Laurie Gagnon Lachance ’83 was installed as the fifth president of Thomas College in Waterville, Maine, during an inauguration ceremony attended by President Barry Mills and several Bowdoin alumni, and featuring a performance by Bowdoin a cappella group BOKA. Lachance was formerly the head of the Maine Development Foundation, a nonprofit supporting economic growth in the state. She was previously the state economist under three administrations.
- (First row, l. to r.) Mike Talbot ’71, Julia Binswanger ’16, Laurie Gagnon Lachance ’83, Barry Mills, Michael Lachance ’13. (Second row, l. to r.) Simon Bordwin ’13, Jun Choi ’15, Sarah Chalfie ’14, Hallie Schaeffer ’16, Kailana Durnan ’13, Emily Cormier ’16, Duke Albanese ’71, Steve Cote ’89, Mary Lanphear House ’93 (Third row, l. to r.) Chris Genco ’15, Nick Walker ’16, Trustee H. Allen Ryan ’64, P’88, Harry Lanphear III ’83, Jac Arbour ’07, Maine Rep. Terry Hayes ’80.
“This is a tale of two college presidents,” Lachance tells the Bowdoin Daily Sun. “Neither applied for the job originally. Both were on the search committee. Both had their names put in nomination. Both got selected. One (Barry) has done a great job. One (Laurie) hopes she does as well as Barry!”
Congratulations Laurie – You will be a great president for Thomas College! Everyone is so proud of you!!!!!!
Love, Janice
Congratulations Laurie…I always knew you would do great things!
Congratulations Laurie, you make all of us very proud!
I’ve already congratulated Laurie directly- but this is a classic Maine/Bowdoin story: Student from Maine takes advantage of the offer of the college to encourage and support students from Maine, she graduates and commits her career to serving the state of Maine and now continues to give back by leading yet another Maine College. What goes around, comes around! We wish you all the best, Laurie! Very proud of you!
Congratulations!