Latest news with #femalePresident
Bloomberg
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Violeta Chamorro, Nicaragua's Former President, Dies at 95
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, the Nicaraguan leader whose rule in the 1990s marked the end of the country's civil war and who served as Latin America's first elected female president, died on Saturday at 95. Chamorro took power in 1990 after beating revolutionary leader Daniel Ortega in a surprise election in which she united opposition forces against his Sandinista party. Ortega, who had led the overthrow of the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza after four decades of his family's iron-fisted rule, was expected to win the vote.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Essentially running a small town': Eight questions with new AIC president Nicolle Cestero
SPRINGFIELD — American International College in Springfield makes history on July 1 by formally welcoming its first female president since the institution was founded 140 years ago. The college's board of trustees unanimously selected Nicolle Cestero as the 13th president of the institution. She was appointed president by the board in May and has assumed the responsibilities of the role, according to Denise Vozella, AIC's public relations and communications manager. The title becomes official next month. Cestero served as interim president beginning in March 2024, following her tenure as executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief of staff. As interim president, Cestero led the launch of Pathway to Progress, a business plan to guide the college's direction in the coming years. The plan addresses operations, a revised academic portfolio and expanded degree offerings. Before joining AIC in 2011, Cestero began her professional career in New York City at the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank focused on global affairs. Cestero holds a master's degree in business administration from AIC, a master's degree in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of West Florida and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley. Cestero spoke with The Republican recently about making history and her mark on AIC. Q. Have you always aspired to be a college president? A. There had been conversations between the board and I regarding whether I wanted to put my hat in the ring for the presidency, and I kept saying 'No.' I didn't want to do this because it's a huge lifestyle change. Being a college president is similar to being the mayor of a city because you are essentially running a small town. You have to worry about (everything from) whether there are weeds growing in the cracks of the sidewalk, to whether your students are safe, your academic product, fundraising with alumni and donors. There's a lot that goes into it and I still have four daughters. They range in age from 6 to 17. I didn't think it was the right time for me. Q. What changed your mind? A. We have worked hard over the past year to put a plan together to stabilize the institution and position it on a pathway for growth. There have been some positive things happening and I want to see them through because I care deeply about this institution, and I want to see us be successful. So here I am! Q. How meaningful is it for you to be the first female president of AIC? A. I have believed for a long time in empowering women and how women lead differently than men. I want to ensure the role of women in the workplace continues to be important and relevant. We need to continue to lift up other women so we can break that glass ceiling and show the power of women in general. It's cool for my daughters to see a woman in this position who can manage a job like this but also be a mom and give you a curfew and help with your homework. I'm glad they get to see and live that. Q. What is your overall vision for the college? A. The college found itself, like many other institutions, not in a very good position in many different ways — financially, programmatically, from a morale perspective. We did some deep work and called in experts over the past year and the outcome of that was a plan for the next three years that dovetailed with our strategic plan. There are shared goals across the institution that help us identify what we're doing and how everybody benefits. Q. How does the plan address the fact that fewer families are having children, which means fewer of them are going college? A. That decline is going to continue until 2032, which means there are relatively the same number of institutions that have a smaller customer base to pull from. You've got to be able to grab a larger portion of that smaller customer base to maintain and grow. We are changing how we market ourselves to meet the communication style for 18-year-olds. Students and kids are on social media all the time, so you need to make sure you've got a presence on Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok. We're also emailing and texting, finding out how they research and connect with colleges. We're also addressing programming. How do update our courses and make them more relevant? How do we expand our reach beyond this region for online programming? For example, how do we get a student in Chicago to attend AIC in Springfield? We're reaching out to demographic groups besides traditional first-time college freshmen. There are transfer students and an adult market. We've got different partnerships to help us make sure we're giving attention to these different groups so we are stabilizing and growing this institution. Q. How do you plan to balance the competing demands of your key audiences? A. There are different constituent groups, and they can have different feelings about the institution — and going through a presidential transition can be difficult. Let's take our alumni. They want to know who's leading this institution and is it similar to the school I went to — the school that cared for me and gave me this opportunity. The school that changed my life. Is the school still doing those things for students and does the president leading the institution have the values and the vision to ensure AIC is what we want it to be? I have been at the college for a long time, and we have made progress over the past year. We are trying to do a better job of bringing alumni together. We are having a positive effect on the alumni. We still have work to do, but at least we're starting that process, which is a good thing. Q. AIC has had a troubled relationship with students in the past. How are you addressing that? A. About a year and a half ago, the students were definitely not pleased about communication, transparency and they felt a lack of support under the previous administration. There were a lot of conversations about how upset they were. Things were posted online and there were meetings called to express their dissatisfaction. I believe that has changed, for the most part. Relationships have been worked on and been repaired, but that needs to continue. It's like a marriage; you don't fix one problem and move on. We have to pay attention to it constantly. I think things are improved but we have to continue to work on it every single day. Q. Are you looking forward to your installation? A. I'm not one of those people that likes that kind of stuff. I'd rather just do the work and make sure we're moving in the right direction. We don't need to have a party. Editor's note: Following The Republican's interview with Cestero, Vozella, the college's spokesperson, stated in an email, 'At this time, there are no immediate plans for a formal investiture. President Cestero prefers to focus on the work ahead rather than ceremony.' A disabled veteran is accusing a Holyoke city councilor of taking his home. Did he? Springfield Pride headliner Dawn Richard told 'Diddy' jurors of threats, violence, abuse Chicopee police cruiser spotted in Philadelphia causes social media buzz 1 million minutes of reading wanted in Springfield; area librarians warn of the 'summer slide' Read the original article on MassLive.
CNN
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Melania Trump honors Barbara Bush's ‘forward-thinking vision' at White House event
First lady Melania Trump honored one of her predecessors, the late first lady Barbara Bush, with the unveiling of a new US postage stamp at the White House Thursday, heralding Bush's 'forward-thinking vision' and 1990 call for a female president. Bush, the matriarch of a Republican political dynasty and a first lady who elevated the cause of literacy, died in 2018. Her recognition in the East Room – and some notable absences – underscored Trump's different approach to the role, as well as long-simmering tensions between the Bush family and President Donald Trump, who frequently targeted two of her sons, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former President George W. Bush, during the 2016 presidential campaign. Those tensions went unspoken on Thursday. But neither Jeb Bush nor George W. Bush attended the event honoring their mother. Their sister, Doro Bush Koch, and brother, Neil Bush, were there, along with other family members, friends and former staff members. Melania Trump celebrated Barbara Bush for her 'unwavering conviction, dignity, and deep loyalty to her loved ones' and quoted from what she described as Bush's 'iconic commencement address' at the women's college Wellesley. 'Who knows – somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House, and I wish him well,' Trump said, reading a memorable line from the 1990 remarks. 'Over 35 years have passed since Barbara Bush made the call for a female American president, a reflection of her forward-thinking vision,' said Trump, whose husband defeated the only two female major-party presidential nominees in American history. She called Bush's speech 'an important moment in the conversation surrounding women's roles in society.' Trump also highlighted Bush's efforts to champion women's empowerment, change the national conversation on AIDS and support gay rights. 'I applaud Mrs. Bush's mark defending our society's vital need for women across all avenues, whether CEO or homemaker,' she said. The stamp unveiling marked Trump's second public appearance of the day, but a rare one for a first lady who has largely been absent from the White House during her husband's second term in office. She has spent the majority of her time since January 20 away from Washington, mostly in Palm Beach and New York, and has made only a handful of public appearances, joining her husband for a trip to North Carolina and California, welcoming the nation's governors for dinner, attending the president's address to a joint session of Congress, hosting the Easter Egg Roll, advocating for the 'Take It Down' Act on Capitol Hill, and traveling to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. Her approach to the role emphasizes the first lady's independent streak – and stands in contrast to how Bush tackled the assignment, rooting herself firmly at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 'She transformed the White House into a true home. She hosted hundreds of guests,' daughter Doro Bush Koch said of her late mother. 'Mom told her staff she wanted to do something every day to help others. So that's what she did – she scheduled many events and visits that highlighted a need to help encourage volunteerism or focus on literacy.' Barbara Bush hadn't kept a secret her disdain for Donald Trump, who during the 2016 campaign frequently – and personally – criticized her son Jeb Bush as 'low energy' and attacked his brother George W. Bush for invading Iraq. In 2021, Trump lambasted George W. Bush's 'failed and uninspiring presidency.' In a 2018 interview, Barbara Bush – a mother to one GOP president and wife of another – told the author and journalist Susan Page that she no longer considered herself a Republican. Page also reported in her book, 'The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty,' that Bush was so horrified by Trump's 2016 win that she kept a countdown clock, given to her by a friend, on her bedside table that showed the time remaining in Trump's term. Trump did not attend Bush's funeral service, with the White House citing his wish 'to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service.' Melania Trump attended in his stead. George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush attended Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration, but did not attend the post-ceremony luncheon.
CNN
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Melania Trump honors Barbara Bush's ‘forward-thinking vision' at White House event
First lady Melania Trump honored one of her predecessors, the late first lady Barbara Bush, with the unveiling of a new US postage stamp at the White House Thursday, heralding Bush's 'forward-thinking vision' and 1990 call for a female president. Bush, the matriarch of a Republican political dynasty and a first lady who elevated the cause of literacy, died in 2018. Her recognition in the East Room – and some notable absences – underscored Trump's different approach to the role, as well as long-simmering tensions between the Bush family and President Donald Trump, who frequently targeted two of her sons, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former President George W. Bush, during the 2016 presidential campaign. Those tensions went unspoken on Thursday. But neither Jeb Bush nor George W. Bush attended the event honoring their mother. Their sister, Doro Bush Koch, and brother, Neil Bush, were there, along with other family members, friends and former staff members. Melania Trump celebrated Barbara Bush for her 'unwavering conviction, dignity, and deep loyalty to her loved ones' and quoted from what she described as Bush's 'iconic commencement address' at the women's college Wellesley. 'Who knows – somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House, and I wish him well,' Trump said, reading a memorable line from the 1990 remarks. 'Over 35 years have passed since Barbara Bush made the call for a female American president, a reflection of her forward-thinking vision,' said Trump, whose husband defeated the only two female major-party presidential nominees in American history. She called Bush's speech 'an important moment in the conversation surrounding women's roles in society.' Trump also highlighted Bush's efforts to champion women's empowerment, change the national conversation on AIDS and support gay rights. 'I applaud Mrs. Bush's mark defending our society's vital need for women across all avenues, whether CEO or homemaker,' she said. The stamp unveiling marked Trump's second public appearance of the day, but a rare one for a first lady who has largely been absent from the White House during her husband's second term in office. She has spent the majority of her time since January 20 away from Washington, mostly in Palm Beach and New York, and has made only a handful of public appearances, joining her husband for a trip to North Carolina and California, welcoming the nation's governors for dinner, attending the president's address to a joint session of Congress, hosting the Easter Egg Roll, advocating for the 'Take It Down' Act on Capitol Hill, and traveling to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. Her approach to the role emphasizes the first lady's independent streak – and stands in contrast to how Bush tackled the assignment, rooting herself firmly at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 'She transformed the White House into a true home. She hosted hundreds of guests,' daughter Doro Bush Koch said of her late mother. 'Mom told her staff she wanted to do something every day to help others. So that's what she did – she scheduled many events and visits that highlighted a need to help encourage volunteerism or focus on literacy.' Barbara Bush hadn't kept a secret her disdain for Donald Trump, who during the 2016 campaign frequently – and personally – criticized her son Jeb Bush as 'low energy' and attacked his brother George W. Bush for invading Iraq. In 2021, Trump lambasted George W. Bush's 'failed and uninspiring presidency.' In a 2018 interview, Barbara Bush – a mother to one GOP president and wife of another – told the author and journalist Susan Page that she no longer considered herself a Republican. Page also reported in her book, 'The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty,' that Bush was so horrified by Trump's 2016 win that she kept a countdown clock, given to her by a friend, on her bedside table that showed the time remaining in Trump's term. Trump did not attend Bush's funeral service, with the White House citing his wish 'to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service.' Melania Trump attended in his stead. George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush attended Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration, but did not attend the post-ceremony luncheon.
CNN
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Melania Trump honors Barbara Bush's ‘forward-thinking vision' at White House event
First lady Melania Trump honored one of her predecessors, the late first lady Barbara Bush, Thursday with the unveiling of a new US postage stamp at the White House Thursday, heralding Bush's 'forward-thinking vision' and 1990 call for a female president. Bush, the matriarch of a Republican political dynasty and a first lady who elevated the cause of literacy, died in 2018. Her recognition in the East Room – and some notable absences – underscored Trump's different approach to the role, as well as long-simmering tensions between the Bush family and President Donald Trump, who frequently targeted two of her sons, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former President George W. Bush, during the 2016 presidential campaign. Those tensions went unspoken on Thursday. But neither Jeb Bush nor George W. Bush attended the event honoring their mother. Their sister, Doro Bush Koch, and brother, Neil Bush, were there, along with other family members, friends and former staff members. Melania Trump celebrated Barbara Bush for her 'unwavering conviction, dignity, and deep loyalty to her loved ones' and quoted from what she described as Bush's 'iconic commencement address' at the women's college Wellesley. 'Who knows – somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps and preside over the White House, and I wish him well,' Trump said, reading a memorable line from the 1990 remarks. 'Over 35 years have passed since Barbara Bush made the call for a female American president, a reflection of her forward-thinking vision,' said Trump, whose husband defeated the only two female major-party presidential nominees in American history. She called Bush's speech 'an important moment in the conversation surrounding women's roles in society.' Trump also highlighted Bush's efforts to champion women's empowerment, change the national conversation on AIDS and support gay rights. 'I applaud Mrs. Bush's mark defending our society's vital need for women across all avenues, whether CEO or homemaker,' she said. The stamp unveiling marked Trump's second public appearance of the day, but a rare one for a first lady who has largely been absent from the White House during her husband's second term in office. She has spent the majority of her time since January 20 away from Washington, mostly in Palm Beach and New York, and has made only a handful of public appearances, joining her husband for a trip to North Carolina and California, welcoming the nation's governors for dinner, attending the president's address to a joint session of Congress, hosting the Easter Egg Roll, advocating for the 'Take It Down' Act on Capitol Hill, and traveling to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. Her approach to the role emphasizes the first lady's independent streak – and stands in contrast to how Bush tackled the assignment, rooting herself firmly at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 'She transformed the White House into a true home. She hosted hundreds of guests,' daughter Doro Bush Koch said of her late mother. 'Mom told her staff she wanted to do something every day to help others. So that's what she did – she scheduled many events and visits that highlighted a need to help encourage volunteerism or focus on literacy.' Barbara Bush hadn't kept a secret her disdain for Donald Trump, who during the 2016 campaign frequently – and personally – criticized her son Jeb Bush as 'low energy' and attacked his brother George W. Bush for invading Iraq. In 2021, Trump lambasted George W. Bush's 'failed and uninspiring presidency.' In a 2018 interview, Barbara Bush – a mother to one GOP president and wife of another – told the author and journalist Susan Page that she no longer considered herself a Republican. Page also reported in her book, 'The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty,' that Bush was so horrified by Trump's 2016 win that she kept a countdown clock, given to her by a friend, on her bedside table that showed the time remaining in Trump's term. Trump did not attend Bush's funeral service, with the White House citing his wish 'to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service.' Melania Trump attended in his stead. George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush attended Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration, but did not attend the post-ceremony luncheon.
