Longtime UMaine communications leader Margaret Nagle retires

Margaret Nagle, former director of communications for the University of Maine, retired May 9 after nearly 40 years of service. 

Nagle joined the UMaine community in 1985. During her tenure, she led the news services staff within the Division of Marketing and Communications, generated countless stories and oversaw university media relations and crisis communications. She also managed UMaine Today, a magazine highlighting faculty and student research and creative works that had been distributed nationwide and won numerous awards. 

The search for a new director of communications is underway. 

“We are grateful for Margaret’s dedication to promoting our university’s stories and accomplishments to audiences throughout Maine and the nation,” says UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “For decades, Margaret demonstrated what it means to be a strategic communicator and a strong leader. Her work elevated UMaine to be the important voice on issues of higher education, research and academia that it is today.” 

In 2021, Nagle received the Steve Gould Award for demonstrating superior qualities of unselfishness and compassion in service to the university and its ideals. In 1994, the Professional Employees Advisory Council awarded her the Outstanding Professional Employee Award. 

Nagle also earned a master’s degree in education at UMaine and taught journalism courses, including feature writing and public affairs reporting.