Tracy Rockwell
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The University of Maine’s Tracy Rockwell has been named the new director of the Houlton Higher Education Center.
The announcement was made Friday evening at a recognition ceremony for local graduates of the University College at Houlton. The college serves as a center for both the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Augusta.
Rockwell served as the interim director of the HHEC since August, 2014, following the resignation of Chuck Ames, who previously served the University for more than 30 years.
“I’m very excited about this new challenge,” she said. “We have a great team already in place here. Everyone has been so willing to pitch in and help where needed. The motivation is very high right now.”
Rockwell brings to the position her experiences serving as the Career Pathways coordinator for Houlton/Hodgdon Adult Education at the Center, as a part-time instructor for UMPI and Northern Maine Community College, and her work undertaking strategic initiatives at previous institutions.
As interim director, she will serve as building administrator and coordinate the needs of the center’s seven educational partners, including University College, NMCC, the Houlton/Hodgdon SAD 29/70 Adult Education Program, the Carleton Project, TRiO College Access Services, and Maine Education Opportunities Commission.
Rockwell previously worked as an area director for Troy University in the Florida region, as a human resources agent for Randstad, and as an associate regional director of student services for Troy State University in the Atlantic region. She currently serves as president of SDR General Services, providing and administering support services to small businesses.
She is a member of the Northeast Society for Human Resource Management, an Adult Education Advisory Committee Member, and has served on her local school board. She also volunteers her time as a high school tutor.
Rockwell earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Southern Maine in 1993. She went on to earn her master’s degree in public administration in 1995 and her master’s in human resources management in 1999, both from Troy State University.
“The goals we put in place in mid-August and have been working on for the past nine months really won’t change,” she said. “Now we can focus on enhancing community connections with the University, that we are very serious educational opportunity for people in southern Aroostook County.”
Rockwell added increasing awareness on what the center has to offer will be one of her primary goals. Aside from serving as an educational hub, the center can also be rented for group meetings or seminars.
“We want to open doors for people and take a real hard look at what the students want for classes,” she said. “We hope to provide more live courses here at Houlton for those who can’t make it to UMPI or Augusta.”
