UMF student elected president of statewide association

FARMINGTON — University of Maine at Farmington student Olivia Brown has recently been voted in as the first elected president of the Student Education Association of Maine. An affiliate of the Maine Education Association, SEAM supports pre-professional educators with professional development, networking opportunities, outreach projects and access to member benefits.

“I feel so fortunate to have been given this opportunity to work with SEAM in this new capacity,” said Brown. “I’m really looking forward to serving the organization as it helps new teachers enter the work force and highlighting the positive difference Maine educators make to so many people.”

A junior from Skowhegan, Brown is majoring at UMF in elementary education with a minor in rehabilitation. Her passion for teaching and making a difference has been strengthened by her love for scouting—an organization she has been involved with for 15 years and continues with to this day as leader of daisy-brownie troop # 1928.

Brown joined the UMF SEAM student organization in her first year at the University and has taken advantage of professional development opportunities in addition to being active in the organization. She takes every opportunity to attend both Maine Education Association Board and SEAM Representative Council meetings and has been involved in helping the sister organizations be more collaborative.

Along with her UMF course work, including serving her teaching practicum at the Cape Cod Hill School in New Sharon, Brown works at the Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Education Center at UMF and as an orientation intern during the summer with the UMF Student Life Office.

“Olivia has interned with me over the last several years and she brings a very high level of responsibility and leadership to everything she does,” said Maya Kasper, UMF assistant director for the Center for Student Involvement. “She helps manage the office during the summer, works on publications and communications and helps in the planning and training for our fall orientation of new students. Every task she takes on is done with a can-do attitude. We’re all very proud of her.”