Laurie Lachance was named President of Thomas College in 2012. She is the first woman and to lead the College in its 120 year history. Before coming to Thomas, Laurie served as the Maine State Economist and is an author and speaker on the economy, leadership and education. Laurie holds an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College, an MBA from Thomas College.
As a female in a predominantly male field, and a predominantly male college, Laurie was used to being the only female. She was always questioning herself, wondering if she could really do it. Once Laurie was working for the college, she still found herself questioning her actions. Until the board asked her why she couldn’t just do it, why she was playing small.
Laurie’s leadership style is collaborative. She really likes to get the insights of the people around her to come up with the best solution. It may look like it’s a sign of weakness to others, but it’s not. Laurie believes in getting the best ideas out on the table so you can move forward in the best direction.
Laurie is excited about her new Center for Innovation in Education. This new program will add teaching and learning in a proficiency level instead of age based learning and it will integrate technology into learning. This new center will also integrate the arts into curriculum, taking the country from STEM to STEAM. Laurie is hoping to transform how teachers teach in the future.
Laurie starts each day with inspirational message and ends each day writing 5 things in her gratitude journal.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Possibility-Transforming-Professional/dp/0142001104
http://www.amazon.com/Thrive-Redefining-Success-Creating-Well-Being/dp/0804140863
Laurie would tell her younger self to focus on balance a lot earlier in life; try not to sweat it, don’t throw yourself into your work fully until you hit the wall. It’s a lot harder to come back from the wall.
“Set a goal so big that you can’t achieve it until you grow into a person who can.” - Unknown
Social media:
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/laurie-lachance/55/526/565
https://www.youtube.com/user/thomasadmissions
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