SURRY, ME - November 21, 2011 - The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, DC, has named non-profit Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) Founder and President, Florence Reed, to their Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows program for the upcoming 2012-13 academic year. The Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows program brings prominent artists, diplomats, journalists, business leaders and other professionals to campuses across the United States for a week-long residential program of classes, seminars, workshops, lectures and informal discussions. For 35 years, the Visiting Fellows have been introducing students and faculty members at liberal arts colleges to a wide range of perspectives on life, society, community and achievement.

Of the selection, Roger W. Bowen, Ph. D., Program Director, says, "Ms. Reed, founder and now head of Sustainable Harvest International, serves as a superb example of how one determined individual can make a difference in today's world.  Her concern for the planet and our environment will resonate on college campuses across the nation and as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow Ms. Reed will be able share her inspirational story with students and faculty and college administrators across America. She brings new lustre to an outstanding group of Fellows."

Instead of the one-day visit typical of the college lecture circuit, the Visiting Fellows program provides time for trust to develop, complex issues to be explored, and ongoing relations to be established. Through these week-long visits, students and faculty members can explore how the classroom and campus relate to the broader society. By their own example, Fellows demonstrate that there are challenging opportunities for those who want to build a better world through professional activities and as informed citizens.

Upon receiving notice of her unanimous acceptance into the program, Florence Reed expressed her gratitude, "It is certainly an honor to join the ranks of the other [Woodrow Wilson Visiting] Fellows. I look forward to sharing my experiences with any universities that invite me to campus and look forward to gaining new connections and ideas for SHI's work through this program."

In 1997, Reed founded SHI, dedicated to working with rural Central American communities to implement sustainable land-use practices. In recent years Reed has received two honorary doctorates for her work from University of New Hampshire and Southern New Hampshire University, along with many awards such as the Yves Rocher Women of the Earth award, Traditional Home Classic Woman award, Garden Club of America Distinguished Service award and etown e-chievement award. In 2009, Florence was painted by artist Robert Shetterly as part of his renowned Americans Who Tell The Truth portrait series.

About Sustainable Harvest International
Sustainable Harvest International has worked with families in rural farming communities in Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama since 1997. Using organic vegetable gardens, wood-conserving stoves, biogas digesters and a host of other projects, SHI's local field trainers work together with families, individuals and communities to preserve our planet's tropical forests while overcoming poverty. 877 active participant families and 562 graduate families in over 100 rural communities successfully planted 2,961,530 trees since SHI's founding in 1997. For more information, visit www.sustainableharvest.org.

About Council of Independent Colleges
The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of nearly 700 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and other organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill this mission, CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that strengthen aspects of academic quality, leadership, financial management and performance, and institutional visibility. In addition, State Funds coordinate programs and generate contributions and grants in support of private colleges and universities. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.cic.edu.