Alumna Pam Stephenson, Class of 1991, attended Thomas College as a first-generation college student. Since graduating from Thomas with a degree in Accounting Information Systems and building her career over thirty years, Pam has distinguished herself as a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor – and counts her vision, hard work, and education as the keys to her success. She now works at H.M. Payson in Portland.
Pam Stephenson was a standout student with an interest in accounting when she received a Maine High School Teacher’s Scholarship, which enabled her to attend college tuition free, making her the first person in her family to go to a four-year school.
She decided on Thomas College because in her words, “As soon as I stepped foot on campus, it just felt like home.” During her time at Thomas, Pam was very active, playing three varsity sports; joining a sorority; working as a tour guide; and serving on the yearbook committee, student senate, and judicial review board. She was also admitted to the Alpha Chi honor society and selected to participate in the Elderhostel/Road Scholar program. Simply put, Pam did it all.
According to Pam, “Thomas allowed me to feel empowered to create my own path. The faculty was always caring and approachable. They had our best interests at heart and worked to help us achieve our goals. Between my education and the relationships that I built while in school, my time at Thomas really opened doors for me.”
After graduation, Pam took a position with a large firm, where she came across trust audits for the first time. “I found them incredibly interesting, and I loved interacting with my clients every day.” Pam quickly garnered a reputation as a dynamic professional who could communicate clearly with clients. She eventually secured a trust position with H.M. Payson, where she has spent the past 20 years helping her clients achieve their personal financial goals and becoming one of the most sought-after Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisors in the state. If she could give current students any one piece of advice, Pam said she would tell them this: “I love my job, but it was hard getting here, and not every day is a good day. People need to understand that. It’s taken stamina, resilience, and persistence to get here. It’s taken lots of hard work – but it was worth it. Anyone can achieve their goals like I did if they’re willing to endure the tough days and keep working.”