Selma Botman, Ph.D. Named USM's Next President
University of Maine System's board of trustees appointed Dr. Selma Botman as the next president of the University of Southern Maine, at a March 10 trustees meeting in Portland.
“Dr. Botman is an excellent fit for USM,” Chancellor Richard Pattenaude explained. “She possesses exceptional academic and leadership skills gained during her impressive 20-year career in higher education, as well as a deep commitment to students and their success. She understands USM’s importance to the people and organizations of southern Maine. I’m very enthusiastic about the strengths and benefits she will provide to USM and our state as the university’s next president.”
Botman, 57, currently serves as executive vice chancellor and university provost at the 230,000-student City University of New York (CUNY). CUNY offers learning opportunities at every level, from certificate courses to the Ph.D., in a single integrated system. At CUNY, Botman oversees university policies governing the academic programs of CUNY and its 19 colleges and more than 100 research centers. She is also responsible for the development and implementation of the "Flagship Environment" initiative and a variety of special university-wide programs, such as the William E. Macaulay Honors College; the Teacher Academy; the Campaign for Student Success; online degrees; the creation of a new School of Public Health; the Black Male Initiative; and the Latino Faculty Hiring Project.
"I am honored to become part of the University of Maine System,” Botman said. “I particularly look forward to working with the superb faculty and staff and the wonderful students at the University of Southern Maine.
“USM plays a critical role in the future of southern Maine and it has a special responsibility to educate the next generation of Maine's leaders, teachers, nurses, lawyers, business executives, and professionals,” Botman noted. “The University of Southern Maine is poised for greatness and I am tremendously excited by the prospect of working with the community toward realizing that future."
Botman earned a master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies and doctoral degree in History & Middle Eastern studies, both from Harvard University. She also earned a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and master's of philosophy from Oxford University.
Prior to joining CUNY, Botman held senior administrative and faculty positions within the University of Massachusetts system and Holy Cross College.
Botman begins her new position on July 1 and will receive an annual salary of $203,000. She will succeed Joseph S. Wood, who has been serving as USM’s interim president since July 2007. Wood, who assumed the presidency after trustees named Pattenaude as University System chancellor, will return to his prior position as USM’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.
The USM president is the institution’s chief executive officer and works closely with USM’s senior academic, student, and administrative officers. The President furthers the mission of the University and exercises broad responsibilities for all aspects of the academic, student, financial and administrative dimensions of the institution. The president reports directly to the University of Maine System chancellor and works closely with Maine’s policy, education, and business leaders to advance education and economic development.
Serving over 14,000 students annually, USM is one of seven institutions within the 45,000-student University of Maine System. USM offers 50 undergraduate and 28 graduate degrees, and has campuses in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston-Auburn. It maintains administrative responsibility for the University of Maine School of Law, located in Portland.