Dean’s Office
Interim Dean
Naomi M. Jacobs
Interim Dean
Professor of English
naomi.jacobs@maine.edu
(207) 581-1954
Naomi Jacobs, Interim Dean and Professor of English, oversees the departments, interdisciplinary programs, and centers that make up the multi-faceted College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She supports the College’s faculty, staff and students in their teaching, scholarly and service pursuits, while promoting the liberal arts and sciences as fundamental to an educated citizenry and modern workforce.
Professor Jacobs’ previous administrative experience includes a five-year term as chair of the English Department. In her teaching and research, she addresses a wide range of British and American fiction, with special interests in utopian and dystopian literature, women’s literature, and the nineteenth-century novel. Her c.v. is online at
http://english.umaine.edu/faculty/naomi-jacobs/
Associate Deans
Timothy M. Cole
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services
Associate Professor of Political Science
tmcole@maine.edu
(207) 581-3844
Tim Cole supervises student academic policies, procedures, and services in the college and works closely with the Academic Services staff and the Advising Center.
He represents the college in its recruitment and retention efforts and assists in curriculum management. Cole’s scholarly background is in political science; his principal areas of teaching and research interest are American foreign policy and American constitutional law. He previously served as chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maine. A summary of his research is found at http://umaine.edu/polisci/faculty-and-staff/timothy-cole/.
Claire F. Sullivan
Associate Dean for Community Engagement
Associate Professor of Communication
claires@maine.edu
(207) 581-1924
Claire Sullivan works with faculty, students, staff, and community members to develop and support sustained community engagement activities, both on and off campus. She also represents the college on committees and projects associated with community engagement, communication and marketing, and CLAS awards and fellowships.
Claire’s areas of teaching and research are in health communication, social support, gender and sport, positive communication, and community engagement/service-learning. She has taught and developed several service-learning courses, both in the traditional classroom setting and online. She received the Maine Campus Compact, Donald Harward Award for Excellence in Service-Learning in 2011.
Student Support Services
John Mascetta
Advising Center Coordinator / Advisor
john.mascetta@maine.edu
(207) 581-1957
John Mascetta, Advising Center Coordinator, oversees academic advising for all undeclared CLAS students, newly accepted transfer students and students on academic probation. He supports the College’s faculty advisors in providing services for students with declared majors and collaborates with Associate Dean Timothy Cole regarding retention initiatives. His background is in higher education and student affairs with a focus in academic advising for the past 7 years. He welcomes any CLAS student to visit the Advising Center for questions ranging in general education requirements, discovering or changing a major and becoming connected on campus.
Mindy Kezis
Student Academic Services Coordinator
mindy.kezis@umit.maine.edu
(207) 581-1987
In concert with the associate deans, Mindy Kezis advises faculty and students (including prospective students) on all matters pertaining to academic policies and procedures in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Ms. Kezis serves as the primary contact for questions regarding academic standing, eligibility for readmission after an academic suspension, exceptions to academic policies and deadlines, general education course waivers and substitutions, study away (domestic and international), transfer credit equivalencies, and requests for retroactive withdrawals with or without tuition reimbursement. Ms. Kezis is available to speak with students by appointment or on a walk-in basis.
Donna Taylor-Schmidt
Administrative Associate
donna.taylor-schmidt@umit.maine.edu
(207) 581-1961
Donna Taylor-Schmidt is responsible for the day-to-day management of student services in the dean’s office. These include orientation and assigning advisors for new first-year students, transfer students, graduation checks, changes of colleges, majors and minors; incomplete grades, NCAA certification forms, registration, adding and dropping courses and general advising. Schmidt provides information in person and by phone to students, parents, faculty and staff.
Carol Rickards
Administrative Assistant
carol.rickards@umit.maine.edu
(207) 581-1952
Carol Rickards is the first person to greet visitors to the main college office in 100 Stevens Hall. She answers questions for parents and students by phone and in person, helping with everything from registration and readmission to study away and changing majors. Rickards also assists office staff with other projects as needed.
Elaine O’Leary
Records Technician II
elaine.oleary@umit.maine.edu
(207) 581-1959
Elaine O’Leary maintains and updates the new first year student list, is responsible for mailings to prospective and newly matriculated students, and other projects as needed in the Student Services office.
Development
Terri C. Beyer
Senior Development Officer for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
(207) 581-1149
terri.byer@umit.maine.edu
Administrative Support
Catherine Metivier
Administrative & Financial Officer
catherine.metivier@umit.maine.edu
(207) 581-3846
Catherine Metivier manages human resource activities dealing with all faculty, professional and classified staffing. She monitors financial matters working closely with the budget analyst and the dean in setting college priorities. Metivier also provides training and consultation to chairs and directors in the college on a wide array of issues crucial to the management of academic departments/units.
Debra Abbott
Budget Analyst
debra.abbott@umit.maine.edu
(207) 581-3589
Debra Abbott works with the dean, department chairs, and administrative staff in the compilation of information related to expenditures and revenue budgets, including grants, contracts, endowments, general funds, revenues, and gift accounts. She assists in the development of budgets and budget projections. Abbott also reviews and processes payroll and accounting transactions and verifies budgets and expenditures to ensure compliance with university policies and procedures.
Tonya Corriveau
Administrative Assistant
tonya.corriveau@umit.maine.edu
(207) 581-1954
Tonya Corriveau provides administrative and clerical support in the Dean’s Office. Duties include coordinating Dean’s and Associate Deans’ calendars, updating College website, approving classified staff payroll, account reconciliation, preparing correspondence and reports, maintaining databases, coordinating College Committees and elections, taking committee minutes, scheduling meetings, travel arrangements, and other general office duties.