FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington has announced that Celeste Branham, UMF vice president of student and community services, was recently accepted by Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government to its selective “Leadership for the 21st Century” program, to be held early this fall.

Bringing together a group of leaders from government, industry and nonprofit organizations from around the world, the program delves into why individuals in leadership positions lead the way they do and how they can improve their capacity to lead. The program will challenge participants to examine the dynamics of leadership and authority, explore a wide range of leadership strategies and practice new ways of exercising leadership.

“This will be an exciting educational opportunity that coincides perfectly with UMF’s ongoing efforts to meet the changing educational needs of today’s students,” said Branham.

“As the future unfolds for institutions of higher education across the country, they must lead the way to create new learning opportunities for their students, new partnerships with their communities and new ways to build bridges between the two,” she said.

Branham has been involved with the development and management of student services in higher education for more than 30 years and has served as vice president of student and community services at UMF since 2005. She currently oversees all student services at UMF, including student life, public safety, athletics, the student health center, the Center for Human Development, dining services and the fitness and recreation Center.

She also works with academic campus colleagues to foster the most effective total learning environment, helping students connect their classroom experience and residential campus life. Additionally, Branham serves as the vice president of the Western Maine Community Action board of directors and is a member of the board of trustees of the Center for Preventing Hate.


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