LEWISTON – University of Southern Maine President Selma Botman will discuss the value of higher education at a public institution at this month’s Great Falls Forum, set from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in Callahan Hall at Lewiston Public Library.

Botman came to the helm at USM last summer as the school’s 10th president. Prior to that, she served as executive vice chancellor and university provost for City University of New York, the nation’s largest urban public university. Under her leadership, CUNY’s academic reputation flourished and the institution became a national model of excellence in contemporary urban public education.

Botman has demonstrated that same commitment to ensuring student success at USM.

“Universities must serve as drivers of economic development, generators of new knowledge, centers of cultural and recreational opportunities and pathways to student success that culminate in thoughtful citizenship, satisfying careers and principled lives,” she said.

“The success of our students is, in fact, the most important indication that USM is doing the job entrusted to us by the state of Maine: Providing the best education possible.” Throughout her career as an administrator and professor, Botman has supported faculty in their roles as teachers and researchers, created academic programs that are innovative and relevant and developed collaborative relationships with community partners.

Before joining the staff at CUNY, Botman served as special assistant to the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She was also vice president for academic affairs at the statewide University of Massachusetts system for six years.

She holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Brandeis University, a bachelor of philosophy in Middle Eastern Studies from Oxford University, and a master of arts in Middle Eastern Studies and a doctor of philosophy in History and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University. She is a scholar of modern Middle Eastern politics and society who has taught and published extensively.

A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Admission to the event is free, with attendees invited to bring brown-bag lunches. Bottled water will be available.

Attendees may also take advantage of the forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request a sandwich to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders should be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344 no later than 7 p.m. on the day before the event. The menu is available at www.myspace.com/guthriesplace.

Partnering with the library as cosponsors of the Great Falls Forum series are the Sun Journal, Bates College and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

The library is at 200 Lisbon St. at the corner of Pine Street. More information on Thursday’s lecture or other events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.