Selma Botman

Selma Botman
10th President of the University of Southern Maine
In office July 1, 2008 – July 9, 2012
Preceded by	Richard L. Pattenaude
Succeeded by	Theo Kalikow
Personal details
Born	1950 (age 66–67) Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.
Residence	Portland, Maine, U.S.
Alma mater	Brandeis University Oxford University Harvard University

Selma Botman is an American academic. Her post at the University of Maine System (UMS) Chancellor's Office focused on expanding the systems international education programs, recruiting foreign students, and coordinating overseas faculty exchanges.

Botman was the President of the University of Southern Maine from July 1, 2008 to July 9, 2012. From Fall 2004 to June 2008, she served as the Executive Vice-Chancellor and University Provost of the City University of New York. Recently, Yeshiva University named Dr. Botman the University's next Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

Selma Botman grew up in Chelsea, Massachusetts, which she describes as a "very poor city". Her father worked in a shoe factory and his education ended at grade eight. Her mother graduated from high school but never moved on to college. Both of them encouraged their children, Selma and her two brothers, to get degrees. In the end, all of the siblings reached the level of PhD. According to Botman, "My parents promoted the importance of education, and they just expected their children would be smart."

Botman received a B.A. in psychology from Brandeis University even though she says she had no interest in the field. Instead she says she thought psychology would help her figure out who she was, which she spent her time as an undergraduate doing. At this time she developed an interest in the Middle East but believed it was too late to change majors and thus stayed with psychology until graduation.

After graduation she went to Oxford University where she got a B.Phil. in Middle Eastern Studies. On returning to the US she married Thomas Birmingham, her sweetheart from high school, and attended Harvard University where she earned an A.M. in Middle Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in History and Middle Eastern Studies.

After Harvard, Botman began her career in education in 1987 when she taught in the political science department at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. She was the Director of the International Studies Program from 1994 to 1996.

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