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Husson Announces New Partnership with Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute

Published on: October 25, 2024

Two women smile at the camera while standing on either side of a banner.

Husson University is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute that will extend mentorship opportunities for Olympia’s Leaders into their college years.

The university and the institute have agreed to form the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute Alum Chapter at Husson, which will help build a continuum of support for Olympia’s Leaders as they enter their college years and beyond. 

The institute pairs mentors with high school aged young women, helping them to raise their confidence and aspirations through developing leadership skills to benefit them in their lives, careers and communities. The new Alum Chapter will provide alumni of the Olympia’s Leaders program with additional support and opportunities in college. 

“I served as a mentor for the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute for three years along with College of Business Dean Marie Hansen and Dean of Student Life Pamela Kropp-Anderson, so I am especially pleased to extend our connection with the institute,” said Husson President Lynne Coy-Ogan. “I believe that mentorship is a cornerstone of success and hope our new Alum Chapter will continue to provide that to Olympia’s Leaders for years to come.”

The signing of the charter for the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute Alum Chapter at Husson took place on Wednesday, Oct. 16 and included both Coy-Ogan and Kelly Warsky, Institute Director of Stakeholder Engagement.

“I have only been with the institute a short time, but it was abundantly clear how important the alum population is to the long term success of our mission. For us, it’s not just helping students through their high school period but also supporting them as they persist through college and start their careers and state to give back in their communities,” said Warsky.

The Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute was created in 2013 by former Congresswoman Olympia Snowe and began work about two years later starting with 45 girls in Androscoggin County and growing into a statewide organization that has graduated more than 700 students. To date, 60 Olympia’s Leaders have studied at Husson University, 83% of which pursued STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees.