UMaine hires new director of communications

Longtime Bangor-area public relations leader Eric Gordon has been named the new director of communications for the University of Maine, effective Aug. 9. 

In his new role, Gordon, the current executive director of communications for Husson University, will serve as the public information officer for UMaine and lead the news development, public affairs and media relations work of the Division of Marketing and Communications. He replaces Margaret Nagle, who retired May 9 after nearly 40 years of service to the university.  

“We look forward to Eric joining UMaine and leading an exceptional team in finding more ways to tell the incredible stories of our UMaine community,” says Meredith Whitfield, chief marketing and communications officer. “With more than three decades of communications and public relations experience, I know Eric will provide a strong institutional voice that will reflect UMaine’s mission and values, and showcase its impact in Maine and beyond.”  

Prior to joining UMaine, Gordon worked at Husson for over 10 years. Over the course of his decade-long tenure with the institution, he led the team that created and implemented internal and external communications, advertising, social media and strategic online messaging. 

Before Husson, Gordon held public relations roles at The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and the health insurance company CIGNA. While at CIGNA, he created a public service announcement about domestic violence that took gold at the Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival. He also has years of experience in broadcast television news, and directed two regional Emmy Award-winning public affairs programs for WPHL-TV in Philadelphia. 

Gordon earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a Bachelor of Science in speech from Northwestern University. 

“The professionalism of the marketing and communications team and the commitment of the faculty and staff to transform students’ lives has made the University of Maine the state’s premier public educator,” says Gordon. “I look forward to bringing more national attention to the important research and education being conducted here. These ongoing efforts are producing tangible results that improve the lives of our community, our state, our nation and the planet.”