EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Meg joins the Rural Youth Institute (RYI) as its first Executive Director, bringing 25 years of visionary and innovative leadership experience in equity and education. Meg’s connection to the foundational work of RYI stretches back to 2016 when she was one of the original Aspirations Incubator Program Managers, creating and growing the KW Leads Program at Kieve-Wavus Education. From 2018-2021, Meg continued her commitment to the expanding work of the Aspirations Incubator as a board member of the Rural Futures Fund. 

Over the course of her career, Meg has created and delivered programs that have expanded access to opportunity while driving transformational change for young people and communities. She is a relationship-centered leader, with a deep belief that a brighter future is possible when we open ourselves to new ideas and the diversity of relationships that exist all around us. Meg is particularly excited to bring her experience and optimistic energy to nurturing a bright and hopeful future for youth across rural communities.

When she’s not dreaming up ways to create brighter futures for young people, Meg loves to get her hands in the dirt at Twin Villages Foodbank Farm, a grow-for-donation farm in Lincoln County that she co-founded with her partner Sara and daughter Adley in 2015. She is an avid reader, a farm-inspired cook, and lover of the Maine outdoors!

PRESIDENT

Don is a visionary and cause-driven leader with over 35 years of experience in youth development and senior management. Known for his engaging and optimistic personality, he has been at the forefront of social enterprise, creating impactful projects and organizations that empower young people to thrive. A proven change agent with an entrepreneurial spirit, Don believes that lives are transformed through the relationships built within programs and organizations, not the structures themselves. He has dedicated his career to fostering these connections, developing innovative, student-centered models that build resilience and aspiration in youth. Don lives on the St. George peninsula in mid-coast Maine with his wife, Sheryl.

TREASURER

After spending 15 years in the nonprofit sector, Erin has been on the leadership team at the Rural Futures Fund in Portland, ME since 2013, and currently serves as Associate Director. Erin also works with the Rocking Moon Foundation, and recently moved into her current role as Executive Director there after serving as a grantmaking advisor since 2016. She earned a Master of Public Policy and Management degree from the Muskie School at the University of Southern Maine in 2005, and recently completed a term as Board Chair at the Maine Philanthropy Center. She and her husband Ben Slayton have two children, ages 12 and 9.

Jason is the Executive Director of Educate Maine, a business-led education nonprofit focused on increasing education attainment for Maine people. He has worked in Maine schools and nonprofits for the last 20 years as a teacher, school counselor, administrator, and nonprofit leader. He is a graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington, University of Southern Maine, and Northeastern University. His dissertation focused on how leaders foster and support innovation at their schools. Jason is the past chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Maine School of Science and Mathematics. He currently serves as a board member for the Maine 4-H Foundation, Maine Space Grant Consortium, and is a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Maine at Farmington. 

Catharine Biddle is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership. Dr. Biddle’s research focuses on ways in which rural schools and communities respond to social and economic change in the 21st century. She is particularly interested in how schools can more effectively leverage partnerships with external organizations or groups to address issues of social inequality and how non-traditional leaders—such as youth, parents and other community members—may lead or serve as partners in these efforts. Her interests are driven by her professional background in community development that leverages schools. Prior to joining the faculty at UMaine, she spent five years as a research affiliate with the Center on Rural Education and Communities at the Pennsylvania State University and two years as the managing editor of the Journal of Research in Rural Education. Dr. Biddle also served as the executive director of the Nanubhai Education Foundation, an international education nonprofit working in rural India, and as an out of school time educator for the national nonprofit organization Citizen Schools. She is excited to join the board of the Rural Futures Fund because of their focus on the central importance of relationships to youth development, and their innovative philanthropic approach to raising rural youth aspirations.

Dr. Jon Doty serves as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Old Town-area Regional School Unit #34. Doty’s career has included teaching middle school mathematics, science, and technology education; founding and developing the district’s Gifted & Talented program; and leading the district’s program of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. He comes to the Rural Futures Fund through his leadership with the “River Runners” Aspirations Incubator Program partnership. Jon is passionate about increasing opportunities, aspirations, and support for all.

Doty has earned degrees in Elementary Education, Instructional Technology, Gifted/Talented Education, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. In addition to his work in RSU #34 Doty is involved on several advisory boards for pre-service education programs. He also serves on the Board of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association; in 2020 Dr. Doty was named Maine’s Curriculum Leader of the Year. Doty lives with his family in Bradley, though they spend many weekends happily camping and kayaking in Maine’s state parks. He volunteers as a leader for his son’s Cub Scout pack.

Dr. Kristy Ouellette serves as a member of the state program leadership team with Maine 4-H Youth Development at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. With over 17 years of experience in positive youth development, she supports statewide efforts to strengthen staff development, youth voice, and community partnerships.

Kristy holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy with a concentration in Educational Policy. Her research focused on the experiences of first-generation 4-H youth and how youth programs can build social capital and belonging. She is deeply committed to expanding access and equity in education and youth-serving systems.