Board of Directors

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.
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Dr. Ahmed earned a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Maine where conducted his dissertation research on Refugee Parental Involvement in Schools. He has a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Southern Maine, teacher certification through USM’s Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP) and a Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from Pakistan. Dr. Ahmed was born and raised in Somalia, a country in East Africa. He speaks Somali, Arabic, English, and Urdu. He is married and a father of four children. He enjoys playing football (Soccer), and likes to read and listen to people.

Susan Bates

susan bates mmsa board

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

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.

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Kevin has published peer-reviewed articles in the American Journal of Epidemiology, Journal of Preventive Medicine, and Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and delivered more than 150 consulting reports and presentations on research, policy, and business problems. Kevin earned an M.S. in Biostatistics from the Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy and a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire where he studied engineering, math, and ecology. Kevin has also been a guest lecturer in data visualization and communication at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. Born in Portland and a graduate of Greely High School in Cumberland, Kevin’s interest and commitment to STEM curriculum started early. Since returning to Maine and seeing his own children enter school, he has gained a better appreciation for the inequities in STEM education across Maine and aims to support MMSA and related initiatives to enrich K-12 learning. Kevin and his family live in Falmouth.

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

A profile photo of Lily Lu

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.

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Lily’s interest in advancing STEM education grew out of her personal experiences as a young learner; her ninth grade Earth Science class introduced her to the geocentric and heliocentric models of the universe and the revolutionary idea that competing scientific theories may both be legitimate – until future observations, data and math are available, providing greater evidentiary support for one theory over another. She believes that advancing STEM education will help build the next generation of fair-minded critical thinkers in our community.

In addition to serving on the board of directors of the Maine Math and Science Alliance, she currently serves on the boards of directors of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce and the ACLU of Maine (where she is the Equity Officer), and previously served on the board of directors of the Asian American Arts Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring greater representation, equity and opportunities for Asian American artists and cultural organizations. Lily holds an A.B., magna cum laude, in Social Studies from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, and she lives with her husband, two daughters and various pets in Falmouth.

Debra McIntyre
Executive Director, Maine Curriculum Leaders Association

A photo of Debra McIntyre

Debra McIntyre is the Executive Director of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association.  Previously Deb has been the Assistant Superintendent in FiveTowns CSD/Camden Rockport School District and RSU #3.  Deb also taught middle school mathematics and science prior to entering administration.  Deb has experience developing and leading professional learning opportunities both during her time working as an Assessment Associate with the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, as an adjunct for UMF and through her educational leadership roles.   Deb earned her undergraduate degree through the University of Farmington and her graduate degree through the University of Maine, Orono.  Deb has a passion for the outdoors and supports the advancement of outdoor learning for all Maine students in her personal and professional endeavors. Deb is married and lives in Searsmont, where she can be found exploring the woods whenever possible!

Andrea Mercado
U. of Wisconsin-Madison–WIDA Consortium, Professional Learning Specialist

Photo of Andrea Mercado

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

A headshot of 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

A photo of Erica Beck Spencer

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

A headshot of Glen Widmer

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.

Ruth Kermish-Allen

MMSA Board Advisors

Kevin Frasier, Finance Committee Member

Copyright © 1992 — 2024 Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance • All rights reserved
207.626.3230
Physical Address: 343 Water Street, Augusta, Maine 04330
Mailing Address: PO Box 2246, Augusta, Maine 04338

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