Local nurse, UMaine faculty member is first to represent Maine in American Nurses Association

The first Mainer to join the American Nurses Association (ANA) Board of Directors is Amanda Savage (‘03G), assistant professor of nursing at the University of Maine and president of ANA-Maine. Savage will have the opportunity to speak toward the unique challenges and strengths of Maine’s rural and community-based healthcare system as the board shapes national policy and advocacy.

“The next two years will be critical for nursing as we face workforce shortages, navigate healthcare reform and continue the fight for equality, safety and patient-centered care — priorities I am passionate about and eager to advance through this role,” Savage said. “For nurses across Maine, and especially for students and early-career professionals, I hope my election shows that your voice matters. That leadership isn’t confined to geography. That our experiences, our resilience and our insights are not only valid, but vital to the future of nursing in this country.”

A 2003 graduate from UMaine with a master’s degree in exercise physiology, Savage was born in Machias and raised in Bangor. She has additional degrees from the University of New England and University of Southern Maine. In addition to her teaching responsibilities at UMaine, she is a registered nurse at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and believes in the transformative power of nursing, both in educational and clinical settings.

Savage’s current term of president of ANA-Maine ends this fall. Her term as an elected member of the at-large national board — the voice of five million nurses across the U.S. — will start January 2026 and last for two years.