Show 99: President of Thomas College Laurie Lachance

President of Thomas College, Laurie Lachance grew up in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bowdoin College and then attended Thomas College to earn her master’s in business administration.  After graduating, Lachance worked at Central Maine Power for ten years as the Corporate Economist.

Host of TideSmart Talk with Stevoe Steve Woods (left) talked with President of Thomas College Laurie Lachance (right) about economics and education in Maine.

From 1993-2004 Lachance served as the Maine State Economist for three governors.  In this capacity, she chaired the Maine State Revenue Forecasting Commission, and served as lead or co-lead on utility restructuring, telecommunications, the retirement industry, and tax reform.  Prior to joining state government, Laurie served as the Corporate Economist at Central Maine Power Company.

From 2004-2012, Laurie served as President and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation, a highly-regarded, non-profit, membership organization established in 1978.  The Foundation’s flagship programs include Leadership Maine, Policy Leaders Academy, the Maine Downtown Center, the Maine Employers’ Initiative, and the Maine Economic Growth Council.

In July 2012, Lachance was named as Thomas College’s 5^th President.  She is the first female and the first alumna to lead this liberal arts college in its 118 year history.  Lachance told Stevoe about the agreement that Thomas College has with their students, and that their graduates are guaranteed a job.

Founded in 1894, Thomas College serves nearly 800 undergraduate and 200 CED and graduate students in business, IT, education, criminal justice, and arts and sciences.  On average, 94 percent of Thomas graduates are hired in their field of study within 90 days of graduation. In August of 2012 they welcomed the largest incoming class in the history of the College

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