ongoing involvement with and and Financial Services. Driscoll holds a B.S. in Accountancy from Bentley College. Operation Game Thief, a private, support of Operation Game When she was hired as Unity’s new Vice non-profit organization that works Thief. We were pleased to see President for Finance and Administration in Over the summer of 2009, Kristina with the Department of Inland a good turnout and excep- September, Eileen Driscoll already knew Williams began her new duties as Events Fisheries and Wildlife Warden tional shoot to support this her way around campus. She first came to Coordinator/Admissions Counselor. The Service to pay rewards to citizens worthy cause.” Unity in July as the interim VP for Finance events aspect of her position will focus and Administration, working closely with her specifically on admissions events such Boston. She has helped to plan events for predecessor Roger Jolin. “Eileen has been as fall open house and the new student Emirates Airline and Harpoon Brewery. She an excellent team member in her service as experience program. In 2007, Williams was grew up in North Anson, Maine, and is a interim CFO (Chief Financial Officer),” wrote awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in graduate of Carrabec High School. Jeb Fay ’13, left, and Paul Mason ’11 with the Operation Game Thief “Wall President Mitch Thomashow in a campus- Marketing Communications from Emerson of Shame” trailer which showcases confiscated game resulting from tips.

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Fishing for Scholarships Maine Senator Addresses Breaks Record Global Climate Change The seventh annual Unity College Fishing for Scholarships Tour- nament, part of Get Hooked on Unity Weekend, featured a record During her commencement address on May 9, United number of tagged fish caught. States Senator Susan Collins left no doubt where she stands “The fishing conditions were great and among the countless fish caught, nine had fishing tournament tags,” said Unity College Vice on the issue of climate change. In a stirring and highly per- President for College Advancement Rob Constantine. “The previous The seventh annual Fishing for Scholarships tournament kicks-off. sonal speech, Collins said that climate change is a problem record was four.” that she has witnessed firsthand. The catch-and-release fishing tournament, the only one of its kind “By any measure this was an outstanding weekend for incom- “I have observed firsthand the dramatic effects of climate in the United States, was held on Sunday, July 26 on Unity Pond, a ing and returning Unity College students and their families,” said change and have been briefed stone’s throw from the Unity College campus in Unity, Maine. Constantine. “The entire Get Hooked on Unity Weekend, beginning by the preeminent experts in Among the awards for tagged fish and prize drawings was the with registration on Friday and culminating in the fishing tournament crown jewel of the weekend, a one-year tuition scholarship valued on Sunday, is much more than a means to win tuition dollars. This this field,” Collins told gradu- Maine Representative Michaud at $20,000. The fish tagged for the one-year tuition scholarship weekend has become a cherished event and rallying point for the ates. “In 2006, on a trip to Tours Unity House was landed by Jacob Hastings ’13 of Farmington, Maine. A $5,000 entire Unity College community at a time when the new academic Antarctica and New Zealand, On October 5, Congressman Mike Michaud of Maine’s 2nd scholarship was won by Josh Wade ’11 of Alstead, New Hampshire. year is in sight, but there is still plenty of summer yet to enjoy.” for example, I saw sites in New District visited Unity College. He briefed members of the There were eleven additional students who won scholarships Constantine issued a special congratulation to Jacob Hastings, Zealand that had been buried Leadership Council on health care reform and green issues. and prizes, bringing the value of all scholarships and prizes awarded who upon receiving his scholarship pumped his fists and danced by massive glaciers at the be- After the meeting he toured Unity House with President to $29,000. across the gym floor as a large crowd cheered. Mitchell Thomashow. Congressman Michaud learned about “Meeting Jacob and his supportive family was a joy,” said ginning of the 20th entury, but the performance of Unity House to date, which is on track Constantine. “What a great way to begin his college experience, are now ice free. Fifty percent to be carbon neutral in its first calendar year. celebrating the good fate to have landed the fish that carried the of the glaciers in New Zealand one year tuition scholarship.” Senator Susan Collins have melted since 1860---an Over 400 students and their guests participated in the tournament. event unprecedented in the last 5,000 years” Renewable Energy in Maine Event coordinator Kate Grenier praised the support of faculty, staff and “It was remarkable to stand in a place where some 140 community volunteers whose commitment made the event successful. A diverse group of supporters witnessed Governor John “It takes a lot to pull something like this off and it speaks to our years ago, I would have been covered in tens of hundreds of Baldacci’s ceremonial signing of the Community-Based entire campus community that we are able to put together such a feet of ice, and then to look far up the mountainside and see Renewable Energy Act on June 24, 2009. Pictured supporters top notch event,” said Grenier. “I would especially like to acknowl- how distant the edge of the ice is today.” include lead sponsors Bruce MacDonald and Herbert Adams, edge Associate Director of Admissions Joe Saltalamachia ’94 for his Senator Collins praised Unity College and its environmen- representatives from the Peninsula Power Coop Initiative, Jacob Hastings ’13 a prize winner (left) and a group photo of the efforts during this tournament and for the original idea.” tal mission. Mary Ann Hayes of Maine Rural Partners and Mick Womer- prize winning students (right). “For 44 years, Unity College has produced graduates ready sley from Unity College (second from right). to meet the demands of today,” Collins stated. “Unity gradu- ates have a reverence for the past, but more important, they Bringing Local Options to Downtown Waterville have a vision for the future. The Great Law of the Iroquois – that we must assess every action we take in terms of its There’s a new market on the block College, the Waterville Rotary Club, in downtown Waterville. Barrels Inland Hospital and many other indi- impact on the seventh generation – is the guiding spirit of this Community Market, which is dedi- viduals, businesses, and organizations great school. The people of Maine are proud to be home to cated to selling locally grown food to get the market up and running,” said America’s Environmental College.” and locally crafted products, held a Haines. The entire text of the commencement address by Senator Grand Opening Celebration on Sep- Unity College contributed to the Collins is online at www.unity.edu/NewsEvents/News/UC- tember 12, 2009. development of the project by conduct- ComU509.aspx. The launch of this non-profit mar- ing market research with students. Dr. ket was a collaborative effort, said Nancy Ross, associate professor of envi- Shannon Haines, Executive Director ronmental policy and agriculture, food, of Waterville Main Street, a down- and sustainability, lead her students in re- Photo Courtesy of Lucas Sanders Unity College Vice President for College Advance- town revitalization organization that searching local food trends and non-profit ment Rob Constantine and Unity Barn Raisers oversees Barrels Community Market. business models as a means of identifying Executive Director Tess Fairbanks Woods ’95 at “We have received considerable best practices in the emerging field of lo- Barrels Community Market. support from Colby College, Unity cal food economies.

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Faculty and Staff Service Honored Who is Jesse Pyles and What is He Doing in a Boiler Room Anyway? On April 28, Unity College faculty and staff gathered in Qui- If you are strolling the Unity College campus and happen to see a lanky West Virginian exit a door you mby Library for the 2009 Length of Service Awards. Given never noticed before, and you peer in and see that there are all kinds of pipes and equipment in the room annually, the awards recognize milestones reached by faculty beyond, well, you have just encountered the emerging profession of Sustainability Coordinator, and Unity and staff. Organized by Director of Human Resources, Kath- College’s very own, Jesse Pyles. leen Hale, and the Assistant to the Director of Human Re- Unity College is a pioneer of the sustainability coordinator sources, Mary-Cay Pitre, the awards feature a narrative about position and role, and in fact we get regular requests from all each recipient. The narratives are often written by supervi- around the country for information on how to set up such a sors with sometimes humorous or heart warming thoughts position and make it work. Jesse’s new job is the product of contributed by co-workers. President Mitchell Thomashow our trial and error in moving towards campus sustainability, (center front) was on hand to make the presentations to and his own life pathway towards this work. (clockwise front) Adjunct Instructor/Director of the Writing Jesse hails from the mountain country of West Virginia, Center Judy Williams (5 years of service); Chief Public Safety but he travelled to New York City to earn an undergradu- Officer Dean Bessey (10 years); Executive Assistant to the ate degree in environmental studies at the prestigious Pace President/Secretary to the Board of Trustees Chris Melanson years). Not pictured are Clinical Counselor Julie Johnson (5 University. For his graduate degree he attended the Audubon (10 years); Advancement and Prospect Research Coordinator years); Director of Information Technology William Morgan Expedition Institute field-study program, touring the Pacific Cindy Schaub (5 years); Administrative Assistant to the Busi- (5 years); Assistant Professor of Biology Aimee Phillippi (5 Northwest and Canyonlands on the famous AEI bus, and ness Office Beth Safford (5 years); Accountant Cheryl Gould years); Maintenance II William Veilleux (5 years); Associate getting a master’s in environmental education along the way. If that doesn’t sound idyllic enough, what follows surely is. (10 years); Associate Professor James Reed (20 years); Profes- Professor J. Andrew McInnes (10 years); and Maintenance II He married a New Englander, Laura, who has significant Bruce Cook (15 years). sor Dave Potter (20 years); and Professor Jerry Cinnamon (35 experience in agriculture and sustainability education in her own right, having been the resident farmer at Sterling Col- lege. Both Laura and Jesse were looking for ways to further develop their sustainability careers in the context of a rural Bucking the Trend of Employee Melt in Higher Education lifestyle when the Unity College job came open, and the rest, as they say, is history. At a time when colleges and uni- The popularity of Unity’s environ- “In a time when many institutions of versities across the United States are mental curriculum has led to the hiring higher education are laying people off Jesse’s job is to coordinate all campus sustainability efforts. Each department head with significant trimming jobs, Unity College is boldly of three new faculty members to replace and freezing hiring, retaining people in responsibility and budget, especially those who have responsibility for purchasing materials and energy, bucking the belt tightening trend. three who retired. their jobs and maintaining the quality of has a clause in their job description saying that each year they must prepare a Sustainability Report and The creation of new positions is in “We’re very excited to welcome three our staff and faculty workforce is one of rolling three-year plan to submit to the President for approval. Jesse’s primary job is to help develop those response to a historically large pool of new members to our full-time faculty our highest priorities at Unity College,” reports and to help each department be as sustainable as they can be. applicants, strong retention of students, this fall,” said Senior Vice President for said Hale. “Our staff and faculty are new and ongoing public/private part- Academic Affairs Amy Knisley. “The very committed to our students, believe The data in those reports is then compiled and used to make several campus sustainability reports that nerships, and an increase in giving to news in higher education has been full wholeheartedly in our mission, and we are due to external oversight agencies each year, particularly the Maine Governor’s Carbon Challenge the College during the 2008-2009 fis- of layoffs and cutbacks—entire programs place a high value on our workers who (www.maine.gov/dep/innovation/gcc/) and the American College and University President’s Climate cal year. Not a single faculty or staff job being cut along with their faculty, in- make us what we are.” Commitment (www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/), both of which require to know what our campus was cut. cluding tenured faculty in some cases. In addition to the historically high carbon emissions were in the preceding year. And of course, both require different formats, and even dif- This story of Unity boldly swimming There is nothing more important, for a number of applications received for the ferent units. Like all sustainability coordinators, Jesse has to be a whiz with numbers. upstream against the raging torrent of a small college like ours, than a strong fac- incoming class of 2013, Dean for Enroll- lagging economy that is buffeting higher ulty, and I’m so pleased we’ve been able ment Management Alisa Johnson reports The other big part of his job is internal and external outreach. There’s not much point being (we believe) education was covered by Yahoo on its to maintain our faculty workforce in full that the academic profile of the incom- the greenest campus in America if you don’t tell anyone about it. Students often don’t realize what goes web site in July. Within a day, Unity’s for this upcoming year.” ing class is outstanding. into our sustainability efforts, and the outside world needs to hear it too. Jesse necessarily spends a lot story was carried by dozens of media Kathleen Hale, Director of Human “The class of 2013 has the highest of time writing, telephoning, and emailing to get the message out to external constituencies. Internally, across the United States, reaching mil- Resources, is pleased that the College grade point average and best SAT scores there’s nothing like face-to-face, and so Jesse goes into the classrooms and residence halls regularly to lions of web, television, print and radio has been able to keep a handle on em- of any class in the history of Unity Col- meet the students and tell them what’s up. media consumers. ployment despite the economic turmoil lege,” Johnson confirmed. “This adds to shaking businesses. an already strong curriculum with na- All in all there isn’t enough time in the day to do all this as completely or as well as it could be done, so tional reach.” prioritizing is fairly important. The sustainability coordinator position is key to the increasingly high-profile reputation of Unity College, and Jesse is key to the position. Please join me in welcoming him to our com- The Yahoo story is online at www.unity.edu/NewsEvents/News/UCTrend709.aspx. munity. ­—Associate Professor Mick Womersley

34 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 35 in our element new & noteworthy new & noteworthy in our element Unity College Welcomes Professor and Student In the Clouds Four New Trustees Attend National Geology Meeting On July 25, Dean for Student Affairs Gary Four new Trustees were welcomed to the Board of Trustees at the In March of 2009, Unity College Assistant Professor of Zane ’83 and Interim Director of Adventure annual fall meeting at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Geoscience Kevin Spigel and Eric Larson ’10, an environmen- Arts on October 23. Experiences Nancy Zane ’88 participated tal analysis major, headed west to the Nevada desert for the “Unity College is delighted to welcome these four new Trustees in a Mt. Katahdin summit sign replacement to the Board,” noted President Mitchell Thomashow. “They bring Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting worktrip. They were joined by Baxter State valuable creativity, insights, and networks into our midst. They join in Las Vegas. us because Unity College is in the forefront of educating a new gen- Spigel and Larson were there to present a paper entitled Park Trail Supervisor and Unity College alum eration of sustainability leaders.” Investigations of Wildfire Activity During Periods of Rapid Paul Sannicandro ’96 and other volunteers. New to the Board are Jeff Wahlstrom, Managing Director of Star- Climate Change: An example from the Younger Dryas Chro- They replaced the Katahdin summit sign board Leadership consulting of Bangor, Maine. He possesses more nozone. The presentation marked the end of research con- than 25 years of hands-on nonprofit leadership experience. and the wooden frame that holds it. As with ducted during the fall and spring semesters at Unity College. John Bielenberg of C2 and Project M with locations in Portland The work entailed processing lake sediments recovered from most everything related to Mt. Katahdin this and Belfast, Maine, has won over 250 design awards. He has served Emrick Lake in southern Wisconsin to isolate small fragments project posed more than the ordinary set of on national boards and teaches at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. of charcoal in Petri dishes and subsequently counted under a Gary and Nancy Zane were part of challenges. Volunteers were hand chosen for the volunteer team that participated Margot Kelley is an artist and author who works with the Pho- dissecting microscope. in the rebuilding of the sign at the their prior climbing and outdoor adventure tography Department at the Art Institute of Boston in Boston, Charcoal counts were subjected to statistical analysis in top of Mt. Katahdin. Materials for experience. The timbers had to be transported Massachusetts. She has offered readings and lectures across the order to determine the relative frequency of wildfire during a the rebuilding effort were painstak- United States, won grants and awards, and displayed collections at prominent climatic event that started at the end of the Wiscon- ingly carried to the summit along by sled to Chimney Pond. All the pieces were the Portland (Maine) Museum of Art, Berman Museum of Art, and sinan Glacial Period approximately 12,800 years ago. Spigel or- the often challenging trail system. transported up Saddle Trail to Baxter Peak and American Newspaper Repository at Duke University. ganized two thematic paper sessions with a colleague from the Nadine Mort is an author and special educator with over thirty then assembled. years experience in the public and private sector. She has an exten- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point entitled Sedimentary sive background and specialization in specific learning disabilities, Perspectives on Paleoenvironmental Change I and II, in which emotional disturbance and autism in young adults. nine additional presenters shared the results of their research on a wide range of topics all organized around the central topic of Hurricane Season at Unity using sediment archives as a tool to peer into Earth’s history. During the fall semester the critically acclaimed multi-media pro- The AAG meeting was attended by nearly 7,000 people, duction of Hurricane Season offered a well-received performance at spread between two venues located on Las Vegas Boulevard, the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts (UCCPA). Through and consisted of hundreds of concurrent sessions on each of a tapestry of spoken-word poetry, video projection, dance, shadow the six days. All disciplines, in addition to physical geography art, and a sound collage of personal testimonies, Hurricane Season (e.g. geomorphology, soils, climate, and biogeography) were connects the issues that surfaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Ka- well represented including historical, medical, economical, trina to the “unnatural disasters” our communities are experiencing political geography, geographic information science (GIS), nationwide and around the world on a daily basis. Alixa and Naima cartography, and many more. are the soul-sister co-conspiracy of arts activists known as Climbing Spigel and Larson spent several days attending presenta- PoeTree. With roots in Haiti and Colombia, Alixa and Naima reside tions on other aspects of paleoenvironmental change, human in Brooklyn and track footprints across the country and globe on a impacts on geomorphology and hydrology, soils and geoar- mission to overcome destruction with creativity. Poets, performers, chaeology, and many more, as well as dining with old (and print-makers, dancers, muralists, and designers, Alixa and Naima Unity College Trustees pictured are Dr. Mitchell Thomashow, Presi- new) friends and colleagues, and browsing through exhibits. have sharpened their art as a tool for popular education, commu- dent; Mr. William Glidden, Chair; Mr. William Zoellick, Vice-Chair; In addition to enjoying the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, nity organizing, and personal transformation. With a set built of bam- Mr. Donald Foster, Treasurer; Ms. Juliet Browne,Secretary; Mrs. Spigel and Larson ventured beyond the oasis of downtown Patrons were treated to one of the most extensive set designs of any boo, calabash, and water that surrounds the audience in a circle of Joan Amory, Mr. John Bielenberg, Mr. Pete Didisheim, Mrs. Martha to explore Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire State Park, and Lake performance in UCCPA history. The Hurricane Season experience be- Dolben, Mrs. Margot Kelley, Mr. Mark Miller, Mr. Robert Pollis, Mrs. shadow and light, Hurricane Season transforms spaces into sanctu- gan the moment patrons entered the door with tapestries hung from the Arlene Schaefer, Mr. Matthew Shejen ’00, Mr. Robert Tonge, Dr. Paul Mead National Recreational Area on a much needed “tourist” aries of healing, witness, and imagination. ceiling containing hand written messages and art work. Wade, Mr. Jeffrey Wahlstrom, Mr. James Horan, Faculty; Ms. Hannia day. —Assistant Professor Kevin Spigel Candelario ’11, Student. Not pictured are Ms. Sharon Bloome, Ms. Eleanor Briggs, Mr. Mac McCabe, Mrs. Nadine Mort, Ms. Gloria Sosa ’80, and Mr. Kenneth Winters.

36 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 37 in our element faculty notes faculty notes in our element

Inaugural Center Directors Announced by Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Knisley Associate Professor Kathryn Miles Associate Professor Ben Potter which the college’s Agri- able technology and energy culture, Food and Sustain- efficiency demonstrators. The inaugural set of Center Directors in fall 2007 as the Assistant Director of lin, who came to the faculty in 1999, Following the release of Associate ability and Wildlife Care has been nominated from their Centers the Teacher Education Program, has will be serving a four-year term in the her 2009 non-fiction book Professor and Education programs will and appointed. Professor Doug Fox has agreed to expand her portfolio with Center for Natural Resource Manage- Adventures with Ari, Associ- Ben Potter Professor Barry Woods conduct animal husbandry accepted a four-year appointment to Unity College through a two-year ment and Protection. In the Center for ate Professor Kate Miles has spent a Profes- projects. He is also leading lead the Center for Sustainability and appointment in the Center for Experi- Biodiversity, Assistant Professor Aimee made a variety of regional and weekend sor Barry a seminar in Wind Assess- Global Change. Doug began on the ential and Environmental Education. In Phillippi will be serving a three-year national media appearances. in Septem- Woods ment in which students learn full-time faculty in spring 1991. As- the Center for Environmental Arts and appointment. Phillippi’s full-time regu- Closer to home, in September ber at the spent a to use anemometers and sistant Director of Teacher Education/ Humanities, Professor Chris Marshall lar faculty appointment began in the of 2009 Miles was a featured Haystack Mountain School of week at GIS to research and plan Director of the Center for Experiential will take on a two-year term. Marshall fall of 2007, prior to which she was an speaker at Crafts on Deer Isle, Maine. the Asso- and Environmental Education Angela has been on the faculty since the fall of adjunct faculty member. They began as wind turbine and wind farm the China He led a workshop entitled ciation of Hardy, who began her work with Unity 1980. Associate Professor Tom Mul- Center directors in July. installations for Maine com- Village “Straw Into Gold,” focus- Institutional Research (AIR) munities. He will propose a Library ing on the use of reused and Conference in Nashville, second semester travel course in China, non-traditional materials in Tennessee, in preparation to the Centre for Alternative Maine. Her art production. While there for spending two weeks Technol- presenta- he also delivered a keynote working at the Northern ogy (CAT) tion was entitled “Cultivating speech on art and the envi- Marianas College (NMC) in Wales a Sense of Wonder: The New ronment to members of in Saipan. His first week in (UK) for Generation of Nature Writ- the Maine Art Education Saipan was spent working students in ers.” It was the centerpiece Association. with NMC staff conduct- the Sus- Doug Fox Angela Hardy Chris Marshall Tom Mullin Aimee Phillippi of the annual meeting of the ing research. During his tainability China Library Association. second week Woods worked Associate Professor Mick Womersley Design She spoke about teaching and with former Unity Col- Associate Professor Michael and Technology degree writing, and offered insights lege President Wilson Hess “Mick” Womersley is teach- programs. He recently Professor Jim Horan Associate Professor Emma Creaser included John Ahearne June to read and score their about Adventures with Ari, pub- on the NMC Accreditation (Moderator), Executive Advanced Placement Psychol- ing a section of the second visited CAT and returned Professor Jim Horan of- Associate lished by Skyhorse Publishing Interim Report and on using Director Emeritus of Sigma ogy examinations. Over 450 year Environmental Citizen with up-to-date materials fered a presentation entitled Profes- of New York, New York. Accuplacer for placement Xi, former chairman of the psychology professors and interdisciplinary core course and advice from center staff “Facilitating Moral Develop- sor Emma in English and mathematics U.S. Nuclear Regulatory instructors from all over the entitled “Building a Barn.” for organizing educational ment in Beginning Col- Creaser was Associate Professor Tom Mullin courses. Commission, U.S. Deputy Unites Students will build a barn in programs using their renew- lege Students” at the 16th a delegate During the summer of 2009 Assistant Secretary of Energy States as International Conference on at Sigma Associate Professor Tom and Acting Assistant Secre- well as Learning Xi, the Scientific Research Mullin worked with the tary of Defense; and Michal from sev- in Barce- Society 2009 Annual Meet- National Audubon Society’s Faculty Speak Moore, Senior Fellow, Insti- eral foreign lona, Spain ing in The Woodlands, Texas. Seabird Restoration Pro- During the spring semester of tute for Sustainable Energy, countries in July. He Each November, Sigma Xi gram’s Project Puffin. He 2009, Professor Doug Fox offered Environment and Economy, were in described leaders and highly moti- served as an onboard natu- a presentation entitled “Creating University of Calgary in attendance. In July he also how a vated college students gather ralist for trips to Eastern Egg a Culture of Sustainability” at the Alberta. The 2009 meeting taught a graduate course in teaching to share ideas, informa- Rock in Muscungus Bay, Smart and Sustainable Campuses focused on energy. Details the College of Education Conference at the University of activity used in The Unity tion and camaraderie at the Maine. He also worked with are available online at www. and Human Development Maryland. In June, Fox taught Experience, Unity’s version Sigma Xi Annual Meeting the Maine Lakes Conser- sigmaxi.org. at the University of Maine two workshops for a permacul- From Left, Dog Fox, Nancy Ross, and Dave Potter. of a freshman seminar, called and International Research vancy Institute as their Edu- in Orono with Associate ture design course at Unity College. They were entitled “Composting and Soil Life” and “student-led discussions” en- Conference. The conference cational Program Consultant Professor J. Andrew “Mac” “Finding the Sun: Solar Orientation for Natural Building.” In August, Associate Professor hances moral development in featured honorary members Professor Don Lynch for the development of a McInnes entitled Adventure Nancy Ross and Fox were interviewed on the Time Warner Cable of Maine talk show students by requiring them Jamie Heyneman and Adam Professor Don Lynch accepted sporting camps education Therapy within Clinical entitled Consumer Matters, hosted by Assistant Attorney General Jim McKenna. They of- to research diverse perspec- Savage, hosts of the popular another invitation from the project, and a year-long col- Counseling. fered easy-to-understand sustainability tips. In September, Professor Dave Potter and Fox tives on controversial social Discovery Channel program College Board to travel to laboration with the Maine offered a presentation about solar heated water at the University of Maine Cooperative topics and present opposing Myth Busters. Speakers Kansas City, Missouri in Volunteer Lake Monitoring Extension in Waldo County. viewpoints to their peers. Program and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

38 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 39 in our element faculty notes class notes alumni

70 Pat Busche is vice president and owner of Eleanor Nettleton and her husband, Art Ox- Acadia Partners Research Fellows David and Peggy (Kelleher) Lary are consid- Trinity Transportation Services in Orange nard, will go to Calif. in May 2010 for their ering retirement next year. David farms with Park, Fla. She has resided in Fla. for the past daughter’s graduation from the University of The first three recipients of fac- will complement and dragonfly. She is hopeful that her 20 years with her father and daughter. California at Berkeley. ulty research fellowships through a similar work she has work will provide needed information his brother and nephew in Clinton, Maine, and Peggy is a case manager for a men- partnership between Unity College done elsewhere in about the presence and absence of sev- tal health agency in Newport. They have 75 Robbie Norris went into the music business directly after graduation. For the last 20 and Acadia Partners for Science and the United States by eral species of special concern for the five grandchildren. Mary Guariglia owns a business that offers Learning were announced in Septem- sampling forested Maine Department mentoring and coaching for network market- years he ran one of the biggest recording stu- ber. Acadia Partners is the non-profit transects in the park of Inland Fisher- 71 ers. She is the mother of twin girls. dios in New York City. He’s been married organization that manages the Sc- to investigate po- ies and Wildlife. to Maureen for 20 years and runs a company Anthony Lambert retired from his position at that deals with data archiving, as well as his hoodic Education and Research Center Erika Latty tential relationships Assistant Professor Verizon and now enjoys volunteering in his Tom Shelley retired from his position as su- perintendent of the Hamilton N.J. Water own technical support business, Norris Au- at Acadia National between invasive earthworms and plant Kevin Spigel will community. He keeps in contact with Billy dio Service. Park. This fellowship species variety. In addition to improv- bring his work us- Childs, Tom ’70 and Pat (Valerosa) Blanchard Pollution Control. He and his wife, Linda, and Gerry Rascoll ’70. went to Austria in April to visit their son, program supports ing the park’s own ecological datasets, ing lake sediment Christopher, who is teaching under a Ful- 79 Unity faculty in the project will also become part of the Kevin Spigel cores to understand 72 bright Scholarship. JoAnn (Dupre) Yozura enjoyed a 20 year career pursuing research high school science curriculum in Bel- environmental change to the park, in as a recreation therapist and supervisor of rec- within the park, to fast. Assistant Professor Alysa Rems- his project entitled “Environmental Pat Feehan is a sales/marketing manager for a David Symes has been a rural mail carrier at reation therapy in Mass. She has a daughter, the benefit of both burg, in her project responses to rapid climate change dur- snow contracting and commercial landscaping the U.S. Postal Office in Gardiner, Maine, Julia, 13. company in Islandia, N.Y. He and Mary have Bill Zoellick the College and the entitled “Odonata ing the Younger Dryas Chronozone in since 1985. He worked this past summer as a three children. Patrick, 24, is a graduate of Susan Ferrera is parks superintendent of the park. The program is the brainchild breeding assemblage Acadia National Park, Maine (Phase fishing and caribou hunting guide for Ungava Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in R.I. with Adventures in Alaska. Dave has been mar- East Bay Regional Park District in Berkeley, of Bill Zoellick, Director of Pro- and vehicle collision I).” Rapid environmental change is a degree in architecture. Susanne graduated ried to Becky for 28 years, and they have two Calif. She received a master’s in public ad- gram Development at Acadia Partners surveys,” will be understood to have occurred dur- from SUNY New Paltz with honors in psy- daughters: Laura, who graduated from North ministration from Golden Gate University in for Science and Learning, and Vice conducting ecologi- ing the Younger Dryas, and will use chology, and Jack, 12, enjoys playing soccer Carolina State University, and Karen, who 2008. Susan served in the Peace Corps in the Chair of the Unity College Board of cal studies intended samples from higher-altitude ponds in and baseball. graduated from Unity College in 2008. Dominican Republic from 1982-1984. Trustees. In her project on “Effects of to better inform Alysa Remsburg the park to begin a process of adding Rich Sidell is semi-retired from a camera com- exotic earthworm invasions on Maine the park on population and habitat to existing sedimentary records from 76 Phil Koury is a marine police officer for the pany and has two sons. Keith, 27, graduated Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and forests,” Assistant Professor Erika Latty details of certain species of damselfly Maine for this period. Beth Cady-Grzesiak is a certified hospice reg- from Syracuse University; and Tyler, 23, has Sandy (Chapman) ’80 is a rural mail carrier for istered nurse for the Concord N.H. Regional a master’s in computer science/graphic design the U.S. Postal Service and an artist specializ- Visiting Nurse Association. She graduated from George Washington University. ing in animal portraits. They have three chil- from Quinnipiac University’s 4-year nursing dren: Jessica, 23, is a staff sergeant in the U.S. program with a bachelor’s degree in 1996. She Lessons Learned: New Faculty Reflect 73 Air Force as a Combat Air Systems Specialist has been married for 13 years, and her hus- on a J-Star aircraft. Their two boys, Philip III, After a year or more on the job, several of Unity’s newest and disappointed and led students to hearty adventures on Unity Jim Allen works on computer 3D modeling, band, John, is the IT director for a charter 21, and Bryan, 18, live at home. brightest faculty reflected on the transition and discoveries they Pond coring for lake sediment during sub-zero days. None of rendering and architectural work in Chino school in Conn. Valley, Ariz. made joining the College. the students flinched and most were elated with the research Patrick McCabe is district sales manager for Charlie Davis is the president of Davis Builders In the fall of 2007, Assistant Professor Alysa Remsburg began gathering.“My students have had no problem going outside in Tim Biggs is an employee at Hidden Valley Inc. in Belgrade, Maine. He has been building California Products, a paint manufacturer in teaching at Unity College. “It was refreshing to meet students the rain, sleet, and cold to experience firsthand the physical land- Camp in Montville, Maine. Pam (Gallik) ’74 and remodeling homes for 27 years. He and his Andover, Mass. He and his wife, Charlotte, have two children: Caitlin, 18, is a sophomore who really want to make the most of their time and money in scape,” he said. is an early childhood consultant. They have wife have two children: Joshua, 26, who gradu- at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, N.C., and college,” said Remsburg. “Most of these students aren’t just go- Remsburg describes her teaching as ‘hands-on’ with a twist three children: a son, Gus, and twin daugh- ated from Bentley College, and Jessica, 24, who ters, Caitlin, who attends Prescott College in graduated from St. Michael’s College in Vt. Daniel, 12, attends the McQuaid School. ing through the motions they were told to do.” Assistant Profes- that is sometimes overlooked. Ariz. and Rachel, who graduated from Marl- Sal Piccolo retired from the New York Police sor Erika Latty joined the faculty with a good idea about the key “My teaching is ‘hands-on’ quite often, although students boro College in Vt. Mike Leighton is a state park regional manager strengths of Unity College.“I had known about Unity College for sometimes forget that this can take place indoors – on comput- for the Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands. He is Department after 20 years one week prior to 9/11. He is the proprietor of Copshop, a retail some time,” said Latty. “Unity is known for experiential, hands- ers, in problem solving groups, or in drawing a diagram,” she ex- Pamela (Hume) Partridge has been teaching married and has four kids. fourth grade at the Garret Schenck School store carrying police and firefighter gifts. Sal’s on learning. It is a good fit for the type of research that I do.” plained. Hands-on learning really means learning through experi- has three children: Sal Jr., lives in Fla. son, in North Anson, Maine for 21 years. After 77 Latty researches the effects of introduced earth worm spe- ence and practicing the skills that will be needed in the future.“I Unity, she received her bachelor of science Trevor, 25, and a daughter, Katie, 23. John Gould is a detective sergeant and has been cies on plant diversity. She researches beech bark disease which believe the purpose of college is to prepare our graduates for in education from the University of Maine at Farmington and her master’s in education a police officer in the Waterville, Maine Po- 80 is quite rampant in Maine, so Unity’s location was an ideal set- ‘minds-on’ work, so that they have more options than working lice Department for 27 years. He and his wife, from the University of Maine in Orono. James “JC” Harris was in the U.S. Air Force ting for Latty to further her research. There was more to the ap- only with their hands,” Remsburg said. Esther, have two children: Jessica, 28, who is a for 21 years on active duty and in the reserve. nurse practitioner in Mass. and a son, 24, who peal than a job and location.“Unity College values research and The ‘minds-on’ reference is about diversity of skills and adapt- 74 He is now a pilot for UPS. He is married and is a financial consultant in N.Y. hands-on learning,” she said. “That just fit with my ideas about ability over time, learning to acquire new skills over a career. All George and Lois (Brown) Cozzi both work for has two sons, ages 22 and 18. pedagogy (teaching).” three feel comfortable as members of the Unity community. Mandiant. Lois is a quality assurance engineer 78 Assistant Professor Kevin Spigel felt a kinship with the Unity “Students here want to be engaged with the physical landscape, and George is in sales. They have two grown Pam Roberts is manager of CN Brown Oil Lonnie Jandreau is a forester for Prentiss & Company in Lancaster, N.H. She is the widow student perspective.“I felt there would be students who want- which makes my job better and the classes as a whole better,” children. George III lives in N.H, and Steven works on Broadway as a costumer. Carlisle in Maine’s northernmost district. of Russ Capute, who passed away in 2000. She ed to be engaged in the geosciences,” Spigel said. He was not Spigel said. His wife, Janet, is a bank manager and their has a daughter, Samantha, 20. son, Jared, graduated from University of Maine in Farmington.

40 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 41 alumni class notes class notes alumni

81 Ann (Lewis) Timmis is a medical coder in a local 87 Ralph Preston ’91, his wife, Ginger, and their Patrick McCarthy is a database administrator hospital’s outpatient department. Andy is an John Berger is an environmental consultant Merlin Benner retired after 15 years with the two sons visited JD (above) last summer on for Combinatorx in Boston. He has two chil- for Miller Environmental Consulting Engi- account executive for a construction company Pennsylvania Department of Conservation their way home to Tacoma, Wash. dren: Kristin, a freshman in high school, and neering and the City of Allentown Water Re- in the environmental division. They have two and Natural Resources and started his own Shane, a seventh grader. sources in Allentown, Pa. sons: Alex, 19, is a freshman at SUNY Gen- wildlife consulting company, Wildlife Spe- Maria Broadbent, an environmental program eseo, and Drew, 17, is a junior in high school. cialists, L.L.C. He and his wife, Melissa, have coordinator for the City of Annapolis, put to- Troy Mueller has three children: Beckie, 16, Stephen Goulette is a production supervisor five children: Ben, 16, Angelica, 13, Jonas, 12, gether a program on environmental steward- TJ, 13, and Sam, 11. Tom St. Germain owns Chore Store, a home for VIA Cheese in Swanton, Vt. He and Terry Melody, 9, and Harmony, 7. ship for restaurants. The city will offer free improvements and renovations business in (Rustic) have two children: Daniel, 25, and certification programs by which restaurants 90 Waterville, Maine. He and his wife, Beverly, can earn certification by practices such as buy- Richelle, 23. Dave Collins owns a sales training and consult- Peggy Ainsley is a fuels technician and a wild- have four daughters: Melissa, 23, recently ing business in Denver, Colo. offering speak- ing organic food, recycling used fryer oil, sav- land firefighter for the National Park Service. married; Rachel, 22, a nurse at Maine Gen- Keith Hough is starting his 24th year as a mem- ing engagements and seminars. He and his ing water and educating customers. eral; Joanna, 20, a junior at the University of ber of the Assumption College Campus Police wife, Stephanie, have two children: Spencer, Renee Benjamin works part-time as a courier Maine at Augusta, and Samantha, 19, whose Jeff Caswell is a manager of the Robbins Lum- Department in Worcester, Mass., where his 16, and Delaney, 11. for FedEx, which gives her quality time to passion is cooking. ber Mill is Searsmont, Maine. His son, Jamie, current position is operations lieutenant. He Alumni and friends received a warm welcome spend with her daughter, Abbey, 5. 21, attends the University of New England and his wife, Heather, have twin boys, ages 3 ½. to alumni weekend on Friday, September 25 Kathy Dixon-Wallace has two sons, Kineo, 13, 85 studying sports medicine. from Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator and Telos, 11. Cathy Bergeron is a holistic therapist, work- Leo Paquette is the owner of a weekly paper, Russ Beaupre teaches special education at ing with brain injury patients in Calgary, AB, Kate Grenier (center), Heather Thornton ’12 Rich Ferris is teaching fourth grade in Warren, The Employment Times. He, Dave Dargie, and Matt Moores of Liberty Mutual. the middle school in Springfield, Mass. He Mitchell Jordan is a corrections officer in Shir- Canada. She is married to Charlene Hamilton. Craig Aronson, and Jay Minor ’84 enjoyed an ice coaches the YMCA swim team in Holy- ley, Mass. He and his wife, Donna, who is a Maine. His has a granddaughter and a grand- son, ages 6 and 1. fishing trip to Moosehead, Maine in February. inventories. He has interest in living history oke, Mass. He and his wife, Carmen, have a nurse at Mass. General Hospital, have three Teri (George) Mueller is a program specialist and performs Scandinavian music. daughter, Monique, 11. children: Hunter, 8, and twins, Molly and and advocate for disabled adults at the Sussex Suellen (Field) Bellows and her husband, Den- 82 Mitchell, ages 6. Mitchell is looking forward County ARC in Newton, NJ. She has three nis, have two daughters: Nicole, 5, and Rachel, Mark Shaul is a portrait photographer for Signe (Dolloff) Klinger is a sonographer at Ber- to retirement after 17 years. children: Beckie, 16, TJ, 13, and Sam, 11. Mark Amato is a state trooper, a corporal in Vantine Studios in Hamilton, N.Y., which 2. After two years in Japan with the U.S. Army, the Bureau of Training and Education, and wick Hospital in Pa. She received her degree specializes in composite portraits of college Joe Keifer is a self-employed forester in Wales, she is now a paramedic in Ashfield, Mass. a supervisor for the Advanced Training In- in medical imaging from Bloomsburg Uni- Mike Miller owns a personal training center, fraternities and sororities. versity of Pennsylvania in 2007. Mass. He has four children: Jessica, 18, Lisa, Nazareth Barbell, where he practices mixed Service Unit in Pa. He also works part-time John Letendre is an ATM technician. He 16, Erin, 14, and Joe, 10. martial arts. He is now retired from power teaching rock climbing at the local gym. He Travis Wagner was awarded tenure and pro- changed jobs to spend more time with his married Rachael, an oral surgical assistant. 86 lifting, but he was the first man to squat 1,200 moted to associate professor of environmental Mike Lockett retired as a youth service officer wife of 15 years, Heather. They have five children: Reilly, 13, Saman- Bill Diesinger is a property manager at L.L. lbs, the third man to bench 800 lbs, and he science and policy at the University of South- for the State of Connecticut and is currently competed in World’s Strongest Man competi- tha, 14, Jacob, 14, Jessica, 15 and Corina, 16. Bean in Maine. His wife, Virginia, works at Cindy Madura is a research specialist in the ern Maine. He was awarded a sabbatical for teaching special education in North Haven. tions. He and his wife, Deborah, have eight Waterville Junior High School. They have animal care department at the University of fall 2009 to co-author a new environmental Conn. He and his wife, Carissa, have three children, ages 4 to 21. Last year he portrayed Jeanne (Brown) Allen is a personal service spe- a stepdaughter, Anja, who is a junior at the Arizona. For nine years she has trained animal science textbook and to complete his research children: Matthew, 5, Emelia, 4, and Nathan, the character, Lex Lethani, in the movie The cialist in Waterville, Maine. University of Vermont. In his spare time, Bill technicians and investigators and has man- projects on household CFL recycling behavior 16 months. They are expecting another baby. Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. and electronic waste management. rescues and rehabilitates parrots. aged breeding mice colonies. Kevin Firmin is a geospatial analyst for the Mark Ramela works as an environmental con- National Geospatial Intelligence Agency in Bryan Gorsira is a wildlife biologist at Manas- Phil (Kim) Perhamus is a senior biologist with 84 sultant conducting hazardous waste studies, Al Weinberg is founder and CEO of Al Wein- Bethesda, Md. He received a degree in car- sas National Battlefield Park in Va. He re- AMEC Earth & Environmental in Somer- writing hazardous waste remediation specifi- berg Ministry Coaching in Evart, Mich. tography from the University of Connecticut Wayne and Deb Berger’s daughter, Jordan, ceived a master’s in wildlife in 1991 from set, N.J. He is a professional wetlands scien- graduated from high school in Essex, Mass. cations and overseeing remediation projects. tist and works nationally conducting surveys in 1985. He and his wife, Cindy, have one Texas A&M. He also writes, plays, and sings 89 daughter, age 18. Wayne is the director of challenge course de- his own music. He and his wife, Amy, have on ecological studies, wetlands restorations, Gabriele Spaziani has three children: Angelo, sign and installation for Project Adventure in been married nine years and have a daughter, Brian Camire works for Zimba Company in and threatened and endangered species. He 19, majoring in accounting, Kira, 16, enrolled Jim Morrissey has been in Washington, D.C. Hamilton, Mass. Lindsey, 5. Bryan also has a stepson, Connor. Fairfield, Maine. He and his wife, Denise and his wife, Melissa, have three children: at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in culinary arts at a technical school, and Ni- (White), have two sons. Gretchen, 14, Brian, 9, and Andrew, 4. cole, 14, attends high school. working on a Health Security Intelligence Dennis Downer is in his 21st year with UPS as Cathy McDevitt has worked as a veterinary as- Enterprise initiative, which was the subject of a supervisor. He and his wife have four chil- sistant at the Belfast Veterinary Hospital in Tim “TJ” Donovan is a deputy special agent for Chris Riley is a child support and paternity his master’s thesis. dren: Ashley, 20, is an art major at Manches- Maine for 15 years. 88 NOAA Office of Fisheries Law Enforcement specialist for the State of New Jersey. He and ter Community College; Chelsea, 18, attends Kevin Adam is a game warden sergeant in Ban- in Gloucester, Mass. He works with Chris his wife, Karen, have two children: Deegan, Roland Perry is pursuing a degree in golf man- Southern Connecticut State University while Kevin Pendexter works at Fairchild Semicon- gor, Maine. He and his wife, Bobbie Jean, Schoppmeyer ’77. TJ and his wife, Michelle, 3, and Harriet, born January 5, 2009. agement. In his spare time, he performs com- McKenzie, 12, and Courtney, 10, are both ac- ductor in South Portland, Maine, and is the have two daughters, ages 14 and 8. have two children, Finn, 5, and Bella, 3. edy magic shows. His three children, Shane, tive in soccer and softball. varsity soccer coach at Sacopee Valley High Tony Sabilia runs a digital printing company Todd, and Meaghan attend college. School. He has a son, Deven. April Baxter is an administrator of the Unitar- Patrick Foley is a truck driver for Maines Pa- in New London, Conn. He also has his own Barbara (Hall) Krause is the owner of Growing ian Universalist Meeting House in Provinc- per and Food Service in Chicopee, Mass. photo business, Fishstick Photo. He enjoys 83 Like a Weed in Tilton, N.H. She and David Pete Wallace has been a partner at North- etown, Mass. She is married to Brad Moore. spending time with his two sons, ages 8 and 12. have three children: Tucker, 18, at Castleton woods Canoe Company for more than 15 Walter Grzyb is commander of Troop B with Amy Kesten is a special education teacher in State College in Vermont, Alyssa, 16, a junior JD Beauregard has his own business, Beau- the Maine State Police in Gray. He and Mar- Jean (Santarsiero) Costanzi is an operations Juneau, Alaska. Her daughter, Jenna Fay, years, building wooden canoes and boats. He in high school, and Logan, 10. regard’s Carpentry and Landscaping. In his tha (Mendes) ’91 have two daughters: Eliza- safety specialist for Waste Management. She graduated from high school in Bellingham, is also an EMT for Three Rivers Ambulance spare time he enjoys performing with his beth, 11, and Emily, 9. has two children: Paige, 19, and Tyler, 18. Wa. Amy’s son, Eli, 14, is in Alaska with her. in Milo, Maine and The Mayo Regional Hos- Patti Holt-Bartlett is a personal trainer, a pital in Dover. He is also an outward bound new jazz-jam band in western Mass. and New strength trainer for cancer patients, and a cer- instructor, a guide, and a teacher in wilderness York City. JD also keeps in touch with Rob Theresa (Lane) Forino has received training in Maura “Mo” (Sheehan) Chance is the owner Doug Saball is employed at the Maine DEP as tified wellness coach at Synergy Health and St. Hillaire ’93, and Rob’s wife, Amy, and emergency services including water rescue, of Mo’s Groomobile, a mobile professional pet an environmental specialist. He is working on emergency medicine for the Wilderness Med- Fitness Center in Exeter, N.H. She re-mar- their sons, Ethan and Adam. JD and his wife, firefighting, search and rescue, hazmat and grooming service in Leesburg, N.J. air toxin emissions and area source emissions ical Association. Pete has two sons, Kineo, 13, ried and has two daughters, ages 19 and 16, and Telos, 11. Margo, have a daughter, Jade, 3 ½. animal rescue. and two step-daughters, ages 18 and 15. Beaux Slockbower is general manager of Spe-

42 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 43 alumni class notes class notes alumni

Jeff Nichols ’92 cialty Sports, a Patagonia store, in Brecken- for the Forest Service in Augusta, Maine. He Paul Racine has his own taxidermy business, new daughter, Ellery, born February 19, 2009. Sysco, Mass. He and his wife, Corrie, have ridge, Colo. is married to Lisa. Natural Reflections Taxidermy in Rutland, They also have another daughter, Indika, 4, two children, Luke, 8, and Lucie, 19 months Vt. He is a full-time cook and delivers papers and a son, Brodie, 14 months old. Marc is a who they adopted from China. 91 Steve Pate is a financial advisor for Edward three days a month in New York. He and his certified arborist for Green Horizons Land- Paul Levesque has been a veterinary techni- Jones. His wife, Gina, is an IT tech at Unum, wife, Samantha, have two children: Collin, 9, scape and Maintenance in Escondido, Calif. cian for several years and is now pursuing Ken Broskoskie is working at Siemens IT So- and they have a daughter, Jessica, 12. and Izabella, 5. work within the environmental field. lutions in Jacksonville, Fla. He recently vis- Shannon Henderson is an automation techni- ited with Nate and Nicole (LaRose) Barnes, Jay Brian Richardson has his own business, North- Craig Rennie has been a land resource specialist cian for Schumacher Equipment and Design Rob St. Germain is a team leader managing Hornyak ’92, and Jason ’92 and Jen (Pearson) ern Rim Wilderness Adventures in Alaska. for the State of New Hampshire Department in Belmont, N.H., a company offering auto- 401(k) clients for Mercer. Recently, for six Stowe ’93. He also conducts river trips, guides rafts and of Environmental Services, Wetlands Bureau mated custom design and fabrication. kayak tours. in East Concord for ten years. He is also a cer- Chandler Brown (Craig Miesner) is a police of- tified wetland scientist and a certified wildlife David Smith and his wife, Natalie, have a baby ficer in Atlantis, Fla. He returned from duty John Jrzcinski is a New York City police officer. biologist with the Wildlife Society. He and his daughter, Melia Keili, born March 21, 2009. in Kuwait with the U.S. Navy Reserves. From 1987 to 2005 he was in the U.S. Navy wife, Priscilla, have two boys and a girl. Dave is a park ranger at Acadia Nation Park in Italy and Iceland. He is married to Jennifer. in Maine. He is also a licensed arborist and Tammy Ciesla is a wildlife technician for the Gina Sawyer attends Kennebec Valley Com- master logger. Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Craig Uecker is a fly fishing representative for munity College and is studying to be a medi- and is also a certified track and field official Craig Uecker Fly Fishing and Sales. He repre- cal assistant. She works at Waldo County Tony Therrien teaches 7th grade life science in for high school and college meets. She ran 20 sents several manufacturers within New Eng- General Hospital in Belfast, Maine. Killingly, Conn. He has been married for six marathons and one super marathon (50 miles). years to his wife, Willow, and they have two A love of the outdoors, hunting, fishing land. Also, he is the sales manager for HMH Fly and the lead fly fishing instructor at L.L. Karen Stinson returned to Maine and works sons: TJ, 3, and Michael, 6 months. and related activities drew Jeff Nichols Rich Fritz is a recreational therapist at Fletcher Bean in Freeport, Maine. on her family’s organic dairy farm. ’92 to Unity College. These personal Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt. He and Heather (Trillium) Toulmin is a consultant at interests defined his professional career his wife, Kristen, have a foster daughter, Em- 93 John Thompson is the marketing manager and the Upper Valley Pediatrics in Vt. She and her and eventually led him to Alaska, a ily, 11 months, to join their two sons, Jordan, assistant director of the Office of University husband, Steve, have a son, Jake, 3 ½, and are Jon Bayer is a science teacher in Conn. virtual nirvana for outdoor enthusiasts 8, and Ethan, 6. Communications at Western Washington in the process of adopting a baby boy. University in Bellingham. His wife, Carolyn, and environmental professionals. Kim (Boggiatto) Cook and her husband, Jon, Hauns ’97, Kimberley (Sparks) ’97, and Lori (Schwarz) Murphy is the photography and is an assistant professor of journalism, and they Michael Valentin is a 13-year career airman have a second son, Colin Alfred, born April Anders welcome Linnea Bassett. production manager for Ocean Conservancy have two children: Carter, 5 and Maren, 8. who works at the hematology/oncology/bone Nichols has thrived as a Habitat 2, 2009 to join Andy, 3. Kim is a lawyer spe- in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, she was a marrow transplant unit of the Wilford Hall Biologist and Lead Biologist employed cializing in government relations and lobby- photo editor for The Wilderness Society. 94 Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in months he hosted the son of his Peace Corps ing, and Jon is an optometrist and co-owner by the State of Alaska Department of San Antonio, Texas. He and his wife, Lorie, Panamanian host family. Fish and Game, Sport Fish Division. 92 of Gray Family Vision Center. Russell Adams is a police officer for the town of Jay, Maine. He and his wife, Kelly, have have three children: Tyler, 3, and twins Abby and Bryan, ages 1. 96 Chris Borg is a field biologist for Red Hills Dana Boynton is a special education teacher at three children: Mason, 15, Carolyn, 12, and After graduation Nichols worked on Conservation Program and Tall Timber in Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast, Maine. Hayden, 5. Paul Cinquegrano is an environmental analyst various bird projects in Idaho and Tallahassee, Fla. He completed another “Bik- 95 and underground storage tank compliance Alabama. He pursued further education ing for Birds” fund raiser - this year for Unity Kristy (DeRoche) Morsey has been promoted to Ellen Andrews is the marketing manager for James Bandelin is manager at GE Healthcare/ manager for the Mass. Highway Department. to advance his career. College. He pledged money for each bird that Clinical Products Analyst at Athenahealth in Maine Sea Coast Vegetation in Franklin. Maternal Infant Care Division in Md. He and he identified in one day at St. Mark’s National Belfast, Maine. She and her husband, Roger, They sell varieties of North Atlantic seaweed his wife, Jill, have two boys: Jimmy, 7, and Jin Gill owns and operates Fernwood Cove Girls In 1996, Nichols was awarded a Wildlife Refuge in Fla. travelling by moun- have three boys: Alex, Nathaniel and Ben. for consumption. She is married with two Garrett, 4. Camp in Harrison, Maine. He and his wife, Master of Science degree in Wildlife tain bike and solicited pledges from alumni. children, ages 5 and 1. Beigette, have a daughter, Sylvie, 18 months. This year he saw 90 birds. and Fisheries Management from West Deborah (Farnam) McMillen is a full-time mom Kelly Canney is a promotions representative at Dan Brunton and his wife, Mary Ann, both Tropicana Casino and Resort in Las Vegas. Arthur Grindle is a GIS specialist at the Ken- Virginia University in Morgantown, West to Christopher and Kaitlin. John is a correc- Jeff Duguay is an associate professor of wild- tions officer at the Suffolk County House of work for Kross Government Services in Slip- She has a daughter, Megan, 13. nebec Soil & Water Conservation District in Virginia. He then followed his passion for life management at Delta State University Corrections in Boston. pery Rock, Pa. They have two children: Augusta, Maine. the outdoors to Alaska. in Cleveland, Miss. where he developed the Tucker, 6, and Molly, 4. Dennis Desjardins is the beverage controller at wildlife degree concentration. He has a mas- Scott Hahn is employed as a production super- the Marriot in Newport, R.I. Clint Hopkins started a new business, Lucid Nichols credits his time at Unity College ter’s of science in ecology from East Kentucky visor at Pleasant View Gardens, Inc. in Ep- Brian Carolan is an arborist for SavATree in Glass Studio. He consults and works on custom as among the most formative and University and a Ph.D. in wildlife manage- som, N.H. since 1994. He and his wife, Vicki, central Conn. He had been working in the Larry Dvorsky is the district sales manager for glass projects including glass decks, staircases important periods in his life. ment from West Virginia University. He and have a daughter, Emma, 3, and are expecting banking industry for 20 years. Brian and his Care of Trees in Hamden, Conn. and wall/partition systems. He and his wife, his wife, Jessica, have six children: Nick, 15, another child this fall. wife, Sue, have two children: Tyler, 3½, and Ellen, have two sons: Will, 4, and Caleb, 1. From his first visit to campusN ichols Ben, 13, Nathan, 11, Alex, 9, Autumn, 7, and Olivia, 1½. Sasha (Ellsworth) Dyer is a fish health exam- Emily, 4. was drawn to Unity College because Joseph Karkowsky is a second grade teacher in iner at Australis Aquaculture in Turner Falls, Scott Kemp is a wildlife technician for the Pa. He and his wife, Yan, are expecting their Craig Frickman is a recreational therapist for Mass. She also coaches a YMCA swim team. Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, of its close-knit community. The small Kaz Henmi is vice president in the IT office first child. the Connecticut Department of Children and Her three children are Brock, 8, Camden, 6, Central District. He has a son, Tristan, 6. college atmosphere focused on applied of the Citigroup Corporate and Investment Families. He and his wife, Nancy, have two and Kalina, 1. learning, getting outside and respecting the Bank in Tokyo. After Unity College, he went Slade Moore is the director/ecologist of his children: Grant, 6, and Avery, 3. Kathleen Lamb received a master’s of educa- environment, all qualities that Nichols values. to Alfred University in New York and re- own business, Biological Conservation in Kim (Kuntz) Gogan and Chris have a son, tion in psychological counseling from Co- ceived his bachelor of science in business ad- Bowdoinham, Maine which offers ecologi- Jon Giracca is in his 14th year as a victim wit- Christopher Joseph, born February 20, 2008. lumbia University in 2009 and is now in New “Unity College provides students ministration. He has a daughter, Maya, 3. cal research design and management. Slade ness advocate in domestic violence cases for They also have a daughter. Kim teaches bi- York City. with the opportunity to learn within is also the habitat restoration coordinator for the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Of- ology and environmental science at Newport Greg Lord is a data base developer, website a supportive community of diverse the Maine Coastal Program. He received a fice in Pittsfield, Mass. High School, N.H. Mark Richardson works for Lewis Tree Ser- manager, and email list service administrator vice in N.Y. and also has his own motorcycle individuals who share an interest in the master’s of science in wildlife ecology from Southern Illinois University in 2000. Daniel Larson is a truck driver for Boston parts business. environment,” Nichols said. Marc Goldberg and his wife, Farrah, have a

44 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 45 alumni class notes class notes alumni

Jason Seiders is a fisheries biologist at the 99 Tom “Brandt” Ryder received his Ph.D. in evo- Joe Bonan is employed at Wediko Children’s lutionary biology in 2008 from the University Services in Windsor, N.H. He offers biking, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Jon Audet is a transmission lineworker for Wildlife in Augusta, Maine. He and his wife, Vermont Electric Power Co. He and his wife, of Missouri in St. Louis and currently holds canoeing, sports and trail building for the kids. Heather, have two sons, Everett, 4, and Wy- Annie, had a second son, Oliver, along with a post doctoral fellowship at the Smithson- Lisa (Bunch) Martin, an instructor for art me- att, 18 months. Carter, 2. ian Migratory Bird Center and Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics in dia techniques at Unity College, recently ex- Washington, D.C. He is working on the ur- hibited her photographs at the Leonard Craig Wayne Simmons is a concrete potter at Lu- Brian Chamberlin and his wife, Tara, have a naform in Sullivan, Maine, a company that son, Liam Scott, born on January 13, 2009. banization of birds. Gallery at Unity College. specializes in concrete garden vessels. He and Brian is a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Rebeccah Schaffner has a new job as a re- Ross Conover is working on his Ph.D. in ani- his wife, Cathy, have a son, Wyatt, 3 ½. Augusta in Maine, and is also a regional educa- gional planner for the Greater Portland Coun- mal ecology at Iowa State University and is tion coordinator for the Kennebec Valley EMS cil of Governments. She received her degree planning to finish this summer. He has a mas- Jody Simoes is completing his master’s in sci- in Winslow. ence within the department of fisheries and in community planning and development ter’s degree in biology from Mississippi State. from the Muskie School at the University of wildlife from Michigan State University. He Dave Chiarito works in case management and Dave Ellis is a fisheries biologist working with is expecting his first child. has his own outdoor program for a transi- Southern Maine in 2006. She married Peter diadromous fishes (atlantic salmon, shad, and tional living organization in Boulder, Colo. Tousignant last July. river herring) for the State of Connecticut. Shane Welch received his Ph.D. in wildlife He has his master’s of science in experiential Heath Shea-Clark and Brad Clark ’01 were He is a graduate student at the University of biology with an emphasis in conservation bi- Maine Senator Susan Collins and Unity College President Mitchell Thomashow lead the procession education from the University of Minnesota ology from Clemson University in 2006. He married in 2006 and have a son, Connor, born Connecticut completing a degree in fisheries into the gymnasium for commencement exercises on May 9, 2009. Senator Collins served as the at Mankato. He and his wife, Bridget, have a currently holds a post doctoral fellowship at the in May 2008. Brad is a park ranger for the management. His wife, Kris, is a high school commencement speaker. son, Zach, 3. University of South Carolina focusing on land- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Hop- biology teacher. kinton Dam, part of the Merrimac River Ba- scape ecology and historical ecology, in partic- Steve Sherman is a forest ranger for the State New Britain, Conn. He and his wife, Mary, Todd Chilton is a patrol deputy for the Lin- Nate Graham is an assistant park manager at ular, broad-scale temporal and spatial patterns. of New Hampshire and Jessica (Ruggles) have three children: Adam, 11, Devin, 7, and coln County Sheriff’s Office after serving five sin Project, and Heather works part-time as the Fair Hills Natural Resources Manage- is director of the public library in Monroe, Jayden, 7. years in the U.S. Coast Guard as a boatswain’s a police officer and dispatcher for the police ment Area, part of the Maryland Park Service. Char-lin Williams is an insurance account N.H. They have a daughter, Emily, 7. mate. He and his wife, Erika, have two sons: department in Newport, N.H. manager for Northeast Bank Insurance Divi- Pete Gregoire is a project manager for Time Brandon, 3, and Ethan, 1. sion in Anson, Maine. She has two daughters: Neal Sleeper is the programming director for Warner Cable in Milwaukee, Wis. He and his Jeffrey Snader has his own landscaping busi- Jeff Hackett is a self-employed landscaper in ness, Wolf River Landscaping, on 40 acres in West Poland, Maine. He specializes in patios, Catherine-Lynne Grace Williams, 12, and Caribou Rec Extreme in Caribou, Maine. He wife, Jody, have two children: Logan, 3, and Jaysen Cobb has been in the U.S. Coast Guard Elizabeth-Lynne Paige Aubin, 2. Her finance, also teaches Nordic skiing and ice skating. He Allyson, 1. since 2006 and is stationed in San Diego, Calif. Etna, Maine. walkways, driveways and retaining walls. Jeffrey Aubin, is a first responder for the local and his wife, Gillian, have two sons: Eliott, 4, Justin Snyder is in his tenth year as dispatcher Joe Hallock is the assistant operations manager search and rescue team. and Edison, 2. Eric Guimond is the manager of Standish Auto Meg Diviney works with developmental dis- Parts in Maine. He is married Rhonda. abled adults in Northfield, Minn. She is en- for the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office for FLS Energy in Black Mountain, N.C., a 97 Andy Weaver took a sabbatical from the Land gaged to be married. in N.H. He and his wife, Tiffany, have two solar company. He received his master’s de- sons: Logan, 3, and Blake, 1. gree in technology from Appalachian State Jacob Connetti is a safety, health and environ- Trust Alliance this past summer to bike from Collin Landry is job foreman for SUR Con- in 2006 studying renewable energy. He also mental manager at DSM NeoResins in East Unity, Maine to Wisdom, Mont. to visit land struction in Rochester, N.H. He and his wife, Krystn (Hansen) Ledoux is working for Senator Kim Verstringhe is an acupuncturist in King- writes and performs his own music, leading a Providence, R.I. He and his wife, Jessica, trusts. www.unitytowisdom.org. Shelley, have a daughter, 2, and are expecting Lieberman on climate policy after previously field, Maine. She has her master’s in acupunc- band called Southern Exposure. have two sons, Travis, 5, and Mason, 1. another child. working for him as a constituent service rep- ture and oriental medicine from New York Steve Young operates a sailing school and resentative for seven years. She and her hus- Chiropractic College. Paul Jones is a high school teacher in New Beth (Daggett) Berman is a jewelry designer in yacht charter business on the Chesapeake Bay Sarah (Norway) LeBlanc has been promoted to band, Dave, have two children: Sydney, 3 ½, Haven, Conn. where he recently received Searsport, Maine. She has two daughters and in Md. His job takes him to the British Vir- senior administrative assistant at Liberty Mu- and Logan, 14 months. Norman “Budd” Veverka received his master’s recognition for developing the course Sus- two grandchildren. gin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Belize. He tual, and Mike ’01 is a quality control officer at in biology from Eastern Kentucky University tainable Living. He started a fellowship at Yale and his wife, Kristina, have two daughters: the regional water authority. Their son, Lucas, Steven Hills is a CAD draftsperson for Tecton in 2007 and is now a farmland game research for researching viruses and writing a related Ron Dalphonse is a state police officer in N.H. Sara, 10, and Sydney, 7. is 7. Architects Inc. in Hartford, Conn. He and his biologist for the Indiana Division of Natural curriculum. He catches lobsters for the Uni- He and his wife, Angela, have three children: wife, Judi, have a son, Cole, 4, and a daughter, Resources in Bloomington. He researches and versity of New Haven’s ongoing study of the Makyla, 10, and twins Mason and Madison, 98 Kevin Oldenburg is a national park ranger at Gabrielle, 2. manages bobwhite, ring-necked pheasants, Long Island Sound. 8. Ron was in the U.S. Marine Corps from Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site Erin Bailey is employed by a veterinary clinic squirrels, doves, woodcock and deer. He and 1988 to 1992. in Hyde Park, N.Y. He is also a wildland fire- Mike Larribee is night supervisor for the in Waldoboro, Maine. She and her sister share Alisa (Butler) ’00 are expecting their first child. Jim Knight is a fish culturist for the Maine De- fighter, having fought fires in the west for Waldo County 911 Center in Belfast, Maine a house on Westport Island. partment of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at Brian Lippy is producer/director/photog- seven years. and also works for the police departments of 00 the Governor Hill Hatchery in Augusta. He rapher of Blippy Productions and works for Jeff Cerrone works in construction in Hyan- Searsport and Stockton Springs. Kyle Rosenberg is the production manager of and his wife have two children. www.go211.com. He produces live web casts nis, Mass. He does tree work on the side. Matt Allred is an environmental health and of sports events all over the world. Well Tree in Brunswick, Maine. He and his Shawn McGough has a new position as an asso- safety manager for PCI Synthesis in New- Tom Laskowski is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife wife, Sarahjoy, have a daughter, Madysyn, 9, ciate for Booz Allen Hamilton working with buryport, Mass. He and his wife, Rebecca, Crystal (Bowden) Clarke and her husband, Ja- Service refuge officer at the Silvio O. Conte Jennifer Porter graduated last year from John- and are expecting a baby. Kyle is a volunteer the U.S. Department of Homeland Security married last year at Sugarloaf in Maine. son, who attended Unity for one year, have four Nulhegan Basin and Lake Umbagog National son & Wales with a degree in baking and pas- tree warden for the town of Topsham. at Plum Island Animal Disease Center in N.Y. children: Evan, Bridie, Maeve and Rowan. Ja- Wildlife Refuge in Vt, N.H., and Maine. try arts. She has a son, Garrett Holzer, 8 ½. son is a layout engineer for Woodmeister Corp., He is responsible for working on information Jeff Anthony is a mail handler for the U.S. Brian Tierney has been employed for the systems security. Shawn has been married to Postal Service in Springfield, Mass. and Crystal is a stay-at-home mom. Rosie Leondevivero lives in San Miguel de Al- Howard Powell is the director of plant operations Wildlife Conservation Society for the past his wife, Denise, for four years. lende, Mexico and has plans to study physical at Genesis Health Care in Falmouth, Maine. ten years and is currently a zookeeper at the Steve Betts is a district utility relocation tech- Mike Emerson is a USDA licensed breeder/ therapy assistance in N.C. dealer of small animals and pets, specializing Bronx Zoo. Jimmy Piccuito is employed as an environmen- nician for the Pennsylvania Department of Andrea (Iverson) Reny is an elementary school tal engineering/GIS for Jacobs in Bourne, Transportation in the Engineering District. in rodents. Lisa (McNeil) Irwin is the environmental proj- teacher. She and Dan operate the Muscongus Tony Vinci and his wife, Melody, have two Mass. He and his wife, Elaine, have two chil- He and his wife, Shannon, have four daugh- ect manager at Clean Harbors Environmental Bay Lobster Company in Round Pond, Maine. children: Lily Mae, 5, and Finnegan, 2. dren: Dominic, 6, and Anna, 4. ters: Alexandria, 13, Gabrielle, 8, and identi- Pacifico “Tom” Flores is a police officer in Andrea also is a kayak guide during summer. cal twins, Kara and Kilee, ages 3.

46 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 47 alumni class notes class notes alumni

Services in Norwell, Mass. She is married to Melbourne, Australia where she is studying Greg Wilson and Maura (Olivos) ’02 are married She has worked nearly four years for the Ari- Romilly (Harrison) Daly is a kindergarten Stephanie Hanwell is a wildlife care assistant her husband, John Irwin. biomedical science. and living in Alta, Utah. Greg is employed at zona Game and Fish Department reintroduc- teacher in Tucson, Ariz., and Sean ’02 is a at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Mil- Alta Ski Lifts as a mechanic/foreman. Maura ing black-footed ferrets. border patrol agent with the U.S. Department ton, Mass. Shaun Oshman returned to Colo. from New Janelle Duncan attended Unity College for works there as well, in sales during the winter of Homeland Security. Zealand with his wife, Annabel. He was re- one year then graduated from Bradford Col- and studying horticulture in the summer. Jon Superchi is a fish culturist II for the Ari- Kristin (Hewitt) Brower is working on her doc- cently the subject of an article in the Boul- lege, receiving her master’s in zoology from zona Game and Fish Department. Morgan Holbrook is attending the University torate degree in exercise physiology at Spring- der County Business Report which focused on Miami University of Ohio. She is now a re- 02 of Indiana at South Bend to satisfy pre-veter- field College while teaching five classes. a new business, iSupportU, that he started. search assistant. Matt Amadon is a state park ranger at Stone Brandon Vafiades has been a patrol officer for inary requirements for application to veteri- He received his master’s of education from Mountain State Park in Roaring Gap, N.C. the Police Department in Bangor, Maine, for nary school. Nova Hirsch is a corrections officer at the Walden University in New Zealand in 2005 Ryan Fitzpatrick is district game warden in He and his wife, Robyn, were married in six years. He and his wife, Sarah, have three Maine State Prison in Thomaston. Her duties and taught there for three years. New Sweden, Maine. He lives in the Mada- 2005. She is an administrative assistant for a children: Cameron, 5, and twin girls, Lexi Sasha (Nason) Kenney is a family reunifica- include recruiting for the Department of Cor- waska Lake region. local company. and Brianna. tion social worker for the Somerset County rections and prisoner transports. Melissa Powers is an office manager at the Youth and Family Services in N.J. She and her Custom House Maritime Museum in New- Ryan and Amy (Thibodeau) Hafer have a son Randy Fox is a deputy/corrections officer for Matt Wagner is a thermal project manager for husband, Adam, have two children: Kayin, 3, Emily Jones works as a public relations rep- buryport, Mass. named Avery, 15 months. Ryan is in quality and the Waldo County Corrections Center in Bel- ReVision Energy in Liberty, Maine. He in- and Chase, 1 ½. resentative for the Maine Department of In- shipping at a safety device company, and Amy fast, Maine. He and Heather (Gerken) ’03 have stalls residential and commercial solar ther- land Fisheries and Wildlife in Augusta. Her Michael Pratt is a staff sergeant in the U.S. is in educational retention at a business school. two sons: Andrew, 2 ½, and James, 2 months. mal renewable energy systems. Caitlin Hutt, Sarah Needs is a national park service ranger responsibilities include education, outreach Army and is stationed in Germany. his wife, is a graduate of University of Maine at Assateague Island National Seashore in Va. and marketing. Heather (Hurford) Hills and Mike ’02 have a Tim Fridinger is a police officer with the police at Farmington. Ames Quimby is an engineering technician. daughter, Hannah, born December 31, 2006. department in Wilton, Conn. He received a Mike and Nancy (Anderson) Romanik moved Courtney (Lowell) Post Van Derburg is a spe- She designs and inspects landfills. He and Heather is captain of the Balmy Days Cruises master’s in criminal justice from Boston Uni- Trevor Welch is a snowboard supervisor, man- from N.J. to the greater Boston area. Mike is cial education technician at Windham High wife, Martha, have two children: Harrison out of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Mike is a versity in 2006. aging nearly 70 snowboard instructors at a cardiac sonographer at St. Elizabeth’s Medi- School in Maine. Her husband, Ladd, is a and Natalie. salesman and driver for Mill Cove Lobster. Smugglers Notch Resort during winter and cal Center. Nancy is the education program corrections officer at the Correctional Center Sarah Gorden is a kindergarten teacher sin is an assistant director of the Keewadin Envi- manager for Zoo New England at the Stone in Windham. Kimberly (Ross) LaMarre is a stay-at-home Andrew Jones is a thoracic cardiovascular Stockton Springs, Maine, and also operates ronmental Education Center in Salisbury, Vt. Zoo in Boston. mom with daughter, Elizabeth, 5. Ryan ’98 is post operative ICU RN at the University of her own jewelry business, Sojourn Curi- throughout the summers. Adam Paul is associate supervisor and web- a field engineer for Hewlett-Packard. Virginia in Charlottesville. He received his osities. She got her master’s in education in Karrie (Shue) Saltalamachia is the center master for the Waldo County Soil and Water paramedical degree from Kennebec Valley Montessori education from Endicott College. 03 manager for Lincare, a home respiratory care Conservation District in Maine. He also vol- Benjamin Thompson is a graduate research as- Community College in 2005 and his RN company. Joe ’95 is the associate director of unteers for the USDA Resources Conserva- Megan (Bogi) McHatten graduated from sistant at the University of Florida in Gaines- from Galveston College in 2006. John Hawkins is employed as a laboratory Northern Maine Community College and is Admissions at Unity College. tion Service and at Avian Haven. ville and is pursuing his master’s in forest technician for Clean Harbors Environmental employed by the Northern Maine Ambula- resources and conservation. Kelly Martin and her husband, Mike Gold, Hillary Szteliga has been a corrections officer Jennie Roy is a science teacher in Merrimack, Services in Norwell, Mass. tory and Surgery Center as a technician. Her have a daughter, Willow Sierra Gold, born for six years and is pursuing programs of study N.H. She received her master’s in teaching husband, Devin, is a healthcare administrator. Mike Trask works for the U.S. Bureau of Rec- December 19, 2008. Kelly is employed at Becky Maddox is an environmental specialist in the health and emergency medical fields. in secondary education from SUNY Potsdam lamation, Tracy Fish Collection Facility in Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Winslow, Maine. in 2005. for the Maine Department of Environmental Craig Cavanna is a refuge officer for the Calif. He is getting married in July. 04 Protection in Augusta. She and Phil Blais ’03 U.S. Department of Fish & Wildlife at the Zebulan Murray, a first lieutenant in the U.S. William See works as a law enforcement park were recently married, and he is a carpenter Chasshowitzka Refuge Complex in Fla. at Erik Anderson is a geophysicist for Terrasond, Vince Vincitore works for Verizon Wireless Army Military Police, returned from service ranger at Dry Tortugas National Park in Key for Meadow Park Development in Augusta. two locations: Crystal River to protect the L.L.C. in Palmer, Alaska conducting terres- in Wilmington, N.C. He is married to his in Iraq and is now in Afghanistan. West, Fla. He was previously employed at West Indian Manatee and at Egmont Key to trial and seafloor mapping in the Unimak Pass wife, Concetta. Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Brenda (Maddox) Perry was married in 2006 protect nesting habitat for endangered and and the Bering Sea. He received a degree in Michael Pepi has lived in Telluride, Colo. and has twin daughters, Emma and Abigail, threatened shorebirds. geology from the University of Greifswald in 01 since graduation and has been working in the Heather Sirotnak is a hydrologic technician for born in June 2007. Germany in 2008. green building trade. He has recently started the NH/VT US Geological Survey in Pem- Shannon Aldrich is employed in construction Greg Colligan is a wildlife specialist at the U.S. his own company. broke, N.H. in Crossville, Tenn. He attended SUNY Co- Tom Magarian is a biologist for New Jersey Department of Agriculture at Crater Lake Cheri Brunault works for the Natural Re- bleskill for fisheries. Audubon working on wind power develop- National Park. sources Group of the New York City De- Daniel Rock is a park ranger for the Oregon Tori Strout is attending Great Bay Commu- ment projects using marine radar to track bird partment of Parks and Recreation where she Bureau of Parks and Recreation in Portland. nity College in Portsmouth, N.H. to become Joel Bailey is the owner of Noosphere Tech- and bat movements. Laura Cusick has been traveling and working protects and restores the forest ecosystem by a veterinary technician with a focus on shelter nologies, a web-hosting company in Saco, in New Zealand for the past year. removing non-native plant life and planting Parker Rulison married Beth Wright, who medicine. She is working at an animal shelter Maine, and is also accounting manager for Jor- Deirdre Magnan and Michael Tomlinson were native species. attended Unity College for a short time, in in Portland, Maine. dan Group/Webdirect Inc. in Scarborough. married in Jamaica in June 2008. Deirdre is Shawn Devlin is pursuing his Ph.D. in envi- September 2008 at Poland Springs in Maine. He and his wife, Mary, have three children. employed as a project administrator with an ronmental science at Wright State University. Heather Chappel is enrolled in a nursing pro- Parker is a family specialist for Bridges for Andrea Wakeman-Kitchen is the assistant man- engineering company, and Michael is a dry He and his wife, Hilary, have a son, Cy Fran- gram and is currently engaged. Youth and Families in Ithaca, N.Y. ager of the Pittsfield Family Dollar Store in Christopher Bisson is the accreditation assis- goods trader. cis, born on April 1, 2009. Maine. She and her husband, Edward, have tant for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Of- Danielle Dyer is a botanist/project scientist at Jason Southwick is working in the shipbuild- two children: Adelaide, 4, and Roland, 3. fice at the Cumberland County Jail in Maine. Tiffany (Neuhauser) LaClair is a watershed Priscilla Gagne is employed at the Boston Mu- Stantec Consulting in Topsham, Maine. ing industry. He and his wife, Christine, have ranger for the Quabbin Reservoir in Mass. seum of Science as a membership sales assistant. a son, Cody, 3. Jessica Welsh finished her AmeriCorps service Nicole (Brazeau) Swenson and Thor are both Her husband, Erick, is the proprietor of an Colin Fraser is the supply supervisor for two position at a teacher/naturalist in a nature cen- active in Boy Scouts in Vassalboro, Maine, ATV and motorcycle shop. Colleen Gauthier is working on her master’s hotels at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Conn. In Nate Swisher has been a park ranger at En- ter in Logan, Utah and is currently working as and Nicole registered for Wood Badge train- in business administration at Salem Interna- 2007, he won first place in the Montauk Basin dicott Park in Danvers, Mass. for more then a field instructor at the Environmental Educa- ing this fall. Their two sons are Allen, 13, and John Roma has been a police officer in the tional University. Monster Shark Tournament and third in 2008. seven years and a police officer in Hamil- Flint, 8. Brunswick Police Department in Maine since tion Center at Cuyahoga Valley Park in Ohio. ton, Mass. for five years. His wife, Amy, is 2004. He and Katie, have a daughter, Bryn, 4. Kristen Girard is a dolphin trainer at Dolphin Diana Gregson is still resides in a small coastal an analyst for Sylvania. 05 Leana Downs relocated from McMurdo Quest in Waikoloa, Hawaii. She is also a cer- town in Sweden. She was working as a forest Sound, Antarctica to La Trobe University in Adrianna Siniawski begins law school this fall. tified veterinary assistant and dog trainer. educator and now owns a cat boarding hotel. Kate Cunningham attends the Birthwise Mid-

48 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 49 alumni class notes class notes alumni wifery School in Vt. and is enrolled in their sity New England in Keene, N.H. Nate Webb is a customs and border protection ter’s degree in business from Husson Univer- Laura Craver ’08 apprentice program for homebirth midwifery. officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland sity in December 2009. He continues to work Beth Kintz works as a park manager at the Security in Haines, Ala. as a carpenter for Blue Ribbon Builders in Amy Fitzherbert is an environmental scientist Lake Poinsett State Recreation Area in Estel- Turner, Maine. at Hillier & Associates in Augusta, Maine line, S.D. Ian Yates is a licensed turf technician and is working with a group of geologists supervis- employed with Scott’s Lawn Service in South Renee Jean (Letendre) Grant is an education ing fieldwork and analyzing data. Rick Kristoff is an environmental protection Portland, Maine. technician and an aide at Sandcastle Preschool specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- in Lewiston, Maine. She also works part-time Shannon Heath is a research/training special- neers in Concord, Mass. He earned his mas- 07 as a direct support professional at Indepen- ist in social sciences at the Muskie School of ter’s degree from the University of Maryland. dence Associates Learning Center Initiatives Christine Blakesley was a preschool teacher in in Brunswick, Maine. She and Nathan Grant Public Service at the University of Southern Iowa and recently returned back to Mass. Maine in Portland. Zak Lehmann is an environmental scientist were married in 2008. for Great Ecology and Environments in New Meg Bursey is a naturalist/environmental edu- Patty Marcum is a ski and skateboard instruc- Peter Newcomb was employed as an inter- York City. cator for the Beaver Lake Nature Center in N.Y. tor at Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, pretative park ranger at Mesa Verde National Mass., and travels throughout the country Cathy Lusk works as a park ranger at Baxter Park in Colo. Afterwards, he worked in the Phil Catanese is employed as an outdoor rec- sporting goods department at L.L. Bean in with the Great Maine Lumberjack Show/ State Park in Millinocket, Maine. reation instructor at the University of Maine’s Mansfield, Mass. Timber Tina’s World Champion Lumberjills. 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Casey Mealley is employed as an adventure Pond, Maine. Brian Mayhew works with troubled youth at education instructor for the Southeastern Ben Turati is employed as an assistant project the Mountain Home Youth Ranch in Utah. Callie Davis ’06 and Mike Merritt were Alaska Guidance Association at Eagle Valley manager for the Colorado Fouteeners Ini- Whether twisting through a visually Ryan Caudle is a passport support associate for recenlty married. tiative, a non-profit organization devoted to compelling belly dancing performance or Center in Juneau, Alaska. National Passport Center/Stanley Associates Kai Medeiros is the assistant programs coordi- the maintenance and restoration of trails on reading from an original essay she wrote in Portsmouth, N.H. He is married to Tif- nator for the University of Rhode Islands’ W. 06 Ricky Myshrall is in the U.S. Coast Guard sta- 14,000 ft. peaks. Prior, Ben was a dog sled about an environmental issue, Laura Craver fany (Pulli). Alton Jones Environmental Education Center David and Linda (Snow) Bedini have a son, Da- tioned in Kodiak, Alaska. guide and musher at Muddy Paws Dog Sled- ’08 was the kind of student for whom the in West Greenwich, R.I. ding in Jefferson, N.H., where lived with and phrase ‘diverse talents’ seemed invented. vid Joseph III, born on May 6, 2009. Alisa Christopher is in her second year at the Warren O’Hara is an engineering technician cared for 86 huskies. University of Maine, School of Law. She and Jake Overlock is a fisheries biologist for the for the Fairfax County Public Works in Va. The engaging personality and wide ranging Noah Bourassa is employed as a staff member Dave Ross ’06, are engaged to be married. Maine Department of Marine Resources spe- of the construction crew for the Appalachian Allison Wilson is a veterinarian technician skills that so distinguished her as an cializing in Maine Atlantic salmon restoration. Beth O’Neil works at Earth Corps, a non-profit at Healing Hands Animal Hospital in Salis- Mountain Club in Gorham, N.H. Dave Curtiss worked as a shorebird technician exceptional student have served her well bury, Md. environmental restoration program in Se- for the Center for Conservation Biology in Va. since venturing forth for the next chapter in Jamie Pacheco teaches science and wild- Scott Burton is a park ranger supervisor at the attle, and on an organic educational farm in her life. life classes at Durkee High School in Fall Dorchester, N.H. Linda Wyler works as a teacher at a Bright Hori- Osbornedale State Park in Derby, Conn. Mike Dahms is employed as a trade develop- zons Preschool and Day care in Weston, Conn. River, Mass. ment manager for Acosta, a sales and market- With degrees in wildlife and environmental Matt Pawlikowski is employed as a lead for- Lindsey Cook has her own land care company ing company based in Jacksonville, Fla. writing in hand, Craver quickly landed a Cary Rhodes works as an outdoor education specializing in sustainable gardening, mainte- estry technician with the U.S. Forest Service 08 high profile internship at Walt Disney World instructor in a summer wilderness program at Lassen National Forest in northern Calif. nance and design in Braintree, Mass. Nicole French is a volunteer field biologist for David Bolanowski is a software engineer at in Orlando, Florida. near Yosemite National Park. the North American Amphibian Monitoring Initech in Dallas, Texas. He received his mas- Dan Rinell is a seaman in the U.S. Coast Guard Gabe Corbin and his wife, Christine, have a Program and the Reptile and Amphibian Re- ter’s degree in biology from the University of “It was a really intense, competitive Kris Sanborn is a clinical social worker/fam- stationed in Portsmouth, Va. He recently re- son, Mason, 9 months. Gabe is a welder at porting Program. She and Chris McGrath ’08, Texas at Tyler. internship in the park,” Craver said of her ily therapist for the Home for Little Wan- turned from a scuba diving mission in Mexico Hubbardton Forge in Vt. were married in summer 2009. role in the Animal Kingdom. Her internship derers in Boston and is on the faculty of where 48 bales of coke were seized. Jessica Carey is involved with dynamic farms required her to juggle a range of tasks. the Family Institute of Cambridge in Wa- Marcus Gray is completing his master’s in Chad Gadsby is a seasonal forest technician in and gardens along the west coast. She spent tertown, Mass. He married Sarah Oppen- Erika Roderick is employed at Backyard Farms wildlife science at South Dakota State Uni- Pa. working for the U.S. Department of Con- the winter of 2008 in Ore. as an apprentice Craver took the next step in her blossoming heimer who has her master’s degree in public versity and accepted a position with the U.S. in Madison, Maine and is responsible for servation and Natural Resources, Bureau of for a blacksmith. She is currently working in career, serving as a Waterfowl Technician in health from Harvard University. Fish and Wildlife Service as a biological sci- greenhouse pest management. Forestry in Clarion. Whitefish, Mont. at an historic railway chalet. the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation ence technician at Chincoteague National Commission in the Mottled Duck radio Corree Seward is employed as a national park Wildlife Refuge in Va. Bob Sterling is a larval rearing technician and Ryan Howes is the experiential programs as- Sam Chisholm is a federal game warden ref- telemetry project. interpreter ranger at Capitol Reef National an algae nutrition technician at Taylor Seaf- sistant at Unity College. uge officer for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Ser- Park in Torre, Utah. Jayme Haverly is a veterinarian technician at ish in Kona, Hawaii. He cultures five differ- vice in Carbondale, Ill. She and her husband, ent strains of phytoplankton in the lab to feed “In the environmental field you must have the South County Veterinarian Hospital in Nic Josselyn works as a biologist at Clear Wa- Andrew Fleming, were married in August Lyndsey Smith is a lakeside classroom coordi- Wakefield, R.I. clams and oysters, and he also runs a shellfish a strong science background,” said Craver. ter Labs in Newport, Maine. 2008. He is assisting with research on belted “I have benefited and been empowered nator at Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning larvae hatchery. kingfishers in upstate New York for the Uni- Center in Maine. to create a career path thanks to the Jeff Hunter is employed at Acadia National Danielle Kane is the lead port handler for the versity of Oklahoma. Josh Teel is employed as a lead environmen- comprehensive skills gained at Unity Park as a protection ranger. Previously he was International Pacific Halibut Commission in Steve Sutton is employed as a conservation of- tal scientist for transmission lines companies College.” a police officer with the Mt. Desert Police Dutch Harbor, Alaska. ficer III in the New Jersey Division of Fish throughout New England. Department in Maine. Last year there were Meredith Kellogg is manager of BYOD Dog Laura Craver is a technician for the Florida Her environmental writing skills have also and Wildlife. He married Casey Dingman in five Unity graduates in the protection divi- Wash and Outfitters in Boston. She sells ho- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis- Gemma VanderHeld is a volunteer firefighter, been invaluable. “A good environmental February 2009. sion at Acadia—Jeff, David Smith ’94, Kevin listic, all-natural dog food and toys. She plans sion, working on the Mottled Duck Re- Kristen Wendling is a conservation biologist greenhouse worker and was hired by the U.S. writer must be flexible, evocative, accurate Donnell ’00, Chris Wiebusch ’89, and Jim to attend graduate school at the University of search Project. working with rare reptiles. Census Bureau. and well read,” she explained. “Again, I Lyon ’08. Andy Brady ’08 joined them in the Southern Maine for American and New Eng- summer of 2009. land studies. Aaron Cross is a game warden for the state of credit the opportunities I have attained with Matt Zabawa is currently working at a golf Emily Volz is an outdoor science teacher in the Maine, covering several central Maine towns. superior preparation. My environmental course in Burlington, Vt. San Gabriel Mountains which is part of Los Dana Kedziora received a master’s degree in Jeremy Lavertu anticipates receiving his mas- He graduated from the Maine Criminal Jus- writing skills have also served me well.” conservation biology from Antioch Univer- Angeles County, Calif.

50 | UNITY Winter 2009 UNITY Winter 2009 | 51 alumni class notes tice Academy in December 2007 and is work- Julie Ladd graduated from the College of the Travis Runnals works for Vermont Castings, ing towards joining the Evidence Recovery Great Smoky Mountains in 2009 and gained a wood and gas stove manufacturing plant in Team within the warden service. employment as a national park service law en- Randolph, Vt. He is taking an EMT course forcement ranger at the Indiana Dunes Na- and plans to train bloodhounds for search Scott Cunfer works for the Douglas Island tional Seashore outside of Chicago, Ill. and rescue. Pink and Chum, a non-profit salmon release hatchery, located in a remote facility 40 miles Chris McGrath works as a fish culturist III for Kenyon Twitchell is employed at the Enfield south of Juneau, Alaska. the New Hampshire Fish and Game Depart- Fish Hatchery, a part of the Maine Depart- ment in Twin Mountain, N.H. He and Nicole ment of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Will Davis was a seasonal wildlife biologist French ’07 were married in July. aide for the Pennsylvania Game Commission Linwood Vaughan graduated first in his class and is pursuing work as a police officer. He Kelly Meyers is a customer service representa- from the Park Ranger Training Program at graduated from the police academy in 2008. tive for Lender Services, Inc., a quality assur- Northern Arizona University in 2008 and ance department which reviews appraisals. currently working as a park ranger at the Jef- Thomas Frezza is working on his master’s de- ferson National Expansion Memorial in St. gree in applied history at Shippensburg Uni- Nicole Monkiewicz is a zookeeper/animal Louis, Mo. versity, Pa. He is employed as a national park trainer at Lionshare Zoological Center, a service education ranger at Harpers Ferry Na- small private facility in Conn. FORMER FACULTY AND STAFF tional Historical Park. He also works at the Ron Barry, a Bates College biology professor, Mark Mullen is an animal keeper and presenter National Museum of Civil War Medicine. gave a seminar in wildlife ecology at the Uni- of reptiles and amphibians. He works at the versity of Maine on the Population and Be- Ben Gillis is employed as a field instructor at Boston Museum of Science. havioral Ecology of Synoptic Rock and Bush the Stone Mountain School in Black Moun- Hyraxes in Zimbabwe. He and Elaine have tain, N.C., a therapeutic school for boys. Nichole Nageotte is a seasonal staff member at two daughters and a grandchild. the Maui Conservation Center in Makawao, Amanda Gonzales works as an intern at Sea Hawaii. Susan (Brown) Holland lives in Wa. with her Turtle, Inc. in South Padre Island, Texas. She husband, Tony, a custom residential home Jeremy Pelletier has a new job as an adventure collects turtle eggs and works at the turtle builder. They have two sons; Jamin is married based counselor for a juvenile rehabilitation hospital where she is responsible for rehabili- and lives in Saco, Maine while Will has his tation and conservation education. center in Grove City, Pa. He works with male bachelor’s degree in metalsmithing from the youths, ages 7 to 19. Maine College of Art in Portland and a mas- Clayton Kern works as a marine science in- ter’s degree of literary science from Syracuse structor at the Catalina Island Marine Insti- Liz Pierson is a full-time instructor at the University. tute in Avalon, Calif. Poko-O-MacCreary Outdoors Education Center in Hillsboro, N.Y. Chip Curry is AmeriCorps VISTA project co- ordinator for the Muskie School of Public Julius Koenig is a fisheries technician for the Krystal Reddy spent five months after gradua- Service at the University of Southern Maine. Alaska Department of Natural Resources on tion working as a chainsaw crew leader for the He and Chris Gussman have a daughter, Ada, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Colo. and is the Copper River, conducting mark and re- 3. Chris teaches and directs theater at Sears- currently the horticulture crew leader for the capture surveys and radio telemetry. port High School. Elk Grove Park District in Ill.

IN MEMORIAM

Larry Mitch ’71 died June 30, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Cameron, former senior administrator from the Denise, his daughter. Alexandra, and his son, Nicholas. 1980’s, died May 1, 2009 after a long siege with cancer. She lived in Thorndike, Maine and was a local elementary school teacher. Danny Linehan ’72 died May 28, 2009 in Bayside, N.Y. His She is survived by her husband, two sons, and a grandson. wife, Barbara (Nicholas) Linehan ’74, died in 2008. They are sur- vived by three children; Shannon, Daniel, and Kyle. Dennis Haggerty, long-time director of administrative affairs in the early years of Unity College, died March 15, 2009. He was David “Fly” Champine ’90 died after heart surgery on March 99. He had been a member of the Board of Trustees, and when he 6, 2009. A memorial service was held in East Montpelier, Vt. retired he received an honorary degree from Unity and was named outstanding educator. Kellee (Wilson) Smith Landry ’95 of Albion, Maine, died May 20, 2009. She was a certified nurses aide and caregiver. She is sur- vived by her parents, her husband, Peter and her daughter, Elaine.

52 | UNITY Winter 2009 Unity Fund Be part of the change

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