Diane Collins Field and Karin Gregory to be inducted into the Deborah Morton Society on Dec. 5

The University of New England will celebrate the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of two visionary women at the 63rd Annual Deborah Morton Society Convocation and Awards Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.
The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Campus Center on UNE’s Biddeford Campus.

The Deborah Morton Award honors women leaders whose exceptional dedication, innovation, and influence have created lasting positive change across Maine's communities, institutions, and cultural landscape. The award celebrates the contributions of Deborah Morton of Round Pond, Maine. 

Morton was valedictorian of the Class of 1879 of Westbrook Seminary, the forerunner of Westbrook College, which merged with the University of New England in 1996. Morton was a teacher, dean, linguist, historian, and prominent Portland civic leader whose service to Westbrook College spanned more than 60 years.

In honor of her legacy, the Deborah Morton Society continues to champion education and leadership for future generations of Maine women. The Society supports scholarships for women studying in the Westbrook College of Health Professions, recognizing outstanding qualities of character, leadership, and academic excellence exemplified by Deborah Morton.

Since its inception more than six decades ago, the Deborah Morton Society has celebrated women's vital contributions to Maine and beyond. The society's ongoing work continues to inspire emerging leaders to pursue excellence and community engagement with the same passion and purpose that defined Deborah Morton's remarkable life.

Diane Collins Field ’81, ’85

Executive in the Maine Banking Industry

During 35-year career in Maine's banking industry, Diane held a variety of senior leadership positions throughout Maine’s notable financial institutions, including Androscoggin Bank, People's United Bank, and Key Bank. Her expertise ranged from retail, trust, and commercial banking areas.

Diane's leadership has impacted numerous organizations beyond her professional achievements. She serves as the president of the nonprofit Maine Women's Giving Tree and is a corporator of Bath Savings Bank. Diane has served on the Mid Coast Hospital Board and the Auxiliary Board. Diane served for 12 years as a Trustee of the University of New England, including as chair of the Finance Committee. She has served as the Past New England Governor of Optimist International and was recognized with the Optimist International Outstanding Governors Award in 2003.

A native Mainer, Diane is the third member of her family to be inducted into the Deborah Morton Society, joining her cousin, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, and her aunt, Patricia McGuigan Collins.

Karin Gregory, M.P.H., Esq.

Managing Partner of Blue Highway Growth Capital

Karin is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Highway Growth Capital, a growth equity fund and impact fund that invests in businesses in rural America. She has over 35 years of experience as an attorney, executive, and investor. 

Prior to co-founding Blue Highway, Karin served as Chair of CEI Ventures, a socially responsible impact private equity firm and served on the board of its parent company, Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI), a nonprofit lender and investor specializing in rural business and community development, financing, and related policy. Additionally, Karin co-founded Furman Gregory Deptula (FGD Law), a full-service law firm which represents early-stage life science technology companies and micro-businesses and their investors.

She serves as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governor’s Community Advisory Committee, the Impact Capital Managers Board and is a founding board member of Accelera Inc, a Maine-based med-tech company. Karin also sits on the UNE College of Business Advisory Board and the City of Biddeford’s Downtown Development Commission.

She has served on for-profit and nonprofit boards throughout New England over her career and is a longtime member of The Boston Club.

Karin holds a B.A. from Wells College, an M.P.H. from Boston University in Health Services, and a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law (now Franklin Pierce School of Law), as well as a certificate in Advanced Licensing and Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University.