Susan Reid Russell of Alna was elected President of the Board of Trustees of Kieve-Wavus Education, Inc. at its recent annual meeting in Nobleboro. Russell has been a member of the board for four years. She succeeds John E. Burns of Essex, Mass., and is the first woman to hold the post of board chair.

Kieve-Wavus Education, Inc. is one of the midcoast's largest non-profit educational organizations, with an annual budget of $6 million and a year-round staff of 35. Known throughout the state of Maine because of The Leadership School that works with thousands of middle-school students, their teachers and parents, Kieve-Wavus also operates two successful summer camps on Damariscotta Lake - Kieve for boys and Wavus for girls. Campers hail from all over the United States and several other countries. Kieve-Wavus also runs a co-ed wilderness program in Colorado, an alumni and family camp on the Wavus campus, and, since 2002, a camp for families from New York and Washington, D.C. who were affected by the 9/11 tragedy.

In accepting the chairmanship, Russell said, "I am very lucky to be involved with Kieve-Wavus. How can you not love an organization whose mission it is to empower so many young people and adults to contribute positively to society? The Kieve-Wavus values of teamwork, kindness, respect, and environmental stewardship are evident in all its programs, and I'm proud to be a part of its exciting future."

She and her husband, Dr. Clifford S. Russell, moved to Alna from Nashville, Tenn. five years ago. There she was a strategic planning and fund-raising consultant for a number of non-profits, foundations and associations, and CEO of the Saint Thomas Foundation and Vice President for Community Development for a large regional health care system.

The Russells have also lived in Washington, D.C. where Susan was Director of Institutional Relations for Resources for the Future and Vice President of Youth for Understanding, an international exchange program for 6,500 high school students in 28 countries.

As a nationally known advocate for volunteerism and the non-profit sector, she has served as International President of the Association of Junior Leagues International, a New York based organization of 274 community service groups in four countries. She was also CEO of the National Alliance for Volunteerism in Washington.

She is on the boards of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and the Friends of the Historic Head Tide Church, and is a member of the Maine Women's Forum. In Nashville she was an officer of a number of community boards, including The Land Trust for Tennessee, Nashville Public Radio, the Nashville Symphony Association, the Rotary Foundation, the Council of Community Services, and Family and Children's Service.

"We're so glad to have Susan's enthusiasm and experience at the helm," said Kieve-Wavus Executive Director, Henry Kennedy. "This organization has been blessed by so many generous and hard-working volunteers over its long history. We are grateful to Jeb Burns for his past board leadership, and are now excited about Susan as she starts her term." For more programming information visit kieve.org or call (207) 563-5172.