Alumni Council Leadership
President & Vice President

Andy Estrada
Senior Communications Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with 13+ years of experience spanning philanthropy, federal government, and presidential campaigns — focusing on media relations, executive messaging, and press operations.
Background & Education ▾
Journey: Farmingdale → Waterville → Washington, DC → Seattle.
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Kayla Girardin
2013 Mitchell Scholar from Presque Isle High School. Kayla is a Finance and Procurement Specialist at the Great Schools Partnership in Portland — and a former 7th and 8th grade math teacher. She combines her background in education with a love of organization and collaboration to support mission-driven work in Maine’s education community.
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Roux Institute at Northeastern University — Certificate in Project Management (2024).
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Former 7th and 8th grade math teacher.
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Alumni Council Members
Meet the Council

Adam Fortier-Brown
2015 Mitchell Scholar and 2018 Jack and Charlie Canning Pioneer Scholar. Adam graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maine in 2019 with a B.S. in Economics and Political Science and is now pursuing his J.D. at the University of Maine School of Law.
Background & Education ▾
2018 Jack and Charlie Canning Pioneer Scholar.
2017 George Mitchell Peace Scholar — University College Cork, Ireland.
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Caleb Cullen
2015 Mitchell Scholar and Chair of the Engagement Committee. Caleb is an ICU Registered Nurse at St. Joseph Healthcare in Bangor and has experience as a paramedic, emergency department nurse, and travel RN.
Background & Education ▾
University of Maine at Fort Kent — B.S. in Nursing (2020).
Locations lived: Patten → Presque Isle → Hartford, CT → Hampden.
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Emergency Department RN — MaineHealth Waldo Hospital (Per-Diem).
Paramedic & Team Leader — Northern Light Medical Transport (Per-Diem).
Former Travel RN — Triage Staffing.
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Hunter Steele
2019 Mitchell Scholar from Lewiston High School. Hunter graduated from Bowdoin College in 2023 with a double major in Economics and Religion and a minor in Classics. He currently serves as an analyst for OGx Consulting in Centennial, Colorado.
Background & Education ▾
Campus Ambassador for the Mitchell Institute, President of Mock Trial, and Men’s Lacrosse goalie.
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Internships: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration; Office of U.S. Senator Susan Collins.
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Jesse Blackburn
2010 Mitchell Scholar from Narraguagus High School. Jesse is a fundraising and development professional with a background in college admissions and first-generation student support. He holds a B.A. in Psychology & Community Studies (UMaine Machias) and an M.S. in Adult & Higher Education (USM).
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M.S., Adult & Higher Education — University of Southern Maine.
Locations: Gardiner, Maine (current); previously Portland, ME; Ellsworth, ME; Sullivan, ME; Cherryfield, ME.
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John Layman
2014 Mitchell Scholar from Carrabec High School. John is a Transportation Planner at the Connecticut Department of Transportation, where he helps manage the state’s spatial data. His path has taken him from Solon, Maine to Germany, Ohio, and now Boston.
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The Ohio State University — M.A. in Geography (2024).
Leon and Lisa Gorman Pioneer Scholar Award recipient.
Locations lived: Solon, ME → Nabburg, Germany → Columbus, OH → Newington, CT → Boston, MA.
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Research Fellow & Teaching Assistant — The Ohio State University.
Contact Tracing Supervisor — Ohio Department of Health & Public Consulting Group.
Teaching Assistant — Fulbright Program, Germany.
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Molly Foley
2015 Mitchell Scholar from Greenville High School. Molly is the Director of Strategic Programs at Certinia, bringing expertise in finance, strategy, and technology. Her career path has taken her from Maine to New York City and now to Austin, Texas.
Background & Education ▾
Locations lived: Greenville, ME → New York, NY → Austin, TX.
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Senior M&A Advisor — Quest Software.
Senior Financial Analyst — Yext.
Investment Banking Analyst — UBS Investment Bank.
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Nancy Billings
2015 Mitchell Scholar from Lincoln Academy. Nancy earned her B.A. in American Studies and Spanish from Wesleyan University and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in American Studies at Yale University. She previously served as a Legislative Aide in the U.S. Senate.
Background & Education ▾
Yale University — Ph.D. Student in American Studies (current).
Locations: Washington, D.C. → New Haven, CT → New York, NY.
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Ph.D. Student — Yale University, American Studies (current).
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Nicole Cloud
2001 Mitchell Scholar from Telstar Regional High School. Nicole earned her B.A. in Media Studies from the University of Southern Maine in 2005. She currently serves as Peer Services Coordinator and Advisor for TRIO Student Support Services at the University of Maine.
Background & Education ▾
Locations: Spring Valley, NY → Bethel, ME → Portland, ME → Orono, ME → Bangor, ME.
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Assistant Director of Student Services — Office of Student Financial Aid, University of Maine (former).
Core Organizer (Volunteer) — Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund.
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Paige Shortsleeves
2013 Mitchell Scholar from Sacopee Valley High School. Paige is the Executive Director of PEACE (People Engaged in Active Community Efforts) in Palm Beach County, where she organizes people-powered campaigns that drive local systemic change.
Background & Education ▾
Journey: Waterville, ME → Washington, DC → Fort Lauderdale, FL → West Palm Beach, FL (current).
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Associate Community Organizer — BOLD Justice (previous).
Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow (previous).
Highlights:
• Community ID Program of the Palm Beaches (2020): 4,000+ IDs issued to date.
• Racial Profiling Study (2024): organized a countywide traffic-stop data initiative with PBSO and Northeastern University.
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Román Habibzai
2017 Mitchell Scholar from Windham High School. Román is an Office Manager and Communications Specialist at the Alzheimer’s Association, where they combine creativity and compassion to support operations and storytelling efforts.
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Locations lived: Windham, ME → Washington, D.C. → New York, NY.
Recognized as a Student Changemaker for founding American University’s first LGBTQ+ student media publication.
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Former Peace Corps intern and Orientation Leader at American University.
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Sadie Michaud
2017 Mitchell Scholar from Skowhegan Area High School. Sadie earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maine and an Associate in Nursing from Kennebec Valley Community College. With experience in both long-term and primary care settings, she brings compassion and commitment to her work in healthcare.
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Kennebec Valley Community College — A.D.N. in Nursing (2023).
Locations: Skowhegan → Bangor → Farmingdale, Maine.
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Currently taking time to care for her firstborn son while exploring future opportunities in healthcare and education.
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Trevor Lyford, MPH
2014 Mitchell Scholar from Penquis Valley High School. Originally from LaGrange, Maine, Trevor earned his Honors Degree in Public Health from Brown University and an M.P.H. from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. He is currently pursuing his M.D. at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Background & Education ▾
George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health — Master of Public Health (2022).
Eastern Virginia Medical School — Doctor of Medicine, Class of 2026.
Journey: LaGrange, ME → Providence, RI → Norfolk, VA.
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Founder — First-Generation / Low-Income Student Association, EVMS.
Rural Health Club President — EVMS.
National Health Policy Chair — American Medical Student Association.
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Joining the Council
Coming June 2026
We are excited to welcome four new members to the Alumni Council this June. Stay tuned for their full profiles.

Jasper Makowski
A Dover-Foxcroft native, Jasper graduated from the University of Maine in 2026 with a B.S. in Microbiology and is now pursuing his M.D. at Tufts University School of Medicine through the Maine Track program — with plans to return to rural Maine as a primary care physician.

Carolyn Hardy
An environmental engineer at Geosyntec Consultants, Carolyn works on groundwater treatment and remediation with a focus on emerging contaminants including PFAS. She also serves on the board of the Norway Opera House, supporting historic preservation and community revitalization in Western Maine.

Carlin Bliss
Carlin graduated from Bay Path University in December 2024 with a B.A. in Justice Studies, a minor in Forensic Psychology, and a certificate in Youth Development. She currently works as the Enrichment and Rentals Coordinator at Breakwater School in Portland.

Alex McAuliff
An Assistant Professor of Politics and European Studies at Bates College, Alex teaches courses on international politics, peace and conflict, and feminist foreign policy. She previously worked in the Maine Senate and as a dialogue facilitator in Northern Ireland and at Seeds of Peace.