The University of Maine has been upgrading its athletic facilities in dramatic fashion since the Harold Alfond Foundation first supplied the institution with a $90 million gift for that purpose in October of 2020 and provided an additional $80 million gift in January of 2024.
And now the university has hired former Black Bear track and cross country runner Erin Magnuson as the director of athletic development to help in the fundraising efforts for the athletic program. She started in the role on Monday.
That position had been left vacant since Buffy McCue-Quinn left the role to teach in the school’s business department several years ago, according to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Capital Planning Seth Woodock.
UMaine athletic director Jude Killy, president Joan Ferrini-Mundy and chancellor Dannel Malloy have been “extremely supportive of increasing our development staff,” according to Woodcock, who will be Magnuson’s boss.
“We have to raise a lot of money,” he noted.
Magnuson is an Ellington, Conn. native who graduated from UMaine in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in English. She ran track and cross country for four years.
Magnuson said in a press release that she was “thrilled” to be back in Orono.
“Throughout my time at UMaine, I saw and experienced firsthand the impact that the Alfond Fund has on the athletic department,” said Magnuson. “I am honored to represent the university and to work closely with Seth Woodcock. I am excited to drive development in order to better the next generation of student-athletes.”
She then earned a master’s degree in sports and athletic administration from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where she also served as an admissions specialist and was a graduate assistant in the kinesiology and sports management department.
“This is a huge hire for us,” said Woodcock. “She’ll do a great job.”
Woodcock said that Magnuson is “really passionate” about UMaine and the athletic department.
“She loves the place,” said Woodcock. “She is energetic, smart and has a good way about her.”
He said she will be responsible for growing the Alfond Fund, the school’s athletic fund-raising program, and raising funds for the school’s women’s sports.
She will also be involved in fund-raising events and working with the athletic department’s volunteers who help out with things like the football tailgating get-togethers.
“She will do a lot of work behind the scenes but she will also be out in the community a lot,” said Woodcock. “It’s a big job.”
Magnuson will eventually run the Alfond Fund Golf Classic, an annual golf tournament and fundraiser, Woodcock said.
“We’re excited to have her. This is going to be really helpful,” he added.
Over the past five years, the University of Maine has built new softball and field hockey facilities and there is a current $50 million renovation to the Alfond Arena while new track and soccer facilities are also under construction.
Construction on Morse Arena, the school’s new basketball facility, is supposed to begin later this year and the target date for completion is the 2027-28 season.
