2000 Presidents Institute

Presidents Institute • Chief Academic Officers Institute • Foundation Conversation • Workshops and Other Events •

2000 Presidents Institute

Presidential Spouses Program

Presidential spouses are a heterogeneous group of people with a wide range of needs. They are men and women. Some have full-time or part-time positions outside the home while others devote their full energies to the work of a presidential spouse. Most do the work of a presidential spouse as a skilled volunteer.

Developed by an advisory group of presidential spouses, CIC’s annual Spouses Program provides ample opportunities for spouses of presidents to share information and advice.

Sessions being planned for the conference include:

Seminar for Spouses of New Presidents led by Bob Seurkamp, presidential spouse at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and Lyn H. Shimp, presidential spouse at McMurry University. Experienced presidential spouses share their perspective on their role and provide an opportunity for the spouses of new presidents to raise issues of concern. Spouses of new presidents are also invited to participate in the New Presidents Workshop.

Networking Luncheon with an opportunity to meet presidential spouses with similar interests as well as colleagues attending the conference for the first time.

Linda Scott De Rosier, Professor of Psychology and presidential spouse at Rocky Mountain College, will read from her forthcoming publication, Creeker: a Woman’s Journey, at the networking luncheon.

Ways of Rewarding Presidential Spouses will share the results of a CIC survey of presidential spouses.

Discussion groups based on key issues raised by presidential spouses such as fundraising, entertaining college friends, balancing personal and professional lives, taking care of yourself, working with the board of trustees, serving on community boards, working with students, and special projects of presidential spouses. Experienced presidential spouses will lead these groups, allowing participants to share their ideas and problems with colleagues.

Conference Colleagues. To help first time conference participants feel welcome, the Spouses Task Force has designed this program which pairs new attendees with experienced presidential spouses who have attended prior meetings. The Conference Colleagues meet at the welcome luncheon for spouses on Wednesday, January 5; they help their new colleague meet other Presidents Institute participants and share what it is like to be a presidential spouse. Spouses interested in welcoming first time participants are asked to complete the Conference Colleague form. The same form may be used by those requesting a Conference Colleague. Pairings will be announced prior to the conference.

Evaluations of the 1999 Spouses Program indicated that presidential spouses found the sessions helpful as they were "inspired by other spouses" and "developed friendships." They liked "the free exchange of ideas," "the camaraderie," "the open discussion of real issues," "the sharing of ideas," and "affirmation and empowerment."