Berry receives plaque from Mary Cathcart, senior policy associate at the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center.
Visit focused on innovation, leadership and civic engagement
AUGUSTA – House Majority Leader Seth Berry taught a class and meet with faculty, staff and administrators at the University of Maine as a Margaret Chase Smith Distinguished Maine Policy Fellow on Tuesday.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, and proud to be part of their great tradition of promoting dialogue and community engagement around policy issues,” said Berry, D-Bowdoinham. “It was a great day meeting with members of the University of Maine community. UMaine is clearly a leading the way in creating the next generation of leaders and innovators for our state.”
Berry taught a class to students in Professor Richard Powell’s Foundations of Leadership course. The topic was “Leadership and the Growth Mindset” and explored lifelong learning and the theory that leadership talents and abilities can be developed through effort, attitude and persistence.
Many of the day’s events dovetailed with Berry’s work on the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future, which he co-chairs. He met with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) research and education faculty; toured the Advanced Structures and Composites Center with its director; and discussed the College of Education with deans. Berry also met with UMaine President Susan Hunter, faculty and staff of the Foster Center for Student Innovation and MCSPC and other university leaders. A reception was also held in Berry’s honor, attended by Chancellor James Page, UMaine leaders, local legislators and others.
Berry is currently serving his fourth term in the Maine Legislature. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Columbia University, Teachers College. Berry taught in public schools for two decades, both in rural Maine and in inner-city New York, where his work won top awards. He has led school district improvement and staff development efforts in Maine and other states. Berry is currently employed by a Maine biosciences firm.
Berry teaches a class to students in Professor Richard Powell’s Foundations of Leadership course. His topic was “Leadership and the Growth Mindset” and explored lifelong learning and the theory that leadership talents and abilities can be developed through effort, attitude and persistence.
Margaret Chase Smith Distinguished Maine Policy Fellows are prominent Maine individuals with past or current careers as policymakers in the state.
Berry tours the Advanced Structures and Composites Center with Dr. Habib Dagher, the center’s director.