District Governor-Elect (DGE) Julia Kushigian-Secor
Welcome to an exciting new Rotary Year! I invite you to join me on a journey that promises to be engaging, rewarding, and yes—occasionally challenging—as we grow together in service and fellowship.
Have you ever felt a bit uncertain about certain aspects of Rotary? While the warmth of our friendships and social connections is unmistakable, perhaps you've wondered about specific terms, abbreviations, processes, or next steps in your Rotary journey. If so, you're not alone, and we'll navigate these questions together in the year ahead. I'm Julia Kushigian-Secor, and I'll serve as your District Governor Elect (DGE) until January 16, 2027, when I'll transition to District Governor (DG) for an 18-month term through June 2028.
Our District theme for the coming year, introduced at last year's NE PELS, is "For the Children." This focus will thread through all seven Rotary Areas of Focus: Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Community Economic Development, and Support of the Environment. My primary goal is to make the D7980 website your go-to resource for current information, project sharing, storytelling, and connecting with fellow clubs and prospective members across our district. To support this, I've created a dynamic District Calendar (below) featuring both familiar favorites and exciting new events, which we'll continue updating throughout the year.
A bit about my Rotary journey: I've been a proud member of the New London Rotary Club for 19 years, serving as past president and Chair of the International Service Committee. I've authored numerous District Managed Grants supporting projects in Latin America and the United States, and partnered on Global Grants in India. Professionally, I'm a Professor of Hispanic Studies at Connecticut College, where I've published books and articles on Latin American literature and culture. My husband Charlie and I have a memorable origin story—we met when I bought a car from him, and our first date was a tennis tournament where I stepped in as his partner. We're blessed with two wonderful children, John and Francisca, and an incredible daughter-in-law, Shannon.
I'm honored to partner with you in what my Rotary and CC friend Deb MacDonnell beautifully described as "a group of people connected to each other, the nation, and the world through community service. Please join us in this fun and meaningful work!”