Interview with Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center’s Mary Mahoney-O’Neil

In this interview, Mary Mahoney-O’Neil reflects on her extensive career within the University of Maine community, highlighting her progression through leadership roles such as the Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching and Associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Development. Driven by a desire for new challenges and a deeper connection with students, she transitioned into roles involving university admissions, financial aid, and student employment. Currently, she focuses on student-centered programming through the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, where she leads the Maine Government Internship Program and the NEWL (National Education Women’s Leadership) program, emphasizing her commitment to fostering student growth and leadership in public service.

You’ve been a part of the UMaine community for a long time in many different roles. Can you discuss what those roles have been? What led you to work specifically with our student programs, and what are NEWL and the Maine Government Internship Program?

Absolutely. I have been a part of the UMaine community for a long time. It’s been an incredible experience, both professional and personal. Great people, great students, and great work to be done—and there’s still lots more good work to be done.

I was the director of the Master of Arts in Teaching program. I’ve been the assistant and associate Dean of the College of Education and Human Development for more than 10 years. I’ve also been the director of admissions for the University of Maine and UMaine Machias. I joined that team because I was ready to do something a little bit different; I really wanted to help promote the university, especially as we began to come back out of COVID.

Then, I had the opportunity to learn about financial aid. I felt like I saw the world of higher ed in transition, and that was one area where I had limited knowledge. If knowledge is a ladder, I was on the bottom rung, and I crawled my way up, learning about financial aid and student employment. I loved it.

What led me to work with the programming affiliated with the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center was a desire to work more closely with students. I also teach for the William Cohen Institute, which is a leadership program. Jonathan approached me and asked if I would consider coming on board to learn about NEWL. I’ve had the honor to step in for that work, and then when Peggy (previous Maine Summer Government Internship Program director) decided to retire, I had the opportunity to pick up the Maine Government Summer Internship Program.

We often hear that these programs are life-changing for students. Is there a specific moment you’ve seen in students when they realize they belong in the world of public service?

Mary Mahoney-O’Neil: Absolutely. Last year was my first year with the Maine Government Summer Internship Program. We had 45 interns who were really incredible. One of our interns said, “This program not only strengthened my desire to pursue a career in public service, but it also helped me realize how many opportunities exist within my home state.” Another intern who worked with a municipality said, “I learned so much about how towns function in Maine and the amount of work that goes into running a town and ensuring people have access to essential services.” When I hear the term “life-changing,” it’s like you opened a window and gave someone exposure to something they didn’t realize existed.

NEWL is a little different. It brings a profound sense of awareness around community and public service, helping students find their own sense of agency. They get to hear the Governor of the state speak for an hour just like a conversation. It allows them to ask: “Can I see myself in that role? What can I contribute?” It opens up an awareness of what they can bring, their talent, passion, and most importantly, their commitment to the community.

Some students might hesitate to apply for a variety of reasons. What would you say to a student who’s on the fence about applying for these programs?

Mary Mahoney-O’Neil: I would say, call me and let’s talk. Write me and let’s talk because you have so much to offer. No one is expecting you to come to the table as an expert in the field. This is about learning and trying something on to see if it fits. We want those conversations to happen because how else do you know what you want to do?

I’m almost 60, and I’m still learning what I want to do. I see higher ed at a very challenging crossroads, and I want to bring that same curiosity and willingness to take a risk to both of these programs. Give me a call; there is so much you have to bring to the table that you might never have even considered.

Is it a requirement that you are from Maine to work on these programs?

Mary Mahoney-O’Neil: No, it is not. You either have to be a Maine resident, or you have to be going to a college or university in the state of Maine. We have people from the coast of Maine to the coast of California and everything in between. We have international students, Mainers going to school in France or Ireland—it’s all over the world. I love when people who have been across the country come back and say, “Maine is really special.”

How do you see these interns or program participants shaping the future of Maine? Does it go beyond Maine as well?

Mary Mahoney-O’Neil: For sure. I care about all states, but I care most of all about Maine. Many young people who grew up here have to go try living somewhere else, and we don’t want to discourage that—that’s personal growth. But I want to get the message out about what opportunities are available here.

I’m trying to grow our contact with alumni. I want them to let me know what they are doing two or five years from now. I’ve found that being present makes the programs richer. For example, I’m working to get internships in Northern Maine. One town manager mentioned they only had resources for 20 hours a week; I suggested joining with another town to create a full-time position. It takes time for people to hear about the program, but we are seeing these opportunities populate nicely.

What do you hope they will take with them into their careers?

Mary Mahoney-O’Neil: I hope they take a sense of wonder, a sense of commitment, and a sense of pride in what they are bringing to the table. Sometimes, when you’re the newest person in the door, you think you’re only there to learn. But you’re also there to share, you’ve been in the classroom most recently, and you know the newest research.

I want them to take a sense of pride and wonder in continuing to learn. Challenge yourself even if you don’t know what it’s going to be. Try it on. If I hadn’t put myself out there and taken risks, I would never have known what I could contribute. When you meet the 45 people I worked with last summer, you realize that despite the challenges in the world, we’re going to be okay because of what they are bringing to the table.