Severin Beliveau to Present UMaine Distinguished Presidential Lecture Sept. 15

Contact: Joe Carr (joecarr@maine.edu)

ORONO — Severin Beliveau, a Portland attorney and an influential leader in Maine’s Franco-American community, will present a University of Maine Distinguished Presidential Lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The talk, “Maine’s French Reality,” is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Minsky Recital Hall.

“We welcome the opportunity to hear Severin Beliveau share his insights on contemporary issues related to Maine’s Franco-American communities and culture,” says UMaine President Robert Kennedy.  “In addition to his immense contributions in Maine’s legal and political realm, Severin has devoted his energies for decades working to preserve and promote the culture of this vital segment of our state’s population. His perspectives are truly unique.”

The Distinguished Presidential Lecture Series was created to provide a forum for highly accomplished individuals with ties to UMaine to share their personal stories and their perspectives on important societal issues of interest to the UMaine community. Lecturers are selected and invited by the university president.  Retired Georgia-Pacific president and CEO A.D. “Pete” Correll delivered the series’ inaugural talk in 2008.

Beliveau if a founding partner of the Portland-based law firm Preti Flaherty.  He has also gained significant recognition for his work in enhancing and preserving the state’s Franco-American culture, with honors including the French Legion of Honor Award, the highest distinction France awards civilians.  He has also served as Honorary Consul of France in Maine, president of the American Association of the Forum Francophone des Affaires, French Consular Agent for the State of Maine and Distinguished Professor of Franco American Studies at UMaine.

The lecture is free and open to the public.