UNM Academic Affairs Hosts Third Lecture related to Academic Planning Efforts

Carol Christ

Provost Chaouki Abdal­lah announces the third of sev­eral pub­lic lec­tures in con­nec­tion with the activ­i­ties of the Uni­ver­sity Coun­cil on Aca­d­e­mic Pri­or­i­ties (UCAP). The third talk, “Selec­tive For­get­ting and Inno­va­tion in Higher Edu­ca­tion” fea­tures Carol Christ, pres­i­dent of Smith Col­lege. The lec­ture is set for Mon­day, March 26, from 330 to 5 p.m. in the Cen­ten­nial Engi­neer­ing Cen­ter audi­to­rium on main cam­pus. A pub­lic recep­tion will fol­low from 5 — 6 p.m.

“I am pleased that Carol Christ, a well rec­og­nized leader in higher edu­ca­tion, has agreed to come to UNM and share her unique per­spec­tive about the future and trends of higher edu­ca­tion. I encour­age all mem­bers of our com­mu­nity join us for this and future lec­tures in an effort to engage the broad­est pos­si­ble audi­ence in con­ver­sa­tions about our university’s future,” Abdal­lah said.

Christ grad­u­ated with hon­ors from Dou­glass Col­lege and received her doc­tor­ate from Yale Uni­ver­sity. Christ became pres­i­dent at Smith Col­lege in 2002, fol­low­ing a 30-year career in teach­ing and admin­is­tra­tion the Uni­ver­sity of Cal­i­for­nia, Berke­ley, which cul­mi­nated her appoint­ment as exec­u­tive vice chan­cel­lor. In 2004, she was named a fel­low of the Amer­i­can Acad­emy of Arts and Sci­ences, in recog­ni­tion of her accom­plish­ments in higher edu­ca­tion. In 2007, Yale Uni­ver­sity Grad­u­ate School pre­sented Christ with its high­est honor, the Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal, in recog­ni­tion of her dis­tin­guished achieve­ments in schol­ar­ship, teach­ing, aca­d­e­mic admin­is­tra­tion and pub­lic service.

The Uni­ver­sity Coun­cil on Aca­d­e­mic Pri­or­i­ties (UCAP) is a group of fac­ulty, admin­is­tra­tors and stu­dents work­ing with Provost Abdal­lah to iden­tify the prin­ci­ple fea­tures of the con­text of higher edu­ca­tion in the coun­try and for UNM to come up with pos­si­ble sets of alter­na­tive aca­d­e­mic direc­tions. The effort is con­ceived as a pre­lude to more for­mal aca­d­e­mic plan­ning that will set goals and make defin­i­tive plans.

For more infor­ma­tion on the lec­ture, con­tact Lau­ren Liwski or call 505–277-2611.