STAFF REPORT

The University of Maine System trustees on Monday named Theodora J. Kalikow as the new president of the University of Southern Maine.

Kalikow retired last month from the University of Maine at Farmington, where she was president for 18 years.

During their meeting in Bangor, the trustees also appointed Selma Botman, the USM president the past four years, to head the system’s international student recruitment efforts.

“One of the advantages to managing the University System as a true ‘system’ is that you have the ability to maximize talent and experience within the organization and utilize people’s expertise in meeting the broad goals of the system,” said Michelle Hood, chairwoman of the Board of Trusteess, in a news release. “In this case, we are utilizing the talents of both Theo Kalikow and Selma Botman.”

In an announcement last week, Chancellor James Page noted that Botman haad requested reassignment and proposed to him that new leadership might be the best direction to go in at USM.

Advertisement

Page subsequently recommended Kalikow for the presidency and asked Botman to develop a strategic systemwide approach to recruitment of international students, according to the release.

The University of Maine System includes seven universities with a total enrollment of more than 40,000 students.

Kalikow, 71, was scheduled for a salary of $203,000, Chancellor James H. Page had said previously.

Botman barely survived a faculty vote of no confidence this spring. Her decision to give nearly $1 million in discretionary raises to staff members over the past four years sparked criticism because the salary increases came amid faculty wage freezes and USM budget cuts.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.