Megan Sanders named chief of staff at UMaine

University of Maine President Susan Hunter has announced that Vice President for Human Resources Megan Sanders also will serve as chief of staff in the Office of the President, effective Aug. 1.

Sanders replaces Julie Hopwood, whose tenure as senior advisor to the president and chief of staff ends July 31.

“I am delighted that Meg has agreed to serve as vice president for human resources and chief of staff,” said Hunter. “She is a skilled, capable member of the cabinet and has a proven track record of working collaboratively to build consensus across multiple constituencies. The chief of staff position will play an important role in ensuring that UMaine continues to achieve the goals described in the Blue Sky Plan, namely continued focus on enrollment management strategies to attract more students to campus, implementation of Signature and Emerging academic and research programs that enhance the national competitiveness of the university, and continued attention to the research and development enterprise, a key economic driver within the state.”

Sanders’ appointment as chief of staff coincides with Hunter’s tenure as University of Maine President. As chief of staff, Sanders will serve as a liaison between the President’s Office and UMaine constituents, and assist the president in managing inquiries and responses that impact the university, among other duties.

“Vice President Sanders will also assist me in ensuring that UMaine remains a collaborative and dynamic member institution of the University of Maine System,” said Hunter.

Sanders joined the University of Maine community in 2012, serving as assistant and associate director of human resources, and associate vice president for human resources and administration. She was named vice president for human resources on July 1.

Prior to joining UMaine Human Resources, Sanders practiced law for five years at one of northern New England’s largest law firms, focusing on general litigation, and labor and employment matters. Sanders graduated from the University of Maine School of Law (magna cum laude), and has a bachelor’s degree in history and psychology from Bates College (summa cum laude).

The University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communications, which previously reported to the senior advisor to the president and chief of staff, will now report to Provost Jeffrey Hecker.