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Deborah Merrill-Sands, dean of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, and MollyÌýDonovan, community economic development state specialist with Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø Cooperative Extension, have been selected as members of the Leadership Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø Class of 2019.Ìý

eÌýwas established to foster civic engagement and strengthen Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø communities by informing leaders about the issues and needs of the state. Each year, between 28-38 residents chosen to participate in the program explore such topics as the environment, sustainability, arts and culture, health, the economy, criminal justice and education.

Merrill-Sands has been at the helm ofÌýÌýsince 2015. Before coming to Ò×ʤ²©¹ÙÍø, she was dean of Mills College’s Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business from 2010-2015, where she also held the Glenn and Ellen Voyles Chair in Business Education.ÌýPrior to that, from 1996 -2010, she served as dean and associate dean at Simmons College’s School of Management and was co-founder and co-director of the Center for Gender in Organizations. Before entering academia, Merrill-Sands worked for 15 years in international agricultural research and development.

Donovan, who teaches community and economic development, works with citizen volunteers and leaders to build resilient communities and a strong economy by revitalizing downtowns, retaining and growing business, enhancing quality of life and creating a vision for communities. She specializes in community engagement — bringing everyone into local decision-making — as a way to strengthen ideas, make change and build leadership. Donovan initiated and teaches in the , designed to give a new generation of leaders a broad array of engagement tools.Ìý

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