Pantsuit Nation founder Libby Chamberlain is at College of the Atlantic as part of the 2018 summer event series.Pantsuit Nation founder Libby Chamberlain is at College of the Atlantic as part of the 2018 summer event series. Credit: Emilie Sommer

The weekly Coffee and Conversation program features guests such as United States Congresswoman Chellie Pingree ’79, Pantsuit Nation founder and Brooklin resident Libby Chamberlain, IDEXX Laboratories founder David Shaw, and others. They’ll take to the stage every Tuesday with COA faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees to discuss their work. Conversations take place in the Thomas S Gates, Jr. Community Center beginning at 9 a.m.

COA’s 2018 Champlain Institute: International Affairs includes lectures from experts in cyber warfare, national security, terrorism, global hotspots, and more. The week-long Institute launchesFormer Maine Senator George Mitchell is at College of the Atlantic this summer as part of the school's summer event series.Former Maine Senator George Mitchell is at College of the Atlantic this summer as part of the school's summer event series.with a keynote address from National Security Advisor Susan Rice and closes out with a talk by former Maine Senator George Mitchell. Institute attendance is by registration only and seating is limited.

This summer, COA’s Ethel H. Blum Gallery is the site of art exhibit by painter Stefan Elliott entitled Humanity’s Oldest Stories Illuminated. Elliott is an accomplished visual storyteller who splits his time between Mt. Desert Island and Humboldt County, California. He will be on-hand for the opening reception of the show, which runs through late August.

All events are free and open to all.

“We are thrilled to host such an incredible lineup of thinkers, creators, doers, and leaders this summer,” COA President Darron Collins ’92 said. “I’m grateful to our Champlain Society members for helping to make these programs possible, and to everyone in the area who brings their energy and curiosity to our cultural events — both during the summer and all year long.”

The action gets underway with the first Coffee and Conversation on Tuesday, July 10, with guest John Ravenal, executive director of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Filmmaker Olympia Stone follows on July 17 to discuss and show clips from her latest film, Double Take: The Art of Elizabeth King, which was just awarded the Jury Prize for Best Feature at the 2018 SF DocFest in San Francisco, CA.

The summer series wraps up on Sept. 13 with the annual Share the Harvest Farm Dinner at COA Beech Hill Farm. All proceeds from the event benefit Share the Harvest, a COA student-led food security program supplying organic produce to individuals and food pantries.

United States Congresswoman Chellie Pingree ’79 appears at College of the Atlantic's Coffee and...United States Congresswoman Chellie Pingree ’79 appears at College of the Atlantic's Coffee and Conversation series this summer.

COA’s annual summer event series is underwritten by the College of the Atlantic Champlain Society. For the full schedule of cultural and intellectually stimulating programs visit coa.edu/developmentevents.