Page 28 - The BellTower - Spring 2016

Alum Uses UMFK Experience for Life of Civil Service
Bryan Piaseczny graduated from UMFK in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration, Associate of Arts degrees in conservation law enforcement, criminal justice, and homeland security/ emergency management. As a student he served for the Maine Air National Guard which, in 2014, deployed him to Bagram, Afghanistan to assist in force protection, security operations, combat rescue, and civil engineering occupation.
During his deployment, a group of friends in Fort Kent rallied supporters in both the surrounding community and the campus to collect and mail packages that made their way to Afghanistan into Bryan’s hands.
During his time at the University, whether deployed overseas or in the States, Piaseczny maintained strong ties with the campus and the community. He was a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Bengal men’s soccer team, and a resident assistant on campus.
He also proudly served the town of Fort Fairfield as a police officer during his time as a student at UMFK.
An alumnus of UMFK dedi-
cated to his future in keeping our community and world safe and to higher education, Piaseczny enrolled to graduate school at Norwich University in North Field, Vermont shortly after concluding his educa- tion at UMFK. He is now working towards a Master’s degree in Public Administration, with a focus in public administrative leadership and crisis management.
While pursuing his graduate
degree Piaseczny currently is employed with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration as an immigration services assistant a part of the adjudication support team in St. Albans, Vermont. He continues to work as an on-call firefighter and emer- gency medical technician for the town of
Sheldon, Vermont.
Currently, Staff Sergeant Piaseczny
continues to serve for the 101st Refueling Wing in Bangor, Maine. His future aspira- tions are to earn a Ph.D. to become a col- lege professor and to work for the United States Secret Service.
Alumna Joins UMFK Boards
In 2015, University of Maine at Fort Kent alumna Sue Devoe joined the UMFK
Board of Visitors and the UMFK Alumni Association in order to stay involved with her community and keep her fellow gradu- ates connected with the campus she has known and loved for years.
Devoe’s strong advocacy for volun- teerism has kept her involved in the schools that her children attended and also with their dance training by working with parent-teacher organizations and reli- gious education. As her kids have grown and matured over the years, her focus has shifted to higher education. “I am seeking opportunities to be involved in my com- munity and am very excited to have been selected for the BOV. UMFK plays a key role in the educational, economic, and cultural aspects of the community, and it is great to support it through this committee work,” said Devoe.
In her role as a member of the alumni association, Devoe intends to increase outreach and provide meaningful com- munications with alumni so they can rec-
ognize and understand the advances and excellence that is blossoming at their alma mater.
Devoe graduated from UMFK summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in nursing in 1993.
After graduation, she began working at Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) as a staff nurse in the adult psychiatric
unit. Devoe also worked as an office nurse at the Fish River Rural Health Center. She has served as director of quality at NMMC for the last twelve years.
Devoe also served on the Maine Association of Healthcare Quality as chair of the Education Program Committee. She has taken on many leadership roles during her career.
Sue Devoe has dedicated herself to her community in the St. John Valley and continues to volunteer at many NMMC events. The Devoes were also a host family for an exchange student from France.
Sue Devoe resides in New Canada with her husband, Elden, and their two chil- dren Amber and Jessy. Devoe’s daughter, Amber, is enrolled at UMFK in the educa- tion program and had been fortunate
to be a Pleasant Street Academy (PSA) student before entering UMFK. Jessy, her younger daughter is presently a PSA student.
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