Many years ago, I asked about joining a public library’s board of trustees. As a state and national award-winning librarian, I thought that my expertise and perspective would be valuable on a library board. The person I asked did not see it that way.

I was told I misunderstood boards of trustees, that an institution’s board of trustees is primarily made up of people with business and/or political connections, rather than professional knowledge or experience with the institution. My directly relevant professional knowledge and experience was objectively worth less than others’ business and political connections? I should have asked why, but I felt too embarrassed – and insulted.

Recently, I have been reading about the decision-making of the University of Maine System’s leadership and thinking about what I was told about trustee boards. Most UMaine System trustees are appointed by the governor – 15 of 16. The 16th is the commissioner of education.

The makeup of the UMaine System board comports with what I was told: it is predominantly made up of people with business and/or political connections.

Well, now I am asking why. It seems to me that such boards wield quite a bit of power – and where there is power, there should be transparency and public accountability.

I think it is past time that we shine a light on boards of trustees – especially those with power and influence over publicly-funded institutions.

Kelley McDaniel
Portland