Austell Resident Martha P. Farmer Elected New Trustee at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Martha P. Farmer, founding director of the Foundation for Women’s Resources (FWR), has been elected to the Board of Trustees of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP). The Chicago School is a nonprofit graduate school and one of the leading institutions devoted to psychology, and related behavioral and health sciences.

Named Founding Director of FWR (now Leadership Women) in 1982, Ms. Farmer translated FWR’s vision and commitment to expanded roles for women in leadership into the development of the nationally acclaimed programs, Leadership Texas and Leadership America. In addition, she consulted in the creation of women’s leadership programs across the nation including Leadership California and similar programs in Birmingham, AL; Illinois; Kentucky; Missouri; and Washington, D.C. In addition, Farmer worked with the late Adrienne Hall of Los Angeles to develop initiatives that resulted in the creation of the International Women’s Forum.

“Martha joins The Chicago School Board of Trustees at a key moment in our history,” says Michele Nealon-Woods, Psy.D., national president of The Chicago School. “As we celebrate our 35th anniversary and launch our five-year Strategic Plan, her nationally recognized expertise in leadership development and education, combined with her interest in mental health issues and the development of future women leaders in our profession, will be of tremendous benefit to us.”

From 2000-2009, as President of Martha P. Farmer & Associates, Inc., Ms. Farmer provided consultation to a national client base that included A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans; KLRU public television, Austin, TX; College of Communications, University of Texas; The American Shakespeare Center, Staunton, VA; and United Ways of Texas.

As a founding member of the National Advisory Committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Executive Nurse Fellows Program, Ms. Farmer consulted in the development of this 15-year-old leadership program for the nation’s top executive nurse leaders. She is also a Founding Consultant to The Women’s Museum, served as National Director of The Museum’s original capital campaign and as a National Consultant following The Museum’s opening in 2000.

In 2009, Ms. Farmer was asked to assume her original role as Leadership America’s Executive Director. In early 2012, she returned Leadership America to its founding organization, Women’s Resources, now known as Leadership Women, and she continues to serve as the program’s Founding Director/Executive Director.

Her commitment to volunteer service and leadership extends to regional and national roles. Ms. Farmer’s longtime interest in mental health issues is reflected in her past service and volunteer commitments to the North Carolina Mental Health Association and in her board member roles at Austin State School in Texas, and the Kentucky Mental Health Association. She has served as a Trustee for the Foundation of the Presbyterian Church, USA, and on the Advisory Boards of Women Leading Kentucky and The Menaul School, Albuquerque, NM. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Trustees, Presbyterian Heritage Center; and, a Ruling Elder, Presbyterian Church, USA. Farmer is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Lexington, KY, and a member of the Georgia Chapter of the International Women’s Forum.