ORONO, Maine — Nathan “Nate” Briggs, board chairman of the University of Maine Alumni Association, announced recently that John N. Diamond of Woolwich will become the interim president and executive director of the 107,000-member organization, effective July 1. He replaces Todd D. Saucier of Milford, who left the association on June 30 to accept a position with United Insurance. Saucier has served as the association’s president since 2006.
“We are extremely grateful for the strong and effective leadership Todd has provided, both as president and in his previous role as the association’s finance director,” Briggs said. “He helped improve alumni communications, engagement and programming across the country. He ushered UMAA through the transition from a reliance on membership fees to one where membership was extended to all UMaine graduates and other qualifying former students. Our organization is stronger than ever, and Todd has played a major role in that achievement. We wish him and his family the very best as Todd makes the transition to his new career.”
Saucier earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Maine.
“Though Todd is leaving UMAA, the board and I are grateful that John is willing to take over during this time of transition,” Briggs said. “John is a former UMAA board member with extensive higher education leadership experience. His perspective will be helpful to the board, staff and our alumni as we pursue even greater ways to serve UMaine and its alumni through communications,
engagement and advocacy.”
Diamond is a longtime civic and community leader who served as majority leader of the Maine House of Representatives from 1984 to 88. He spent 13 years with UMaine, initially as a faculty member and later as a senior administrator. In 2002, he left UMaine to accept a leadership position with the University of Maine System where he worked until 2010. After four years in similar administrative roles at the University of Arkansas and the University of Wisconsin System, Diamond and his wife, Marcia, returned to Maine in December to launch a Portland-based higher education consultancy business. Diamond holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in speech communication, both awarded by UMaine.
Diamond’s background and the nature of his new business made him a logical choice as interim president and executive director, Briggs said.
“The board of directors plans to use the next several months to explore how the alumni association can maximize its potential and service to its stakeholders,” Briggs said. “John’s leadership, background and organizational experience will help us in our planning and in our search for a permanent successor as president and executive director.”