Trustee Gerald Talbot honored for social justice and civil rights achievements

The Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine honored Â鶹´«Ã½Trustee Gerald E. Talbot and his work for social justice and civil rights with a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Gov. John Baldacci.

Talbot was honored at a dinner on Thursday, October 21, 2010, at the Keeley Banquet Center in Portland.

Gerald Talbot was the first African American to be elected to the Maine state legislature where he was instrumental in the passing of several civil rights bills. He also has served several terms as president of the NAACP Portland Branch, and it was his collection that was the catalyst for the African American Collection of Maine, which is housed at the Sampson Center for Diversity.

About the Â鶹´«Ã½

The Â鶹´«Ã½ is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.