Mitchell Institute Announces Board Leadership Updates and New Members 
The Mitchell Institute announced updates to its Board of Directors, including new leadership appointments and the election of three new Board members, effective January 2026.
Abby Diaz has been elected Chair of the Mitchell Institute Board of Directors, with Tony DiSotto ’99, a Mitchell Scholar Alumnus and Maine Market President at KeyBank, elected Vice Chair. Diaz succeeds Sara Burns, who completed her term as Board Chair after a period of dedicated service.
“I’m honored and humbled to follow in Sara’s footsteps and to serve the incredible mission that Senator Mitchell launched thirty years ago. I deeply believe in creating opportunities for Maine students, and I am committed to doing right by those young people, by the Mitchell Institute’s hardworking staff and Board, and of course, Senator Mitchell and his family,” said Diaz.
“As a Mitchell Scholar Alumnus, the Mitchell Institute played a formative role in my own path, and serving as Vice Chair alongside Abby is a meaningful way to help steward an organization that invests in people and strengthens communities across Maine,” said DiSotto.
The Institute also announced the election of three new members to its Board of Directors, each serving a three-year term: Elizabeth Rickett, Senior Vice President of Leave and Absence at Unum; Jake Langlais, Superintendent of Lewiston Public Schools; and Melissa Roy, Chief of Staff for a Family Office.
Elizabeth Rickett is Senior Vice President of Leave and Absence at Unum, where she leads efforts to deliver a best-in-class leave experience for clients and their employees. She brings extensive experience leading strategic and operational initiatives across customer operations, transformation, and market-facing teams. Rickett joined Unum in 1988 and has held a range of leadership roles. She recently served on the Thrive2027 Council led by United Way of Southern Maine and lives in Falmouth with her husband, Peter.
Melissa Roy has more than two decades of experience leading advocacy, political, and philanthropic initiatives. She has helped secure federal policy, combat childhood hunger, and expand access to essential services for vulnerable communities. Roy has designed strategic plans for dozens of organizations and advised donors on investments to advance climate and clean-energy policy. A graduate of Georgetown University, she also serves on the board of the NorthLight Foundation and lives in Blue Hill, Maine.
Jake Langlais is Superintendent of Lewiston Public Schools, serving a diverse community of more than 5,800 students across elementary, middle, high school, adult education, and career and technical programs. A longtime educator and school leader, Langlais previously served as principal at Lewiston High School and Lewiston Middle School and has held leadership roles in career and technical education and higher education. He currently serves as President of the Western Maine Superintendents’ Association and Treasurer of the Maine School Superintendents Association. Langlais lives in Lewiston with his wife, Allison, and their two children.
For a full roster of the Mitchell Institute Board Officers and Members, visit: https://www.mitchellinstitute.org/about-mitchell-institute/directors-and-advisors/.
For 30 years, the Mitchell Institute has helped Maine students overcome barriers to higher education. By providing financial support, personal guidance, and a lifelong network, the Institute empowers Mitchell Scholars to graduate, build meaningful careers, and strengthen Maine’s communities and workforce through their success and leadership.
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