Douglas F. Beaulieu, Aroostook County Administrator, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dena L. Winslow, Ph.D. as the new Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program for Aroostook and Washington Counties.
Winslow is a native of Aroostook County, having been raised on a dairy and potato farm in Mapleton. She has had a varied and successful career in education and training, teaching a variety of students in a variety of learning environments, ranging from gifted fourth-graders, to high school students, to college students, to senior citizens. During the time she served as Writing Coordinator for the school district in Mars Hill, she was named Maine Teacher of the Year by the IBM Corporation.
She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in English, Speech, and Theater; a Master's Degree from the University of Southern Maine in Educational Leadership; and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Maine at Orono in History.
Always active in the community, Winslow has done such things as volunteering for over thirteen years as the first curator of the Old Mill School Museum in Mapleton; publishing three books pertaining to Maine history, along with numerous articles and contributions to other books. She assisted with starting the Crown of Maine Balloon Festival and served as the first "Balloonmeister" for the event. In her most recent job as the Job Corps Admissions Counselor for Aroostook and Washington Counties, she has assisted many students with entering the Job Corps education and training program.
In her new capacity, she will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the WIA program in the two-county area. Dr. Winslow will work closely with Aroostook County Commissioner Norman L. Fournier, and Washington County Commissioner Christopher Gardner; along with the Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB), chaired by Barry D. McCrum of Mars Hill.
WIA is a federally funded program, which was enacted in 1998. The intent of the legislation is to provide an integrated and seamless delivery system of employment and training benefits to eligible employees and employers. Policy decisions emanate from a local board, comprised of employers and partnership groups, who have a stake in the viability of the system.
Beaulieu said, "Board Chair Barry McCrum, Commissioners Chris Gardner and Norm Fournier and I are delighted to have Dena join our program and management team. We think her educational background and work experience are a natural fit for this program."
Winslow is the daughter of Carl and Wilma Winslow or Mapleton; and has three sons, Christopher, Thomas, and Eric York, along with a two-year old granddaughter, Camden Addie York. She resides in Presque Isle.