President Selma Botman Biography

Selma Botman

The University of Southern Maine’s 10th president Selma Botman joined USM on July 1, 2008. As one of her first initiatives, she initiated a strategic planning process that resulted in the university’s new plan,Preparing USM for the Future 2009-2014. The new strategic plan envisions the transformation of USM into a model 21st-century public comprehensive university deeply rooted in service to the aspirations of central and southern Maine and dedicated to student success.

In May 2010 President Botman received University of Maine System Board of Trustees approval for a transformational reorganization of USM’s schools and colleges intended to strengthen the university’s academic mission, further its interdisciplinarity, and build a culture of strategic decision making.

Throughout her career as an administrator and professor, President Botman has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring student success, creating academic programs that are innovative and relevant as well as developing collaborative relationships with community partners. She remains an advocate for improving teacher education and K-12 reform.

President Botman most recently served as Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost for The City University of New York. She helped advance the School of Public Health, an Institute for Demographic Research, a master’s in Middle Eastern studies, and CUNY’s first-ever online degree. She also worked to ensure that students of all backgrounds have opportunities to benefit from CUNY’s intellectual resources through a new associate’s degree program that removes barriers to college completion.

Prior to joining CUNY, President 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.

President Botman, who grew up outside Boston, holds 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 as well as a Ph.D. in history and Middle Eastern studies from Harvard University. She is a scholar of modern Middle Eastern politics