Women in Leadership Week Highlighted by the Installation Ceremony of UMaine’s 20th president

Women in Leadership Week at the University of Maine, March 24–26, will feature a series of public events leading to the Installation of UMaine President Susan J. Hunter on March 26.

Women’s Leadership Week is part of UMaine’s yearlong 150th anniversary celebration.

“Women in Leadership Week is a celebration of the installation of UMaine’s first woman president, but it is also a time to reflect on the many ways that women have shaped our university, to recognize the challenges that women continue to face, and to recommit ourselves to nurturing the next generation of women leaders,” says Jeffrey E. Hecker, UMaine executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, and chair of the Women in Leadership Week committee.

Highlighting the Installation Ceremony of UMaine’s 20th president will be a keynote address, “Leading with a Cause,” by Nancy Zimpher, chancellor of the State University of New York System. The Installation Ceremony begins at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a reception, all in the Collins Center for the Arts.

In 2009, Zimpher became the 12th chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of higher education. Prior to joining SUNY, Zimpher served as president of the University of Cincinnati, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and executive dean of the Professional Colleges and dean of the College of Education at Ohio State University. She has written or co-written numerous books, monographs and academic journal articles on teacher education, urban education, academic leadership and school/university partnerships.

Women in Leadership Week begins with a panel discussion on March 24. A list of all public events follows:

Women in Leadership Panel Discussion
4–5:30 p.m. March 24
Minsky Recital Hall
A discussion based on “Centered Leadership” by Joanna Barsh with panelists Emily Cain, Elizabeth Sutherland and Meredith Jones.
Moderated by Carol Kim, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school.

Maryann Hartman Awards Ceremony
5:30–7 p.m. March 24
Buchanan Alumni House
Award winners: Maria Girouard, Deborah Thompson, Florence Reed and Nicole Maines.
RSVP to maryannhartmanawards@umit.maine.edu.

Leadership Unplugged
7:30–9 a.m. March 25
Wells Conference Center
Guest speaker UMaine President Susan J. Hunter on “Preparing the Next Generation of Women in Leadership.”
Sponsored by the Maine Development Foundation.
Registration required (https://mdf.wufoo.com/forms/mar3qok1qdhftx/); no fee of members of UMaine community.

Tea and Conversation with Women Student Leaders
2:30–3:30 p.m. March 25
Wells Conference Center
Panel discussion, “Perspectives from UMaine Student Leaders,” moderated by Emily Haddad, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center and the Division of Student Life.

Why Networking Matters to You
4–6 p.m. March 25
Buchanan Alumni House
Hosted by the University of Maine Alumni Association with guest speaker alumna Emily Cain.
RSVP at umainealumni.com.

Installation of the University of Maine’s 20th President Susan J. Hunter
3 p.m. March 26
Collins Center for the Arts
Keynote address, “Leading with a Cause,” by Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor of the State University of New York System.
Immediately following the Installation, a reception for President Hunter will be held at the Collins Center for the Arts.