The First Lady's Biography
Karen Weston Baldacci was born in Kittery, Maine. She graduated from Dexter High School in Dexter, Maine, and she earned a bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition in 1983 from the University of Maine in Orono. She completed a Dietetic Internship at St Joseph’s Hospital in Bangor and became a Registered Dietitian. She worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital and for the Special Nutrition Education Program for Women, Infants and Children. In 2000, Mrs. Baldacci returned to the University of Maine, where she earned a master’s degree in the art of teaching. She taught kindergarten in the Bangor school system. (Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani)
As First Lady of Maine, Mrs. Baldacci focuses her attention on issues relating to education, family literacy, wellness and nutrition, the arts, local agriculture and gardening. She is spear-heading an 11 million dollar project to build New England’s first Educare Center in Waterville Maine, which focuses on quality early care and education. She serves as chair of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet, Co-chair of the Children’s Growth Council, Chair of Maine Reads, Keeping Maine’s Children Connected, and the Coordinating School Health Program. She also is a co-chair of the National Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free initiative and honorary chairs of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, and Raising Readers.
Mrs. Baldacci established the Maine Youth Excellence in Art Program, which recognizes talented, young Maine artists by displaying their work throughout the state capitol complex. She has developed the Maine Community Literacy Project, which provides grants to local libraries to increase literacy rates in the state and the Maine Festival of the Book, a weekend of celebrating readers and writers.
Mrs. Baldacci anchored two cable television programs for Time Warner: Focus on the Farm tells the stories of Maine’s agriculture and promotes the importance of buying locally-grown farm products; and Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids highlights how Maine’s Coordinated School Health Programs have helped improve the overall health and well-being of the state’s schoolchildren. The first lady also has been instrumental in building a new Victorian greenhouse and rehabilitating a historic New England garden at the Blaine House, the governor’s residence.
Karen Baldacci has been honored for her work by many affiliations including Maine Young Dietitian of the Year, The Maine Children’s Alliance, The Maine Children’s Trust, Habitat for Humanity, Read to Feed, and the Maine Department of Agriculture.
While attending college, the first lady met Governor John Baldacci and they married in 1983. The Baldacci’s have one son—Jack (18). Their family also includes two English Springer Spaniels—Mia and Sam.