Laurie Lachance
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Office: AD-219
Phone: 207-859-1118
Email: [email protected]
EIN: 01-0263385
Scholarship Honoring Thomas President Emerita Raises Over $3M to Support Maine Students
Laurie Lachance M.B.A. ‘92 served as the fifth President of Thomas College for 12 years, the first woman to hold the position. Being the first or only woman in the room was an experience with which Laurie had grown very familiar in her career. She was the first woman to become Maine’s State Economist, as well as the first woman to be named President and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation.
She was named a Woman to Watch in MaineBiz, as well as being named one of Maine Magazine’s Top 50 Mainers. To honor a lifetime of her pioneering leadership, Laurie was inducted into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame and Junior Achievement’s Maine Business Hall of Fame.
Under Laurie’s leadership, Thomas College continued to evolve into a world-class institution dedicated to preparing students from all backgrounds for successful careers and futures. She oversaw the largest capital campaign in the school’s history, doubling the College’s endowment and resulting in the construction of the Alfond Academic Center, the Sukeforth Family Athletic Center, the Hinman Residence Hall, and the two newest athletic fields. She also invested in the creation of the Student Success Center, which increased student retention by 20% and improved the graduation rate. Her experience as a first-generation college student informed her dedication to creating unconventional pathways for students to achieve their dreams, especially the groundbreaking Kiest Morgan Program, which allows students to receive their bachelor’s degrees in three years, followed by an optional one-year accelerated masters.
To celebrate Laurie’s stunning achievements on behalf of Thomas, the College established the Laurie Lachance Leadership Fund upon her retirement in 2024. Launched with a $1 million gift from long-time Thomas supporters, Peter and Paula Lunder, the College raised over $3 million in its first 18 months. The fund is designed to support college-bound Maine students, with a particular emphasis on academic scholarships, paid internships, and student success grants.
“As a first-generation college student myself, I remember how difficult it was for me and my family to pay for and navigate college,” Laurie said. “This fund will help make students’ college dreams possible and not just have impact at the beginning of their journey, but the entire time they are at Thomas College.”
Thomas’s sixth President and second woman in the role, Dr. Jeannine Diddle Uzzi, has celebrated the launch of this fund as one of the transformational paths forward for the College.
“There is no better way to honor Laurie’s legacy than giving students the opportunity to realize their dreams,” Jeannine said.
Want to honor Laurie's legacy?
Donations are still being accepted for this Fund. To honor Laurie’s impact and donate to The Laurie Lachance Leadership Fund, please contact Erin Merrill, Vice President of Advancement.