Board of Directors
Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes
Robert E. Dodge
Board Chair
Bob is a native of South Portland, Maine. He attended local schools and graduated from South Portland High School. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College, where he subsequently instructed in the graduate program. He has over 35 years of business management experience in various for-profit enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions. He has held positions of leadership in technology, financial management, and business administration.
Bob is a native of South Portland, Maine. He attended local schools and graduated from South Portland High School. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College,
Bob is a native of South Portland, Maine. He attended local schools and graduated from South Portland High School. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and went on to receive a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College, where he subsequently instructed in the graduate program. He has over 35 years of business management experience in various for-profit enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions. He has held positions of leadership in technology, financial management, and business administration.
He has worked as an employee in many types of businesses and has been a consultant to small-to-medium-sized businesses throughout Southern Maine for years. He has also founded three business ventures. He is currently retired from active employment, but performs periodic business consulting services to local businesses.
In addition to his many business involvements, Bob has served on the Boards of Directors for several non-profit organizations since 1991. He has served as Treasurer and First Vice President of the World Affairs Council of Maine, where he was the 2003 recipient of the Bea Chapman Minot Award. He was Treasurer, Vice President, and President (three years in each position) of the Board of VNA Home Health & Hospice of South Portland, ME. He also was a Trustee of Mercy Health System of Maine for three years. He served on the Board of Evergreen Credit Union in Portland (2014-2020), in addition to his membership on the Good Will-Hinckley Board of Directors.
He lives with his wife in Topsham, Maine and has three daughters and three granddaughters.
Sally Beaulieu
Board Vice Chair
Mrs. Beaulieu had a 23 year teaching career before leaving the classroom in 2014 to work for GEAR UP Maine. The last ten years of her teaching career were, in her mind, the most rewarding. She designed and delivered, with her teaching partner, a program for students who have skills and talents not traditionally valued in school. A couple of her former students eventually became students at MeANS. In 2014, Mrs. Beaulieu went to work for GEAR UP Maine as the Regional Facilitator for MeaNS. She was eventually asked to coordinate GEAR UP Maine’s three pilot studies designed to raise students’ aspirations, assist them in career and postsecondary exploration and planning, and facilitate enrollment in a postsecondary institution.
Mary Callan
Board Member
Mary Callan has lived in Maine all of her life. She has a deep appreciation for the natural beauty and uniqueness of this grand state. Mary is now retired – most recently as the project director for GEAR UP Maine (2017-2021). Prior to her work with GEAR UP, she was a teacher and principal who served in several Maine districts in western/central Maine. Mary has also worked as a professional development specialist for the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) supporting teachers and leaders in their integration of technology for learning. She has been an adjunct professor for the University of Maine and Thomas College in their Masters of Education programs for several years. Her educational and life experiences continue to offer her the opportunities to learn about Maine and serve the people who live here.
Dianna Gram
Academic Affairs Committee Co-Chair
Dianna has spent her life working on behalf of students. She is a first generation college graduate and proud to say that University of Maine at Farmington gave her the confidence to make education her career. She graduated from UMF in 1978 and held positions as a special education teacher in the Madison and North Anson schools, very quickly moving to the role of Special Education Director for both districts. In that role she found her voice by advocating on behalf of students with disabilities, working with teachers to develop inclusive practices – providing staff development and advocating for overall change in how systems think about and value what each individual student has to offer.
Dianna has spent her life working on behalf of students. She is a first generation college graduate and proud to say that University of Maine at Farmington gave her the confidence to make education her career. She graduated from UMF in 1978 and held positions as a special education Dianna has spent her life working on behalf of students. She is a first generation college graduate
Dianna has spent her life working on behalf of students. She is a first generation college graduate, and proud to say that University of Maine at Farmington gave her the confidence to make education her career. She graduated from UMF in 1978 and held positions as a special education teacher in the Madison and North Anson schools, very quickly moving to the role of Special Education Director for both districts. In that role she found her voice by advocating on behalf of students with disabilities, working with teachers to develop inclusive practices – providing staff development and advocating for overall change in how systems think about and value what each individual student has to offer.
Dianna eventually moved to Vassalboro Community School(VCS) with grades K-8. She initially served as an Assistant Principal/Special Education Director and finished her career as the Principal of that school. She is proud of the teams in that building who worked tirelessly to create an inclusive and positive school culture. In addition, she wrote and secured a federal development grant designed to implement a research based pre-k program in partnership with the local Community Action Program to complete the continuum of services at VCS.
She retired from education in 2018 after 35+ years. Dianna also served several years as adjunct faculty at UMF, where she worked with her mentor Ray Glass to develop and instruct coursework for aspiring educators to become certified as special education teachers. She also served as the President of MADSEC – a statewide organization for Special Education Directors, and has presented at numerous conferences both in state and nationally. Dianna is a firm believer that educating everyone takes everyone.
In her retired life she has been enjoying yearly cross country trips, hiking, biking and spending time on Great Pond with her partner Steve. She looks forward to her role on the MeANS board and learning more about the work being done on behalf of students.
Martha Harris
Board Member
Martha is the owner of the law firm of Paine, Lynch & Harris,
Martha is the owner of the law firm of Paine, Lynch & Harris, P.A. in Bangor, Maine. She has been practicing in the areas of family law, general civil litigation and criminal defense for 44 years.
She has a BS in Mathematics (Physics Minor) from Tufts University, an MSW from Rutgers, and Juris Doctor from Northeastern University.
She is a member of the bar of the State of Maine, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Federal District Court of Maine and First Circuit Court, Maine State Bar Association, Penobscot County Bar Association, Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the American Bar Association. She has a long standing history of service in the education field, including Main State Board of Education – 2010 to 2021; NASBE (2010 – Present); RSU 22 School Board 1995-2016. She has sat on many committees and commissions in her professional and personal life. She has two adult sons and resides in Winterport with her husband.
Dr. Whitney King
Finance Committee Chair
Dr. Whitney King is the Miselis Professor of Chemistry at Colby College where he has been teaching analytical and environmental chemistry for 33 years. His research group develops instruments to study the chemistry of the oceans and lakes. King and his research students are also active in researching the biogeochemistry of the Belgrade Lakes.
Kim Patnode, LCSW
Board Secretary
Kim has been a Clinical Social Worker for over 25 years. She has a private therapy practice in Augusta. She has extensive experience with adolescent residential services, outpatient adolescent therapy, domestic violence advocacy, trauma and substance abuse treatment. She has taught classes in Psychology and Social Services at UMA. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Keene State College and her Master’s Degree from The University of New England. She and her husband farm in South China.
Anna Perkins
Academic Affairs Committee Co-Chair
Anna has worked in the field of special education in Maine since 1980 in both public and private special purpose school settings as a teacher, consultant and special education administrator, including 14 years as the Special Education Director for GWH/MeANS. Prior to her work in Maine, Anna held positions in Massachusetts as a teacher and adjunct faculty in the fields of early childhood and school age special education. Anna holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University and a Master’s Degree from Lesley College. Over the years, she has been active in the special education community at the local, regional and state levels. Anna has always enjoyed working with families, students and staff and welcomes the opportunity to support the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences through Board membership.