Page 9 - The Bell Tower - Summer/Fall 2015

of school in order to help take care of her fourteen younger brothers and sis- ters. At 18, she returned to high school and graduated at the age of 21.
She credits two people with her start at UMFK.
The first was high school guidance coun- selor Charles Saunders, who arranged for Naomi to interview for a clerk/typist position with the previous assistant to the president, Lucille Pelletier.
During the typing test, Verna Daigle sat Naomi down with an electric typewriter, a large machine about the size of a modern microwave oven. After Daigle left, the hulking typewriter, with its abrupt chunk-chunk-chunk noises,
intimidated the young applicant. Until then, she had only used a manual typewriter. “Every time I touched it, it took off,” said Naomi.
Daigle returned to find Naomi near tears and the letter she was transcribing still incom- plete. Naomi explained that the high school had only two electric typewriters, and she was still waiting for her turn to learn how to use it. Daigle laughed, turned around and told someone to bring a manual typewriter. “In a lot of ways I was very naive when I first came here.”
Since that time, office technology has become second nature to her. Naomi said she could type about 70 words per minute on a manual typewriter, but that she has no idea how much faster she is on a computer key- board. “As long as I get the letters out, who
cares?”
When Lucille Pelletier moved to a new
position after President Fox left, Naomi became the assistant to the incoming presi- dent, Richard Spath. He was the University’s leader for the next 15 years. After Spath, Naomi worked with Barbara Leondar, the only woman president in the history of the University. Then came Richard Dumond, Charlie Lyons, Don Zillman, Richard Cost and Wilson Hess. As the longest serving employee of UMFK for 46 years, Naomi has served under a total of eight presidents.
Naomi recalls many changes and legacies during those years. “When I first came here in ‘69, Dickey Hall was over there,” she said while gesturing towards the upper parking lot across from the library. “As that came down, Fox Auditorium went up.”
For President Fox, Naomi recalled, “He was a sweet man. He was so laid back.”
The University built The Sports Center under President Spath. Naomi recalled that Spath was the most unpredictable president with whom she worked. Following Spath, the terms of service for campus leaders short- ened significantly.
She credits President Barbara Leondar for the University’s decision to embrace the local French Acadian heritage. “The one who did the push for French was Leondar. She realized the importance of French to our community.”
Also during the Leondar administration, UMFK added a wing to the Blake Library and modernized the college by embracing the digital age with campus computers. “I liked Barbara,” said Naomi.
Richard G. Dumont expanded the cultural connection that Leondar initiated, overseeing the establishment of the Acadian Archives. Under Charlie Lyons, Don Zillman, Richard Cost and Wilson Hess, Naomi recalls a period of growth and renovation.
“I’ve had a good relationship with every
president,” she said.
One of her few regrets is that she wished
she had found the time to go to college. “I still wish to this day that I’d become a teacher.” Naomi leaned back slightly, and looked out the large window of the president’s office to gaze over the snow-covered campus. “I would have loved to go to school, and I would have gone here.”
She took courses at the college, but she was also a busy mother of three. One day one of her children said, “Mommy-Mommy, you’re not playing with us anymore.”
“I thought, you know, they’re right.”
Another regret Naomi shared was that she never learned to play piano. Perhaps in retirement she will find that time to take les- sons. She also plans to spend more time with her grandchildren.
“One of the things I’m not going to miss is the politics.” She had little to add to the firmly worded statement.
So after nearly half a century of helping University presidents stay organized, guiding students through the labyrinth of college life, and deflecting political missiles before they become budgeting nightmares, what has Naomi learned?
One lesson seems to come from her experience interacting with young people just heading out after high school and helping worried parents as their children struggled to begin their adult lives. “They want to know someone is listening. It’s probably one of the most important parts, whether you like them or not. Just listen.”
The final lesson seems perfect for someone who, through her work, spirit and dedication, has supported a thriving college in northern Maine. “Use the one gift God gave you out of all the animals on the Earth. Think.”
Distinguished Service Award – Throughout all of her time at UMFK, Naomi Nicolas has been an eyewitness to the growth of a small rural college, which has became an incredible thriving learn- ing institution for Northern New England. One of sixteen children, Nicolas began working at the Fort Kent State Teachers College on July 7, 1969 as a clerk/typist making two dollars per hour and soon advanced to become the right hand of the university leadership. She worked with eight different University presidents. UMFK President Wilson G. Hess shared his impression of Naomi after working with her since 2010, “No one embodies the spirit of the St. John Valley, Fort Kent, or its public university more than Naomi Nicolas.” Nicolas received the Distinguished Service Award at the UMFK 133rd Commencement ceremony held in May.
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