Catharine Biddle is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership. Dr. Biddle’s research focuses on ways in which rural schools and communities respond to social and economic change in the 21st century. She is particularly interested in how schools can more effectively leverage partnerships with external organizations or groups to address issues of social inequality and how non-traditional leaders—such as youth, parents and other community members—may lead or serve as partners in these efforts. Her interests are driven by her professional background in community development that leverages schools. Prior to joining the faculty at UMaine, she spent five years as a research affiliate with the Center on Rural Education and Communities at the Pennsylvania State University and two years as the managing editor of the Journal of Research in Rural Education. Dr. Biddle also served as the executive director of the Nanubhai Education Foundation, an international education nonprofit working in rural India, and as an out of school time educator for the national nonprofit organization Citizen Schools. She is excited to join the board of the Rural Futures Fund because of their focus on the central importance of relationships to youth development, and their innovative philanthropic approach to raising rural youth aspirations.

Victoria Bonebakker has lived in Portland since 1988. She practiced law in California before coming to Maine, where she changed careers and became a nonprofit executive, first as director of the Maine Collaborative for Education in the Arts & Humanities and then, following a merger with the Maine Humanities Council, associate director of the Council. She retired in 2011. Victoria has been on the board of organizations that support and benefit Portland for over two decades, including the YWCA, Greater Portland Landmarks, the Portland Public Library, and TEMPOart Portland. Victoria serves on the Communications Committee of the Rural Futures Fund board.

Sarah Campbell has served as an educational and cultural leader in dynamic and diverse communities – in Portland and across Maine. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of Portland Public Library, the largest urban library system in Maine, and on steering committees for two cross-sector initiatives -- Portland ConnectEd (education from cradle to career) and Thrive 2027 (education, health, and financial stability), and as Chair for Leadership Portland. She also served on the Maine Library Commission, Maine Infonet Board, and a global Council serving libraries. She currently serves on the Board of Portland-based Illustration Institute, raising appreciation and awareness of how illustration in its many forms brings stories to life.

Sarah has worked in libraries 1996-2022, and in adult and professional education management before that. She is dedicated to building communities by both engaging early with opportunities and interventions to inspire and address needs, and also taking the long view to truly sustain growth so all can be literate, informed, and engaged.

She values building organization and building organizations. Having been integrally involved in one start-up business, two start-up colleges, and numerous start-up projects, she enjoys bringing constructive innovation and critical energy to expand resources, improve access, and develop the capabilities of community and work. A native of Chicago (and Cubs fan!), her Master’s in Library and Information Science is from the University of Michigan and her undergraduate degree is from Swarthmore College.

Dr. Jon Doty serves as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Old Town-area Regional School Unit #34. Doty’s career has included teaching middle school mathematics, science, and technology education; founding and developing the district’s Gifted & Talented program; and leading the district’s program of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. He comes to the Rural Futures Fund through his leadership with the “River Runners” Aspirations Incubator Program partnership. Jon is passionate about increasing opportunities, aspirations, and support for all.

Doty has earned degrees in Elementary Education, Instructional Technology, Gifted/Talented Education, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. In addition to his work in RSU #34 Doty is involved on several advisory boards for pre-service education programs. He also serves on the Board of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association; in 2020 Dr. Doty was named Maine’s Curriculum Leader of the Year. Doty lives with his family in Bradley, though they spend many weekends happily camping and kayaking in Maine’s state parks. He volunteers as a leader for his son’s Cub Scout pack.

Dr. Hudacs is the Assistant Extension Professor for Statewide 4-H Teen Leadership and Workforce Development at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Dr. Hudacs’ service and outreach is centered on improving opportunities for Maine teens to enhance their life skills and achieve their fullest potential. His research interests include pre-college factors related to college persistence, education and workforce development in rural communities, and preparation for college and careers through a diversity of learning experiences.

Prior to his current role, he most recently served as the Director of the Office of Educator Preparation and Professional Development Center at the University of Southern Maine (USM). Additionally, he taught courses in educational research and applied statistics in graduate programs for public policy and management and education and human development. Prior to working in higher education, Dr. Hudacs completed 10 years of service in two state education agencies. At the Maine Department of Education, he was the Director of Assessment and the State Coordinator of National and International Assessments. Preceding his service with the Maine DOE and large-scale education assessments, he also worked in the fields of school improvement and career and technical education. His responsibilities included managing state and federal grants, statewide program development, and professional development for educators in public schools.

He is excited to join the board of the Rural Futures Fund because of their focus on building supportive relationships for youth in rural communities to promote positive development and create interests in and access to higher education and careers.

Lowell entered his 40+ year career in education with the Upward Bound Program, first as a reading assistant at the University of Southern Maine summer program and then year round as the Assistant Director at the University of Maine at Farmington. He then taught history and English and became the Assistant Principal at Dirigo High School in Dixfield. After a year long fellowship at Bowdoin College teaching education classes and supervising the student teachers, he became the Upper School Director and taught English at Waynflete School in Portland, where he worked for 30 years. Since retiring in June of 2021, Lowell has stayed connected to Waynflete as an advisor to Third Thought Initiatives for Civic Engagement, which partners with high schools throughout Maine to engage young people in productive dialogue across their differences.

Lowell earned his bachelor’s from Colby College and a master’s in Secondary Counseling and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Maine. He and his wife Melissa live in Portland where they raised their two children who are now growing families of their own and doing good things in the world. When not chasing around their three granddaughters, Lowell and Melissa spend time in the mid-coast, in the North Maine Woods, and traveling when the opportunity arises.

Owen McCarthy is the President and co-founder of MedRhythms, a digital therapeutics company that uses sensors, music, and software to build evidence-based, neurologic interventions to measure and improve walking. In addition to his work at MedRhythms, he has become a leader in the field of digital therapeutics by co-chairing the reimbursement working group of the digital therapeutics alliance and acting as a roster of experts in Digital Health for the World Health Organization.

In the state of Maine, Owen currently serves the higher education system as the Vice-Chair of the University of Maine Board of Visitors (after serving as Chair from 2017-2019). Owen is a graduate of Katahdin High School, the University of Maine, and the Harvard Business School.

Owen is honored and inspired to be on the Rural Futures Fund’s board of directors. He says, “As a first-generation college student from rural Patten, ME, I was fortunate to have a strong support network of mentors that helped me raise my aspirations -- I now want to find a way to give this opportunity to countless others students in rural Maine.” Owen serves on the Communications Committee of the Rural Futures Fund’s board.

Susan C. Ruch has served on the Rural Futures Fund board since its inception. She has long been interested in education and served for twelve years on the Board of Trustees of Waynflete School and was earlier involved in reestablishing a nursery school in Brookline, MA. As an art history graduate of Skidmore College she worked as the Assistant Curator at the Vancouver Art Gallery in Canada as well as working at the City Art Museum of St. Louis. She served as President of Greater Portland Landmarks and spent many years lobbying the City of Portland for the passage of an historic district ordinance. She has had a keen interest in architecture and worked with an architect partner in developing a prototype factory built affordable house called House One. She and her husband, Frank, live in Falmouth and are the parents of two sons and grandparents to four grandchildren.