PRESQUE ISLE – Northern Maine Community College student Misty Robinson is among 26 women from across Maine selected to participate in a summer institute designed to empower and encourage college women to become politically active and to take on leadership roles.
The senior business administration student from Masardis, who will graduate from NMCC May 16, will participate in the Maine National Education for Women (NEW) Leadership Summer Institute on the University of Maine campus in Orono, June 11-16.
The program, co-sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, includes workshops for students to actively develop leadership skills, such as public speaking and networking, as well as presentations from politically active women throughout Maine. In addition to guest presenters, Robinson and her fellow participants will also benefit from the faculty-in-residence, a group of women public leaders who serve as mentors for students throughout their stay.
“I was pleasantly surprised that I was selected to participate in the institute, as I knew that many people would apply for this opportunity,” said Robinson. “I hope to develop strong speech skills, learn more about politics and practice my leadership skills which I have developed while attending NMCC. My goal is to bring back my knowledge and skills to help out my community, friends and family.”
Maine NEW Leadership is a program open to undergraduate students enrolled in any Maine college or university and Maine residents enrolled in out-of-state schools. According to NMCC business administration instructor Pam Crawford, who encouraged her student to apply and supported her application with a letter of support, Robinson will bring as much to the program as she will receive in return.
“Misty’s selection as one of just 26 college women in the state to attend the Summer Leadership Institute is another example of the caliber of NMCC students, their academic performance, and their community commitment,” said Crawford. “Misty will be able to add this summer experience to her growing list of accomplishments, applying what she learns in advancing her education this fall … and later in the business world. I look forward to seeing her apply her leadership skills as she develops her own personal leadership style.”
Robinson has been actively engaged in both the NMCC campus community and the community at large. She is a member of the NMCC chapter of the international Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has worked on the college student on-line literary magazine “Beginnings.” Earlier this year, she worked, along with a fellow classmate, on a project for her leadership class to coordinate a Winter Family Fun Day at Aroostook State Park. Robinson was one of two students selected to speak at the college’s opening of the MMG Insurance Business Technology Center, which opened on the Presque Isle campus last fall.
Outside of school, Robinson serves as a board director for the Aroostook River Fish and Game Club in Ashland and as the vice president of the Masardis Daze organizational committee.
Robinson plans to continue her education, taking additional courses at NMCC to earn a second associate degree, as well as work toward a bachelor’s degree in business management. She hopes to gain employment as a human resources professional.
Misty Robinson
