UNE student selected to attend National Education for Women Leadership Institute

Erynn Mills meets Maine's first female governor Janet Mills at the Maine State House
Erynn Mills meets Maine's first female governor Janet Mills at the Maine State House

Erynn Mills (Marine Science, ’19) recently returned from the Schoodic Institute in Winter Harbor, Maine, after spending six days learning new skills, meeting women political leaders and activists, and participating in workshops as part of the 2019 Maine National Education for Women (NEW) Leadership Institute.

NEW was developed to address the under-representation of women in politics. It is designed to educate and empower young leaders by giving them the skills necessary to become the next generation of effective civic and political leaders.

The program includes presentations from politically active women throughout Maine and a visit with women legislators and policy advocates at the Maine State House.

Elizabeth DeWolfe, Ph.D., professor of history and co-founder of the Women's and Gender Studies Program, nominated Mills for the institute.

“When I saw the call for nominees, Erynn was the first student to come to mind,” DeWolfe stated.

Mills was involved in getting students registered to vote for the fall 2018 election. She believes politics will be a part of her future.

Mills says she was inspired to hear from Samantha Paradis, one of the speakers at the event. Paradis is the mayor of Belfast, Maine, and a practicing nurse.

“I’ve always been very politically active, but I’m a marine biologist and wondered how can I run for office?” she said. “Samantha Paradis works as a nurse at a hospital, while also serving in office as mayor. It made me think, maybe I can do both.”

Participants also attended workshops to actively develop leadership skills, such as public speaking, advocacy and networking. They also had time to get to know other students who are interested in politics.

“I will forever treasure the time I spent with the 25 other strong young political leaders like me,” Mills commented. “Those friendships we made, I honestly know they will last far beyond the week we spent together.”

Throughout their stay at the institute, students benefited from the experience of faculty-in-residence, a group of women public leaders who served as mentors. They provided plenty of encouragement for Mills.

“I’ll be eligible to run for office in only a few years,” Mills explained. “I left the institute with one thought in my head that was louder than all the others: ‘Watch out world, here I come.’”

NEW is sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center of the University of Maine.

The institute is sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center. Students pose with a cut-out of Smith
The institute is sponsored by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center. Students pose with a cut-out of Smith
Students line the railing in the rotunda at the Maine State House
Students line the railing in the rotunda at the Maine State House

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.