STANDISH — Elizabeth Cummons, of Lincolnville, was selected to become one of 28 Maine students to participate in the 2019 Maine NEW (National Education for Women) Leadership Institute.

Cummons is a Class of 2020 political science major at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and the school’s student body president. 

NEW Leadership is an undergraduate student leadership program sponsored by the University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center developed to address the under-representation of women in politics.

Maine NEW Leadership is a six-day residential program designed to educate and empower the next generation of young leaders for civil and political participation.

NEW Leadership participants attended legislative sessions at the State House and met with Governor Janet Mills. Participants also toured the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, an archive, museum, and educational facility dedicated to preserving the legacy of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who served in the United States Senate from 1949-1973.

During the tour, Cummons introduced Angela Stockwell, Margaret Chase Smith's long-time personal secretary and current collection specialist at the Library.