USM’s Franco-American Collection is governed by a Board of Directors who represent the interests of the University of Southern Maine and the Franco-American Community. A number of positions are therefore reserved for staff, faculty and students of the University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn College. Appointments to the board, and responsibilities of board members are determined by the Collection’s By Laws.
Ex-Officio Board Members:
USM Dean of Libraries and Learning: Zach Newell
Franco-American Collection Fellow: Emmanuel Kayembe
Franco-American Collection Archivist: Anna Faherty
USM Research Librarian: Maureen Perry
USM Library Specialist: Elizabeth Bull
Community Members:
George Blouin (Emeritus)
George Blouin was born in Lewiston, Maine, and attended Saints Peter and Paul’s Elementary School under the auspices of the Dominican nuns and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Following Elementary School, George left Lewiston to study for the priesthood at Eymard Preparatory Seminary in Hyde Park, New York, the training campus for the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. He received his high school diploma at the seminary and his Associate in Arts from New York State. He then received the habit at the novitiate of the congregation in Barre, Massachusetts. After a year and a half, George left the seminary to continue his studies in English at the University of Maine in Orono, He taught English at Bangor High school for a half year and then went to a small town in upper state New York to teach English and drama at the Lowville Academy and Central School for some three years. His teaching career ended after 36 years in Long Island New York at the John F. Kennedy High School. He received his MA in Liberal Arts from the New York State University at Stony Brook.
During his tenure at these schools, he produced plays and musicals while continuing his seminary position organist, composer and choir director. He became the teachers’ union representative to the PTA, a member of the teachers’ negotiating team and was the committee chairperson for the 30 member merger committee when the two Plainview high schools’ numbers decreased.
He returned to his native state of Maine for his retirement and became active on the boards of several local institutions: The Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine, L/A, The Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society and the Senior College at the University of Maine, L/A.
Returning to his Franco-American roots was an inevitability, as within minutes of starting any new class, his students were informed that his Franco identity was one facet that stamped both his life and his teaching.
Spencer Davis
Suzanne Davis
Camden Martin
Camden Martin was born in Lewiston and grew up in Auburn, he attended Edward Little High School until his sophomore year before attending the Lycée Albert Camus in Nîmes, France. He was able to do so after having won a scholarship that permitted to study in France for two months. This in turn resulted in him studying there for two years both his junior and senior year. After having graduated from both Edward Little and Lycée Albert Camus, Camden took a sabbatical year where he worked in French Language customer service. Afterwards, he went to school at the Cégep Saint Félicien in Québec, where he studied Environmental protection. Upon returning to Maine, he worked at Museum L-A before becoming the French Teacher at Saint Dominic Academy. Why I serve?Having grown up in Lewiston-Auburn and discovering my rich Franco-American heritage as a teenager, all causes that seek to promote and preserve the French language and culture are very near and dear to me. Therefore, in serving on the board, I wish to continue in the tradition of my ancestors and continue the notion of La Survivance.
Cindy Matthews
Jonathan Meserve, Jr.
James Myall (Interim Chair)
David Nutty (USM Director of Libraries Emeritus)
Maggie Pelletier
Roger Philippon (Emeritus Board Chair)
A Lewiston native, Roger retired in December 2020 as dean of planning and public affairs at Central Maine Community College. Prior to his tenure at CMCC, he served as assistant dean for student and community affairs at USM’s L-A College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Southern Maine. Long active in local civic and cultural affairs, Roger serves on the Lewiston Finance Committee and is a former Lewiston city councilor and planning board member.
Roger served on the FAC board of directors for over 15 years, including several years as chair. A past president and secretary of the Lewiston Richelieu Club, he also served as treasurer of the Festivale Franco-Americain. An actor by avocation, Roger is still remembered for his performances as Louis Morin in the musical production “Lewiston, A New Home,” and as Papa Martel, the main character in Gerard Robichaud’s novel of the same name. Active with the L-A Metro Chamber of Commerce, he is also a member of the L-A Rotary Club. He and his wife Celeste live in Lewiston and devote much time and energy to the L/A Community Little Theater, where they serve as co-executive director and artistic director respectively.
Cecile Thornton (Treasurer)
A 2024 inductee to Maine’s Franco-American Hall of Fame, Cecile (Desjardins) Thornton is a Lewiston native who grew up in a bilingual family. Like many Francos, she attended a parochial school where classes were taught in French for one half of each school day, and in English the other half. After graduating from Holy Cross School, she attended Lewiston High School, where she continued her studies of the French language for half of her high school career. At some point in her adolescence, she became aware of the mockery aimed at the Franco community, and eventually shied away from the label “Franco-American.”
Many years later, a more-mature Cecile went about searching for information about her community, her roots, and recapturing her first language, which was French. While on her journey, Cecile attended “La Renconte,” which at the time was a monthly luncheon held at the Gendron Franco Center (since renamed The Franco Center) where attendees were encouraged to speak French while dining “à la bonne franquette” with community members. It was at one of these luncheons (in March of 2016) that she met a gentleman by the name of George Blouin, who told her about a French Club that met twice a week at the Hillview Community Center in Lewiston.
Cecile joined the club and attended meetings religiously. It was here that she met a myriad of French-speaking immigrants from Europe and Africa. This wonderful club (and its members) set her life on a new trajectory that led her to serving on the board at the Franco Center for 3 years; being featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered”; being quoted in Heather McGhee’s NYT’s Best Seller “The Sum of Us” as well as in Heather’s TedTalk; and appearing as the principal character in the award-winning documentary film, “Le Carrefour” (The Intersection), which was filmed in Lewiston-Auburn.
After “Le Carrefour” debuted, in September 2021, Cecile was recruited to join the FAC board. In addition to the Franco-American Advisory Board, Cecile currently serves on the board of Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin, where she also volunteers as a Conversation Partner. She is the Admin of “French Maine USA,” a Facebook group which serves to connect Francophones throughout Maine, New England, the US and the world. She also hosts two French conversation groups, which meet weekly on Zoom.
She continues to work with the local New Mainer community, Cecile visited the DRC (Congo) in April 2024, where she met with dignitaries in Kinshasa and Goma and visited a refugee camp in Goma. While in the DRC, she was able to present “Le Carrefour” to audiences in Kinshasa and Goma. Recently, she has joined a committee to help other communities develop archives of their own, so that they may preserve their languages and cultures, too.
Judi Valentine
I grew up in Auburn Maine, one block from Walton Jr. High, a short walk to sports games, dances, and other events literally around the corner. Those were the days when kids biked everywhere never depending on parents to drive us around. Strong legs were built in the process. Before attending Walton and then Edward Little HS, for five years I was at a boarding school in Sabattus Maine, Ave Maria Academy, living with the Dominican Nuns. We spoke almost entirely in French and I’m sad to be incredibly rusty, but my accent is misleadingly good.
It wasn’t long before my sense of adventure took me away from LA. Over time, I lived in California, back home in Portland and Waterville, and then for twenty years in Washington DC.
As is true for older career folks, I’ve had many opportunities to work and learn. The first half in business and financial administration as Director of Operations for then called Maine Office of Energy Resources; as co-owner of a business providing accounting and marketing to small firms; Director of Finance for the Metro in Portland; Maine, Director of Sales & Marketing for a large home builder; Director of Operations for a Washington DC public opinion research firm.
While living in DC and following a passion for wellness, I returned to school to receive a master’s degree in nutrition science and a PhD in nutrition, and then worked in group and private practices. While now retired from clinical practice I still follow the tenets of healthy living.
In 2010 upon returning to Maine I began a new career—writing adventure novels for young readers. My fifth book is historical fiction based on my French-Canadian ancestry. I love all my published novels but this one holds a deeper place in my heart as I reconnect with ancestral Quebecois history. Joining the Franco-American Collection board in Maine is another way to learn more about my heritage. I appreciate the invitation.