Selma Botman
Encyclopedia
Dr. Selma Botman became the President of the University of Southern Maine
on July 1, 2008. She was appointed to the position by the University of Maine System's Board of Trustees at the March 10, 2008, meeting of the Board. She was officially inaugurated on April 25, 2009, succeeding Richard L. Pattenaude.
Since coming to the University of Southern Maine, Dr. Botman has focused on building a model 21st-century public comprehensive university, with student achievement as its focus. In fall 2008 she initiated a strategic planning process, which concluded in spring 2009 with the publication of Building Maine's Future: 2009-2014 http://www.usm.maine.edu/spp/. She has introduced strategic budgeting to the university along with tight fiscal and operational accountability. Dr. Botman is now guiding the university through a complex restructuring effort designed to increase the quality of students' educational experiences and remove barriers to interdisciplinary exchange and programmatic development.
Previously, Dr. Botman served as the Executive Vice-Chancellor and University Provost of The City University of New York
(CUNY). She was appointed to that position at CUNY in the fall 2004. Previously, she served as Special Assistant to the Chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Massachusetts
system. She was a tenured full professor in the Departments of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Lowell campuses. She was also a tenured member of the Department of Political Science at the College of the Holy Cross
in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Dr. Botman received a B.A. in psychology from Brandeis University
, a B.Phil. in Middle Eastern Studies from Oxford University, and an A.M. in Middle Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in History and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University
. Dr. Botman is a specialist in modern Middle Eastern politics. She has taught in the history PhD program at the CUNY Graduate Center
and the history department at The City College of New York
. She has published three books—Engendering Citizenship in Egypt, Columbia University Press, 1999; From Independence to Revolution: Egypt, 1922-1952, Syracuse University Press, 1991; and The Rise of Egyptian Communism: 1939-1970, Syracuse University Press, 1988—and numerous articles. Dr. Botman has been an Affiliate in Research at Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies and a member of Middle East Studies Association, the American Association of University Women
, the American Association for Higher Education & Accreditation, and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
Under Selma Botman’s leadership, CUNY initiated and coordinated several flagship programs, including the university-wide Campaign for Student Success, The Teacher Academy, the Black Male Initiative, the Latino Faculty Initiative, the Macaulay Honors College for undergraduate honors education, and a revised Distinguished Professorship initiative. She collaborated with the NYC Department of Education to establish CUNY as a national model for urban public education. Dr. Botman developed numerous programs to improve the university’s visibility, to enhance the breadth and rigor of its academic programs, and to make high-quality education available to every New York City public school student.
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
on July 1, 2008. She was appointed to the position by the University of Maine System's Board of Trustees at the March 10, 2008, meeting of the Board. She was officially inaugurated on April 25, 2009, succeeding Richard L. Pattenaude.
Since coming to the University of Southern Maine, Dr. Botman has focused on building a model 21st-century public comprehensive university, with student achievement as its focus. In fall 2008 she initiated a strategic planning process, which concluded in spring 2009 with the publication of Building Maine's Future: 2009-2014 http://www.usm.maine.edu/spp/. She has introduced strategic budgeting to the university along with tight fiscal and operational accountability. Dr. Botman is now guiding the university through a complex restructuring effort designed to increase the quality of students' educational experiences and remove barriers to interdisciplinary exchange and programmatic development.
Previously, Dr. Botman served as the Executive Vice-Chancellor and University Provost of The City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
(CUNY). She was appointed to that position at CUNY in the fall 2004. Previously, she served as Special Assistant to the Chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
system. She was a tenured full professor in the Departments of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Lowell campuses. She was also a tenured member of the Department of Political Science at the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Dr. Botman received a B.A. in psychology from Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, a B.Phil. in Middle Eastern Studies from Oxford University, and an A.M. in Middle Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in History and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Dr. Botman is a specialist in modern Middle Eastern politics. She has taught in the history PhD program at the CUNY Graduate Center
CUNY Graduate Center
The Graduate Center of the City University of New York brings together graduate education, advanced research, and public programming to midtown Manhattan hosting 4,600 students, 33 doctoral programs, 7 master's programs, and 30 research centers and institutes...
and the history department at The City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
. She has published three books—Engendering Citizenship in Egypt, Columbia University Press, 1999; From Independence to Revolution: Egypt, 1922-1952, Syracuse University Press, 1991; and The Rise of Egyptian Communism: 1939-1970, Syracuse University Press, 1988—and numerous articles. Dr. Botman has been an Affiliate in Research at Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies and a member of Middle East Studies Association, the American Association of University Women
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards and Marion Talbot...
, the American Association for Higher Education & Accreditation, and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
Under Selma Botman’s leadership, CUNY initiated and coordinated several flagship programs, including the university-wide Campaign for Student Success, The Teacher Academy, the Black Male Initiative, the Latino Faculty Initiative, the Macaulay Honors College for undergraduate honors education, and a revised Distinguished Professorship initiative. She collaborated with the NYC Department of Education to establish CUNY as a national model for urban public education. Dr. Botman developed numerous programs to improve the university’s visibility, to enhance the breadth and rigor of its academic programs, and to make high-quality education available to every New York City public school student.