Luanne Lawrence, a higher-education professional with 12 years of experience in public relations, marketing, community relations and related areas, has been appointed executive director of public affairs and marketing at the University of Maine. She assumed her new duties on Sept. 2. Lawrence oversees a staff of 16 employees. She has overall responsibility for a variety of functions, including media relations, university communications, creative services, licensing, advertising and UMaine’s Web site. Lawrence comes to UMaine from the University of Baltimore, where she served as executive director of university relations for five years. Prior to that, Lawrence was director of public relations at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and acting director of community relations at The Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Millersville University and a master’s in training and development from Penn State Harrisburg.