PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — This fall Northern Maine Community College welcomes three new full-time faculty members, and one staff member to the team.
“We have some talented new faculty and administrators on campus bringing a tremendous wealth of experience,” stated NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “We’re excited about the work being done on campus and in the labs, and hope the community joins us in celebrating these new hires.”
Matt Beil joins NMCC as a full-time emergency medical services instructor after more than 15 years of adjunct instructing for the College. Beil brings 22 years of paramedic experience with 10 years as a flight medic. A graduate of NMCC’s EMT program, Beil has worked for Crown Ambulance, Loring Fire Department, and Presque Isle Fire Department.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Beil moved to Aroostook County to be near his wife’s family and now “can’t envision myself raising a family or living anywhere else.” Prior to his career in EMS Beil studied computer repair; however, his volunteer EMS work satisfied his drive to be a part of public service and became his primary pursuit. “One thing I tell my students,” Beil said, “is to deliver the care you would want for yourself or your loved ones. I think that hits home for them.”
Jeff Butterfield started this semester as NMCC’s new diesel hydraulics instructor. Having earned his associate’s degree from NMCC, Butterfield spent the past 21 years working for local heavy equipment shops Whited Peterbilt and Chadwick-BaRoss, as well as maintaining the fleet for Consolidated Communications. Originally from Woodland, Butterfield now lives in Mapleton with his wife, whom he met while completing his degree at NMCC.
Butterfield summarizes his teaching philosophy, “Knowledge is 50 percent and attitude is the other 50 perent — that’s what separates great mechanics. People think they’re going to come here and become an expert, but that’s not the case. There’s a lot to it, and I learn new things every day, even after 24 years.”
After more than 28 years working in carpentry – running his own business for 24 of those years — Matt Cole is now the building construction technology instructor at NMCC. Cole graduated from NMCC’s residential construction program 30 years ago, coming up through Presque Isle Regional Vocational Center. “I knew as a youngster that I was mechanically inclined, and my parents involved me with some remodeling. I knew I was going to be a carpenter,” Cole explained. For his teaching philosophy, Cole said, “We’re here to build a better tomorrow.”
Dr. Ann Spinney joined NMCC as the new assistant dean of learning resources. A native of Portland, Spinney earned her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and then her master’s in music from Northwestern University. Spinney began studying music traditions from around the world, and completed her PhD in music from Harvard University, focusing on ethnomusicology. After completing her doctorate, Spinney also earned a master’s degree in archives management from Simmons University.
“I wanted to be a librarian when I grew up and I spent so many wonderful hours in archives in libraries researching music,” Spinney explains. “My approach to life is to be kind and to remember to be grateful. There’s a quote from a U2 song that is, ‘We get to carry each other.’ I think that applies to being a librarian. Libraries exist to serve, and that’s why I’m here.”
“We enthusiastically welcome and celebrate these members of the NMCC team,” said President Crowley. NMCC offers over 30 programs of study and works closely with business and industry to meet the challenges facing today’s workforce. To learn more visit nmcc.edu.
