The purpose of MMSA’s board of directors is to advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, and assist with the leadership and general promotion of MMSA, so as to support the organization’s mission and needs. Board members serve for three years, which may be renewed up to a maximum of three consecutive terms. MMSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, Ed. D
Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education, Portland Public Schools, Maine
Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed is the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education for Portland Public Schools. He was the assistant principal at Deering High School in Portland from 2015-2023. He taught physical science at Deering High School since 2005 and was the first certified public school teacher of Arabic Language in Maine beginning in 2013. He also taught math, earth science, alternative education science, chemistry, and physics at the middle and high school levels in Portland Public Schools.
Susan Bates
Susan Bates holds a BA in Physics and a BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering. Susan began her career at Bell Telephone Labs where she transitioned from physical design to software development. In the 90s, as the internet took hold, she trained K-12 teachers about using that emerging technology. Most recently she has focused her energies on the nonprofit sector and held leadership positions on myriad boards.
Lindsay Coe
RSG – Resources Systems Group, Inc., Director of Marketing
Lindsay Coe has loved math, science and creating with teams since she was a kid, and has built a career on combining data-driven strategies with creativity to develop engaged communities and engaging products and services. Most recently, Lindsay served as the Director of Marketing at Resource Systems Group (RSG), a data analytics and research-focused consulting firm, where she led RSG’s marketing strategy development and execution, and brought many strategic projects to life. Lindsay earned an AB in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business. She lives with her family in Etna, NH, and makes an effort to recognize and share the joys and power of STEM in everyday life.
Andrew Forbes
Camden National Bank
Executive Vice President – Chief Human Resources Officer
Andrew Forbes is Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer at Camden National Bank. He has 25 years of Human Resources experience across multiple industries (PepsiCo / Food and Beverage, Fairchild Semiconductor / Technology, Maine Medical Center / Healthcare, Alcom, LLC / Manufacturing, and Camden National Bank / Banking). He gained expertise in talent acquisition and management, compensation and benefits, and culture and engagement and is committed to enabling and cultivating a diverse workforce to serve the needs of our community. He holds a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Hofstra University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern Maine.
Kevin Hathaway
StreetLight Data, Vice President, Professional Services
Kevin Hathaway is Vice President of Professional Services at StreetLight Data, an international big data analytics company working to improve transportation and infrastructure decision making. Before StreetLight, he was Vice President at RSG, a data analytics and research-focused management consulting firm. He has supported global product development initiatives for Motorola, Amazon, and Ford Motor Company, advised on national data and technology programs for the Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and contributed original research on behalf of the National Institutes of Health and the National Academies of Science.
Angela Lett
Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts, Interim Director of Development & Communications
Angela is an experienced non-profit professional with more than 15 years of experience in a variety of nonprofit settings, including The Boston Conservatory, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Michigan State University, the Women’s Lunch Place, The Food Project, and Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers. After a sabbatical from the nonprofit world to work as a Boston EMT, she is thrilled to join the Eliot School and once again work to support and promote artists and the art they create. Angela holds a BM and MM in Voice Performance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Lily Lu
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Corporate and Securities Counsel
Lily Lu is an attorney at IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., a global leader in pet healthcare innovation headquartered in Maine. She leads the corporate and securities group of the in-house IDEXX legal team, which is responsible for corporate governance matters, securities law compliance and reporting, stock and executive compensation matters, global subsidiary governance, and securities and corporate finance transactions. Prior to joining IDEXX in 2014, she was a partner at Arnold & Porter LLP, where she practiced corporate law for almost 17 years, and her pro bono work focused on asylum matters and immigration reform.
Debra McIntyre
Executive Director, Maine Curriculum Leaders Association
Andrea Mercado
U. of Wisconsin-Madison–WIDA Consortium, Professional Learning Specialist
Andrea Mercado currently works as a Professional Learning Specialist with the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she provides professional development to increase equitable access to quality learning in the content areas for Multilingual learners. She has over 20 years of experience in public education focused on working with Multilingual Learners and marginalized populations in Fort Lauderdale, New York City and Lewiston, Maine. Her prior experiences in the classroom include teaching science from grades 2-5 and teaching middle school science in a Spanish bilingual school. As a board member for Maine Association for Young Children, she advocates for Outdoor Learning Initiatives in the state and increased integration of science in the early years.
Joel Pike
ND Paper, Inc, Director of Energy Strategy
Joel Pike is the Director of Energy Strategy for ND Paper covering the North American facilities. He received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maine and has held many roles in the Maine Pulp and Paper industry. Joel is active in the Maine STEM community by mentoring and volunteering for multiple robotics programs. Joel is a Trustee for the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone as well as a Director on the RSU #73 School Board where he chairs the Policy Committee.
Stu Rich
Stu Rich founded and ran several technology companies over his career. He is active in experiential education and youth mentoring, serving as a volunteer for Trekkers for 20 years, and on the Trekkers board for 9 years. A registered Maine Guide, Stu enjoys working with young people in the natural environment. He has served on other non-profit boards including the Northeast Arc Users Group and serving as on the advisory board to the Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Maine. Stu received his BS in Forest Management from the University of Maine.
Erica Beck Spencer
University of California, Berkeley—The Lawrence Hall of Science
Curriculum Developer and Professional Development Specialist
Erica Beck Spencer is a curriculum specialist for the research-based Full Option Science System (FOSS), an award-winning active science program developed at UC Berkeley. She spearheaded the Taking FOSS Outdoors feature of this program, taking this indoor program and incorporating regular outdoor activities in the schoolyard, and has taught thousands of educators about teaching outdoors. Prior to working for FOSS she taught elementary school in Portland, Boston, and Cambridge. She has served as a board member for numerous organizations including the Learning Works After School Program, the Maine Environmental Education Association, and Rippleffect. She resides in Portland, Maine, with her two teenagers.
Glen Widmer
RSU#71, Ames and Weymouth Schools
Principal
Glen Widmer is principal of Ames and Weymouth Schools in RSU#71 (greater Belfast). He has been an administrator for the past thirteen years. Before that, he taught math and social studies at the middle school level. Glen is dedicated to integrated learning experiences which include all students in learning about challenges in their world, structuring learning around these problems, and then having students design and implement solutions, following a service learning model. Glen was awarded his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Maine, his master’s degree from the University of Southern Maine’s ETEP program, and his bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College. He is a board member of the Association of Teachers of Math in Maine [and now Maine Math and Science Alliance!] and a committee member of Coastal Mountain Land Trust’s Learning Landscapes. He has been a “garden coach” and presenter for the Maine Farm and Sea to School Institute for the past couple of years. He is married and has two sons, one a junior in high school and the other starting his junior year at Montana State University.
