A Bermudian has been given a seat on the Board of Trustees at an American arts college.

Denise Carey joined the Board of Trustees at the Maine College of Art at the start of this month.

Ms Carey, whose son graduated from MECA last year, will help the college boost international student enrolment, as well as bring expertise in human resources and the perspective of a parent to the board.

Laura Freid, the president of MECA, said: “We are very pleased to welcome our incoming group of esteemed trustees to MECA.

“This class of trustees embodies MECA’s core values, offers proven expertise in alignment with our strategic direction and has made personal marks on society both locally and globally.

“We thank them for taking on this commitment in service to MECA?— a significant vote of confidence despite recent crises and proof of continued growth during adversity.”

Ms Carey is the Assistant Registrar in the Registry General’s Office and has worked for the government for more than a decade.

She officiated at Bermuda’s first same-sex marriage in 2017 and at the first domestic partnership in 2018.

Ms Carey has also worked in five residential programmes for teenagers, including a foster care group home, a mental health emergency housing centre, a co-ed facility for young offenders with mental health problems, a group home for women and a secure unit for men.

She has also worked as the executive director of The Sunshine League Children’s Home and was a senior probation officer for teen and adult offenders.

Ms Carey has a Master of Arts in human resource management from Webster University in Missouri and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

She is also a certified trainer in therapeutic crisis intervention and children and residential experiences through Cornell University.

Dr Freid said: “We look forward to the ways that these trustees will complement the strengths of our existing board, further broaden MECA’s reach and encourage our artists to ask questions, solve problems and make transformational change.”