FARMINGTON – Tanya Swain is the new executive director of the Western Mountains Alliance.

She has been a regional coordinator for the Maine Community Foundation. Swain also has been editor of the Irregular newspaper in Kingfield and program administrator for the first Lead Western Maine program, a training and resource program. She also was public relations coordinator for the Rural Schools for Equity Initiative.

A Colorado native, she has lived in Farmington since 1992. She has a background in public relations and journalism, and a B.A. in political science from the University of Washington in Seattle. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the Muskie School at the University of Southern Maine.

The Western Mountains Alliance strives to improve the quality of life and to strengthen the regional identity of this region of Maine. For more information, people can visit www.westernmountainsalliance.org.