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Executive Director Search




Community Update from the ED Search Committee Chair

Community Update from the ED Search Committee Chair

Dear MSSM Community,

As our Executive Director search advances, we are excited to provide an update from the Search Committee. Following virtual interviews with seven semi-finalist candidates earlier this week, three finalists have been identified and invited to visit MSSM over the next two weeks. We selected these educational leaders after extensive candidate recruitment efforts, a review of dossiers from those most qualified, confidential reference calls, and hour-long interviews conducted by the full Search Committee, supported by our consultant, Tracy Bennett of Educators Collaborative.

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Community Update from the ED Search

Community Update from the ED Search

Dear MSSM Community,

On behalf of the Search Committee, I’d like to thank the faculty, staff, and students who took time to meet with our search consultant, Tracy Bennett, during her visit to campus last week. Over the course of two very full days Tracy heard from community members who are deeply invested in the future of MSSM. In her words, “there is great affection and support for MSSM and the educational experience it offers students. Even those holding concerns or frustration were unwavering in their gratitude for the people and program at MSSM. Combined with this is a deep commitment to the mission of the school and the sense of community it fosters.

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Executive Director Search 1/20/2023

Information for Candidates

Dear MSSM Community,

Many thanks to all of you who provided invaluable feedback through our online survey—we had over 100 respondents. Your input, in addition to conversations with school leaders, guided our development of the Information for Candidates. This comprehensive document provides potential candidates with an overview of our school, an outline of the opportunities and challenges before us, and a profile of the skills and attributes we will look for in our next Executive Director.

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Executive Director Search 1/11/2023

Educators Collaborative

Dear MSSM Community,

I hope 2023 is off to a terrific start for everyone! J-Term is in full swing, and while the campus feels notably quiet, we know that Penguins are engaged in exciting experiences both near and far. On behalf of the Executive Director Search Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on our work. As I shared in December, we have two primary goals: to conduct a successful search and identify the next MSSM leader who will build upon the accomplishments of the past two years, and to ensure a transparent and inclusive search process in which all constituencies and individuals have opportunities to provide feedback.

 

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Executive Director Search 12/12/2022

Search Committee Process, Goals, & Timeline

Dear MSSM Community,

I am writing to you today with the first of a series of ongoing communications for MSSM’s next Executive Director that we will be providing to the extended MSSM community throughout the search process.

I am very pleased to announce that the search committee has convened twice, and has its third meeting scheduled for this coming Monday evening.  At our first meeting, we considered our charge from the Board, which was to determine the parameters and conditions of the search, and unanimously concluded to recommend the initiation of a full search for MSSM’s next Executive Director and to evaluate potential firms that could assist our nationwide search.  We hope to have a short list of potential search firms compiled following our next meeting and to be able to make a recommendation to the Board of a search firm partner before the holiday break.

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Executive Director Search

Executive Director Search Committee Announced

Dear MSSM Community,

Where has the time gone?  It seems just yesterday that MSSM faculty and staff were gearing up to have new and returning students flooding into the dormitory, and now the community is gearing up for a wonderfully exciting J-Term!  It’s so hard to believe!

While the time has definitely flown, there’s no doubt that a lot has happened since that opening week – not the least of which was Sam Critchlow’s announcement that he would be leaving MSSM at the end of the school year.  I don’t mind confessing that I was simultaneously thrilled for Sam to have this wonderful opportunity while personally saddened at the tremendous loss for MSSM.  I first had the pleasure of working with Sam as a student in my Linear Algebra class and have only grown in my appreciation of his skills, talents, and contributions.  He has led the school wonderfully during the past year and a half and will be greatly missed!  We wish Sam the very best in his new endeavors, knowing that the High Mountain Institute is going to be in excellent hands with Sam at the helm!

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First page of the PDF file: MSSMIFCFInal

Search Committee Members

Dr. Raymond Rice

Dr. Raymond Rice


Ray is President and Provost of the University of Maine at Presque Isle, having served as a Professor of English since 1997. He has served on the MSSM Board since 2017, holding the seat appointed by the Chancellor of the University of Maine System. Ray lives in Presque Isle with his wife and daughter (their grown son lives close by), and their daughter's three (non-blind) mice.

Dr. Richard Barrans

Dr. Richard Barrans


Rich was a research chemist, a university physics teacher, and a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi before coming to MSSM. His pastimes include baking, cycling, and choral singing.

Dr. Helana Brigman

Dr. Helana Brigman


Helana has been a member of the MSSM community since the 1990s, first as a summer camper in the inaugural math and science camp for girls, and later as an Instructor of English and Chair of English and Fine Arts, and now as Academic Dean. She is passionate about fantasy literature, all things cooking, nineteenth-century women’s recipe writings, Victorian literature and culture, and the writings of Queen Victoria. Her book, The Fresh Table: Cooking in Louisiana All Year Round, was published by LSU Press in 2013, and Helana continues to publish recipes and scholarship on recipe writing (her next book is a recipe compendium to the Lord of the Rings Online). When she is not at work, Helana enjoys spending time with her partner Josh and their daughter Olivia, and their beautifully rubenesque cat, Selma, knitting, and reading

Ms. Stephanie Dolan

Ms. Stephanie Dolan


Stephanie is a classroom teacher with over 20 years experience. She embodies all the best attributes of a multi-faceted educator: an excellent classroom teacher and exceptional cross-country running and Nordic ski coach. Her excellence stems from her strong work ethic and willingness to put in the time necessary to ensure that her students have the best possible experience. Stephanie grew up in Lincoln, New Brunswick, Canada but now lives in Southern Maine with her husband and 2 daughters.

Ms. Mariah Havens

Ms. Mariah Havens


This is Mariah’s ninth year working in the MSSM dorm. She grew up locally in Caribou. Outside of MSSM, Mariah spends her time volunteering with Girl Scouts as a troop leader and various roles in the local service unit. During the summer she works at a Girl Scout camp as the Waterfront Director. Mariah loves to travel both domestically and internationally. A fun fact is that she has been to at least one aquarium every year since 2012.

Ms. Heather Merriman

Ms. Heather Merriman


Heather is a Class of '98 alumna. She spends her volunteer hours dedicated to supporting education across Maine. She serves on the board of the MSSM Foundation, Harpswell Nature School, and Friends School of Portland, and has been part of head of school searches before. Heather is an environmental engineer working and living in southern Maine where she spends as much time as possible by the ocean whether on a float or in a boat with her husband, daughter, and extended family and friends. When on land, her home also includes Moxie, the house cat, and 4 domestic Cayuga ducks that might as well be part of the family.

Dr. Sadhana Prasad DMD

Dr. Sadhana Prasad DMD


Dr. Prasad is a parent representative on the Board, whose son is a 2020 graduate. Having practiced for many years as a dental specialist in Maine, she now enjoys being retired and learning new things from her three adult children, volunteering at the historic Tate House Museum in Portland, and keeping her hands busy crafting (the difference being rather than teeth, drills, and saliva, her new media are fabric, yarn, and paper).

Mr. Luke Shorty

Mr. Luke Shorty


Luke has worked in the educational sector for over a decade and is a former mathematics instructor and Executive Director at MSSM and Lee Academy. He shares his time volunteering as Secretary/Treasurer, Maine Space Grant Consortium; Chair-Elect, Volunteer Maine. Luke enjoys camping, canoeing, cooking, baking, long walks on the beach, star gazing, and reading. Luke, his wife Lisa and their dog, Bandit and cats, Foxy and Buttons live in Winthrop, Maine.