University of Southern Maine alumnus and former University of Maine System trustee Riley Worth has been elected to a full term on the board of directors of the World Affairs Council of Maine. Worth was among a slate of candidates elected unanimously at the council’s 49th Annual Membership Meeting on June 11. His term runs July 1 through June 30, 2029.
Worth’s election marks a transition from the role he has held with the council since November 2024, when he was appointed its first Student Board Representative, a position created to expand student membership and promote global engagement across Maine. He first joined the World Affairs Council as a student member while earning his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from USM in 2024, where he also served as Student Body president and was active in Model UN. He graduated this spring with a master’s degree in public policy and nonprofit management from USM’s Muskie School of Public Service.
Worth said his priorities will center on student engagement and organizational sustainability.
“Students drive a large portion of our turnout at local events, and I wanted to expand our offerings to the Maine student community,” he said. “More work has been done in recent years to cultivate a local base of supporters and businesses for fundraising, and I would encourage anyone interested in supporting students to become a supporter.”
World Affairs Council of Maine Executive Director Allison Beth Hodgkins said Worth’s work as a student representative reflected the council’s mission.
“He was a natural in the role of Ambassador for the Council, impressing everyone he met and impressing upon them his sincere belief in our mission,” Hodgkins said. “He is an example of the incredible talent in the student body at USM, and we are lucky to have him on our board as a full, voting member.”
Founded in 1977, the World Affairs Council of Maine is a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to connecting Mainers with global perspectives through public programs, educational partnerships and the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.