In Action 2024
Pictured on cover: President John D. Keenan with student scholars at the annual Scholar and Donor Celebration.
Working Together to Meet the Moment
Dear Viking community,
Reflecting on this past year, we are thrilled by Salem State’s progress and growth.
The fiscal year began with a unifying vote that brought together the work of the alumni association and the foundation, ultimately forming the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. Thanks to the working group who spent months evaluating the efficacy, mission, by-laws, and committee work of each organization, it was concluded that the university would tremendously benefit from a unified relationship. By working together to engage the community in our shared efforts, we elevated our commitment to student success and equal opportunity for all.
Later in the year, we further realized the commitment to opportunity through an anonymous $10 million gift, which funded Clipper Scholarships. Because of this generous gift, we will distribute approximately $320,000 in scholarships annually to eligible students, helping to close the financial gap of a college education. Collaborating with donors to provide access and an intellectual home for all who desire to pursue a degree, regardless of their lived experiences, is truly inspiring.
To you—and to all the proud Vikings—we are thankful for everything you do in honor of our community.
With Viking pride,
Annalisa C. Di Palma Chair, Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. Campaign Steering Committee
John D. Keenan President, Salem State University
2022-2023
Fundraising Year in Review
The Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. (AAF) is pleased to present the fiscal year 2024 annual report.
We are proud to share that more than 2,200 Viking alumni and friends contributed over $14 million to university fundraising initiatives. These philanthropic contributions have brought us to meet 72 percent of our $75 million campaign goal. As of June 30, 2024, Meet the Moment™ has raised an impressive $54,361,478 for student financial assistance, student success initiatives, unrestricted support, and SSU BOLD (page 9).
Through a transformative $10 million anonymous gift, Clipper Scholarships have been established to support scholarships that address the unmet need for students in the Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services and the McKeown School of Education. The investment supports students just over the cusp of Pelleligibility who are often left out of federal and state aid programs, helping fund the cost of attendance including tuition, room and board, books, meal plans, etc. The generous donor made the gift in honor of his parents who graduated from the university in the 1950s, noting we must do better as a society to help students with unmet need.
The progress we made over the past year is a testament to our philanthropic community. Between bridging a gap in our campaign goal, raising $220,000 for student internships at our inaugural Internship Celebration, awarding $861,113 in Viking Scholarships and $127,179 in Viking Completion Grants, it is evident Vikings are rising up to meet the moment .
Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors
(As of June 30, 2024)
Officers
Annalisa C. Di Palma, chair
Louis J. George ’89, vice chair
Jeffrey V. Cicolini ’94, treasurer
Joseph M. Wamness ’00G, secretary
Ex Officio
John D. Keenan, president, Salem State University
Cheryl Webster, vice president, advancement and executive director, Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc.
Directors
Erik J. Champy ’89, ’94G, PhD, legacy member
Jake J. Cotter ’12
Alicia Y. Depena ’00
Nancy A. Dias ’09, ’13G
Anthony DiVirgilio ’19
Julianna W. Donovan ’20G
Kim D. Gassett-Schiller ’83, ’18H
Richard J. Gilmartin ’76
David C. Gravel ’78
Dr. Judith Josephs ’63, ’65G, legacy member
Josephine E. Kennedy ’72, ’76G, legacy member
James J. Lampassi, Jr. ’81, alumni trustee, Salem State University Board of Trustees
Dr. Robin R. Leger ’77
Patricia M. Libby ’71
Andrea C. Liftman ’75G
Virginia C. Lyons ’16
Joanne Mendes ’79
Robbie H. Millwee ’09
Paul A. Petrowski ’66
Michael D. Procopio ’12
Katherine E. Reid
Joanne O. Ricciardiello ’68, ’19H
Stephen A. Rollins, Jr.
Kathleen L. Skrabut, EdD, board member emerita
C. David Surface ’88
Jessica A. Tomlinson ’09
Elaine A. Zetes ’88G
Yaqin Zhu ’12, ’13
Endowment Management
The Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. is proud to share that the endowment market value has exceeded $66 million. The fiduciary responsibility is carried out by members of the AAF board of directors’ investment committee, management and staff.
The AAF distributes four percent of the rolling, three-year average of annual market values of endowed funds to Salem State. This spending policy is intended to provide stable income to the university for its current needs while maintaining the longterm purchasing power of the endowment.
Endowment Asset Allocation as of June 30, 2024
(July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024)
$14,007,656
Types of Gifts: $3,517,152 Spendable gifts, both restricted and unrestricted $10,470,304 Endowed gifts $20,000
Planned gifts pledged in a will, trust, charitable gift annuity, IRA, or other estate plan
New Funds Endowed in 2024
• Clipper Scholarship
• Dhionis Family Housing Scholarship
• The Ellen Flowers Award for Aspiring Psychiatric Nurses
• Alyssa Fluet Memorial Scholarship
• Rob and Rachel Lutts Family Internship
• Noble Financial Group Endowed Scholarship
• Ouellette-Di Palma Family Internship
• Joseph and Rena Mendes Scholarship Fund
• Murphy Family Scholarship
• Dr. Louise Swiniarski Early Childhood Education Scholarship
Highlights
• This year’s Viking Warrior Day, our seventh annual day of giving, was record-breaking on all fronts, raising $786,426 from 534 donors in 1,854 minutes. Funds raised on Viking Warrior Day provide student scholarships, tools for our dedicated faculty and staff and transformative experiences like study abroad, service opportunities and internships.
• The Salem State University Internship Scholarships fund received an added boost during Viking Warrior Day this year because of a thoughtful $307,432 planned gift from alumna Arlene Nihan ’54
• Our inaugural Internship Celebration, sponsored by John McQuillan, Jr. through Triumvirate Environmental, Inc., as well as David Surface ’88 with St. Jean’s Credit Union, took place on April 9, 2024, bringing in $220,000 for internship scholarships (page 19).
• Davis Educational Foundation granted Salem State University $274,374 for a project aimed at improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning environments, student learning outcomes and STEM major retention at the university.
• Al DiVirgilio ’64, ’66G, a dedicated alumnus and former foundation board member, celebrated his 60th reunion year with the creation of the
Al and Ginny DiVirgilio Family IOP Endowed Fund, providing financial support to the Frederick E. Berry Institute of Politics, which aims to engage and inspire the Viking community to be active in our democracy and to pursue careers in politics and public service.
• The Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. closed out the fiscal year with a transformative $10 million gift from an anonymous donor. The creation of Clipper Scholarships, which benefit students enrolled in the McKeown School of Education or Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services who have unmet need after available state and federal funding, provides vital assistance to Vikings often missed in traditional financial aid, enabling them to pursue their dreams and meet the moment of higher education.
• The MassCyberCenter awarded Salem State University a $624,437 grant to establish and operate a cybersecurity training facility, or cyber range, on its campus. The grant is part of the state’s Security Operations Center (SOC)/Cyber Range Initiative, a program managed by MassTech’s MassCyberCenter that aims to help build a diverse generation of cybersecurity professionals through education, training and workforce development.
(July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2024)
Top Funded Areas To Date
1. M cKeown School of Education
2. Clipper Scholarships
3. Viking Completion Grants
4. Digital Ethnic Futures Consortium
5. SSU BOLD
6. Annual Fund Unrestricted
7. Joseph and Rena Mendes Scholarship Fund
8. Dr. Kathy Murphy ’75 Biology Strategic Endowment
9. Dr. Kathy Murphy ’75 Scholarship
10. Martha Evans and Betty Groce Scholarship
11. Thomas M. Feeley ’68 Fund
Donors
Percentage of total amount raised
6,798 Donors $100 Most Common Gift Size
8 Gifts Over $1,000,000
Unrestricted Support
The Power of Flexible Philanthropy Investing
in Opportunities Through Unrestricted Giving
Since the start of Meet the Moment™, donors have contributed $13,903,764 in unrestricted funds. Gifts such as these give our university the flexibility to capitalize on emerging needs and respond to challenges when they arise. Whether it is making short-term grants available that allow students to continue their studies or supporting financial assistance for students to take advantage of an internship opportunity, unrestricted funding is vital to our continued success.
H ere are some ways unrestricted funds made an impact this year :
• Student Emergency Fund awards were provided to more than 140 students, helping with unexpected financial hardships (page 12).
• Internship scholarships were awarded to 105 students to support critical experiential learning opportunities.
• SSU BOLD continues to address major capital needs of the university while enhancing all academic programs and the student experience.
• Cabot Wealth Management Lab has continued to enable students to gain hands-on
experience outside and inside the classroom by utilizing financial, regulatory, research, and marketing data points to inform learning that will make them marketable in a competitive business environment.
• First Year Day of Service engaged over 200 student participants in community service projects throughout the North Shore.
• Salem State athletics will be working on a tennis court resurfacing project, ensuring that our student athletes succeed far into the future with improved facilities.
Vikings volunteer during the 2023 First Year Day of Service.
Vital Relief for Resilient Vikings Student Emergency Fund
A married mother of three children, Christina Barnes-Eames ’08, ’26G realized her true calling was nursing after caring for her family most of her life and being a stay-at-home mom for years. But, after exhausting financial aid and not qualifying for private personal loans, she faced having to leave school.
That’s where Salem State University’s Student Emergency Fund came in during the winter of 2023, giving Christina and her family a vital boost and allowing her to push forward and make her dream of becoming a nurse a reality.
“At Christmas, I received a grant, which covered most of my tuition for December and allowed me to put the extra money toward the kids,” Christina shares. “It meant a great deal to me and my family. Without this generosity, nursing school would be a much greater burden.”
Christina is just one of 828 students at Salem State who have benefited from the Student Emergency Fund since the fund’s inception, with $568,994 awarded. In academic year 2023-2024 alone, more than 140 students received necessary help.
The fund, aimed at providing financial support for students facing unexpected personal financial emergencies, has been supplemented the past several years by unrestricted funding, enabling more and more students just like Christina to continue their education and successfully navigate challenges along the way.
“We never know when life is going to throw us a curveball, but the Student Emergency Fund can provide support during those unnerving times,” Laura DiChiara, executive director of the Student Navigation Center explains. “The college completion coaches in the Student Navigation Center know all too well that our students come with priorities beyond their coursework; some may be parents, a caretaker for younger or older family members or be working two jobs, and a micro-grant from the emergency fund can be much-needed relief when all those priorities become too overwhelming to manage. The Student Emergency Fund has made it possible for students to persist when they thought it was impossible.”
Former Student Emergency Fund recipients
Student Success Initiatives
Influencing More Equitable Educational Practices and Outcomes
Salem State Launches Cummings Foundation-Funded Institute for Advancing Education and the Educator Workforce
Associate Director of Student Services Vu Tran, PhD and Associate Dean Nicole Harris, PhD meet with students in the McKeown School of Education.
Salem State’s McKeown School of Education is launching the Institute for Advancing Education and the Educator Workforce (IAE2), pronounced IAE squared, which is made possible through Cummings Foundation. The institute continues to receive grants through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and private donations as well.
The institute stems from Cummings Foundation’s historic $10 million gift in 2022, aiding community partnerships, such as school district collaboration, to further strengthen and diversify the educator workforce. Our most recent award, a $600,000 grant from the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education, establishes Salem State as a regional licensure assistance center, helping educators with emergency teaching licenses grow in the teaching profession and transition into their initial license.
“The private and public funding we’ve received enhances and expands our impact in relation to recruiting, retaining, sustaining, and diversifying the North Shore’s education workforce,” Associate Dean Nicole Harris, PhD explains.
IAE2 aims to influence more equitable educational practices and outcomes and is comprised of various centers, programs and initiatives within the McKeown School of Education–from Educator-Scholars of Color, aimed at diversifying the teacher pipeline, to the Center for Educational Leadership, focused on providing professional development to educational leaders in our region’s school districts. Other programs include the Community of
Inclusive Scholars, powered through the MAIPSE grant, Teacher Pipeline Development Initiatives, Early Childhood Career Pathways, and more.
As the interim executive director of the Institute for Advancing Education and the Educator Workforce, Harris lauds the impact of this critical programming, saying, “We’ve increased the graduation rate of the McKeown School of Education’s undergraduate students of color pursuing teacher licensure by 400 percent and supported hundreds of educators through professional development and degree and licensure transition to help sustain and retain them in the teaching field.”
The institute’s objectives complement the McKeown School of Education’s core mission of educator preparation, providing infrastructure and support to programming that stretches across the lifespan.
“We’re implementing innovative solutions at the McKeown School of Education to address the challenges faced by our public education system,” said Dean of the McKeown School of Education, Joe Cambone, EdD. “Educators work tirelessly for the benefit of their students and the progress of our society. We must be ready to support them, their students and the school districts.”
Through the McKeown School of Education’s established infrastructure and programming, the institute’s community-engaged initiatives will continue to flourish, address the needs of our diverse communities and influence student and educator success.
Student Success Initiatives
RISE
Supporting First- Generation Students
Thanks to an anonymous donor, a new program has found a home at Salem State. The Resources and Inspiration for Student Empowerment (RISE) program connects first-generation students with a success coach to provide support in navigating both academic and social life at Salem State.
Eligible first- or second-year students are invited to participate, giving them the opportunity to meet with their coach for motivation and encouragement, to discuss concerns or for assistance with navigating internal processes.
“It’s nice to have someone helping you with anything you need along the way,” one RISE participant said. “The program is so accepting and always tries to help you with classes or with the social aspects of school,” said another.
“Besides the support of a designated success coach, participants are invited to special social and support programs and leadership and engagement
opportunities to enhance their experience,” Assistant Director of the Center for First-Generation Student Success Damien Boutillon, PhD said.
RISE welcomed a diverse body of 181 students in its inaugural year. While the cohort matches the diverse makeup of the university, there is a noted higher percentage of students with Latine/Hispanic heritage taking part in the program, totaling almost 47 percent of the participants.
“We are here to provide a quality and comprehensive experience for new students and students in transition, which sets the stage for success in each successive year at Salem State,” Boutillon said. “It is so important to the higher education landscape to serve as an advocate for first-year students and their needs as we work to promote student learning, persistence and retention and academic success.”
The newly established First-Generation Student Success Center is a driving
181 participants
71% are Pell-eligible
54% of participants made the Dean’s List (business majors being the greatest percentage of participants)
84% of first-year participants are retained for sophomore year vs. 76% of their peers
force for first-generation student readiness at the university, providing much more than just student academic coaching. Assistant Dean for Student Success and First-Year Experience Mathew Chetnik describes the center as “a space of life, of support and community for our RISE students. A center of first-generation knowledge and allyship for campus educators.”
Over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year, the center reached out to more than 100 faculty members, developed partnerships and programs with student service centers—from Inclusive Excellence to the Center for Teaching Innovation—and brought their message to a national audience at two conferences.
Moving ahead, the center will focus on student-facing coaching work, a first-generation advisory structure and reaching beyond university walls to established support communities to further enhance student success and enrichment.
100+ number of faculty engaged in efforts to support first-generation students
SUCCESS STORIES
Jeffrey, first-year student and theatre major Jeffrey was ready to leave Salem State after a financial crisis inhibited his family from affording second semester tuition and fees. With guidance and encouragement from his RISE coach, he was able to obtain emergency funding, make the Dean’s List, apply for and receive an RA position for spring semester, and return to Salem State in the fall with a lead in one of the theatre performances.
Ainsley, second-year student and business administration major Feeling disengaged with academics after beginning the year on academic probation while working a full-time job, Ainsley joined RISE and experienced a 44 percent GPA increase and has re-engaged with her academics. She even advocated for the program during Salem State’s “Transitioning to Sophomore Year” panel.
Class of 2024 Graduating Scholars Student Financial Assistance
Felicia Barbosa ’24
Major: social work Scholarships: Marguerite Ellen O’Brien Memorial Scholarship, Student Emergency Fund and The Doreen Lam Social Work Scholarship recipient
“I want to be an advocate in D.C. for social policy changes. I believe that if we make small changes they will have large-scale impacts and I understand these changes only happen when someone advocates for them. I hope to be that person.”
Simone French ’23, ‘24G
Major: elementary education
Scholarships: Educator-Scholar of Color
“Thank you so much to all of the donors who have supported Educator-Scholars of Color. My favorite part of Educator-Scholars of Color includes community events that we have each month and all of the support they provide me with in order to pursue a bright future in education.”
Sam Calabrese ’24
Major: psychology Scholarships: Paul A. Petrowski ’66 Family Scholarship, Perry and Sarah Yanow Endowed Memorial Scholarship and Powlesland Commager Scholarship Endowment recipient
“Thank you so much for accepting me for these scholarships. It really means a lot to me and it is motivating to me to keep going to pursue my career path.”
Margaret Gould ’24
Major: theatre arts
Scholarships: Viking Completion Grant recipient
“In both criminology and theatre, exploring connections and expanding my studies has been such an exciting journey! I feel incredibly privileged to receive this financial support and am deeply grateful for receiving this grant.”
Kevin Merino-Rivas ’24
Major: history Scholarships: Gretchen Stone Cook American History Teacher Scholarship recipient
“I hope to be one of those teachers that students come to when they need it the most. I also want to be the teacher that students can look up to, especially those who aren’t a part of the majority population within the school’s demographic.”
Rajani Shrestha ’24
Major: nursing Scholarships: Genevieve Hope Blaney Scholarship recipient
“I am planning to enter a resident program and work in the ICU, and after working one-two years I am planning to join a school for my CRNA. I can’t express in words how this scholarship has helped me to achieve my dream.”
Jeremiah Okoro ’24
Major: business administration
Scholarships: Bell/Cox Scholarship Award, Bertolon School of Business Internship Award, D’Antilio Family Scholarship Award, Joseph Aiyeku Award, and The Alvin G. Billings Scholarship recipient
“I am grateful not only for the sum of money but what the money represents. I feel believed in, valued and that my hard work and dedication to my learning has been recognized.”
Alexander Tilkens ’20, ‘24G
Major: business administration Scholarships: Francis H. McGrath Fund and North Shore Bank Scholarship recipient
“I am honored to have received these scholarships and look forward to utilizing my education to make our community a better place.”
Student Financial Assistance
Opening Doors to Experiential Learning
Inaugural Internship Celebration
Pictured above: President John D. Keenan; Virginia Lyons ’16, Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. board member; Kayla Pennimpede ’24; Angela Gomez ’24; Annalisa Di Palma, Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. chair and campaign steering committee member; and Dino Di Palma, trustee and campaign steering committee member share a moment at the 2024 Internship Celebration
Jack Maloney ’26, pictured right, is just one Salem State student who experienced an internship this past year and shared his story during the inaugural Internship Celebration last spring.
A celebration of student interns, the faculty and staff who support them and the business leaders who recruit them, the event raised a total of $220,000 in support of student internships. Special thanks to sponsors Triumvirate Environmental and St. Jean’s Credit Union.
Dino Di Palma, Salem State University trustee and campaign steering committee member, served as the keynote speaker and spoke to the importance of internships, emphasizing how well-trained student Vikings will have an immediate impact on the region’s business economy.
Social work major Angela Gomez ’24 and business major Kayla Pennimpede ’24 also shared their experiences. Angela interned at the Lynn Family Resource Center thanks to funding from the Ouellette-Di Palma Family Internship Fund, created by Dino and his wife, Annalisa, who emceed the event and is the chair of the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation board and a fellow campaign steering committee member.
“In my social work program, an internship is required, so I was concerned about taking on an unpaid internship in addition to all of my other responsibilities,” Angela shared. “The scholarship that I received from the Di Palmas helped lessen the financial burden and motivated me to finish my degree.”
The event ended with remarks from Virginia Lyons ’16, a member of the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation board, who has experienced the impact internships can have and the invaluable relationships they bring.
“What I discovered during my four years at the university is that—thanks to the support of our community members and donors—incredible learning opportunities can be affordable and accessible for everyone.”
“Between what I’m learning in the classroom, working with clients at CRR during tax season and the mentorship I get from the staff accountants, I feel like I’m preparing for the future. CRR has taken me under their wing, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
—Jack Maloney ’26 accounting major
Student Financial Assistance
Destiny Batista ’26 history major
Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
The Benefits of Study Abroad
Growing up in Swampscott, Mass., Destiny Batista ’26 was a self-proclaimed chatterbox. Years passed and peer pressure to fit within social norms grew louder, eventually quieting Destiny’s once expressive voice.
She did not know what she wanted out of life but knew that college could be a stepping stone. Then came Salem State. Throughout her first year, Destiny struggled with finding community as a commuter student. “And then I saw a flyer for a study abroad trip to Spain,” Destiny explains. The experiential learning opportunity instilled a newfound sense of independence and self-determination, and Destiny entered into her second year more confident and ready to push outside of her comfort zone.
When the Center for International Education (CIE) advertised a study abroad trip to Nanjing, China, she jumped at the opportunity. Through the generosity of Francis P. Hunkins ’60, PhD and Patricia A. Hammill, PhD and other donors to the CIE, 13 Salem State students were able to travel to China for one month to study Chinese history, culture and literature at Nanjing Normal University.
“China is such a beautiful place. I would grab a blanket and sit outside, write and people watch. I found peace. If it weren’t for donors like Francis and Patricia, I would never have been able to afford the trip.”
Destiny continues, “I found that the purpose of life is to listen, learn and share life experience with as many people as possible. I’m hoping to experience as many cultures as I can and am aiming to visit every continent before I turn 25.”
While traveling with her peers, friendships blossomed, and she is now feeling more connected at Salem State. “Before China, it was hard to feel like you fit in on campus as a commuter. I came back with two close friends and am now experiencing the social aspect of campus. There is a big difference between being a student at Salem State versus just taking classes. I feel a part of things now.”
Destiny is on the path to becoming a history teacher through the 4+1 program and emphasizes the critical importance of supporting study abroad opportunities, saying, “People think I work in the study abroad office because I’m always speaking about experiential learning and its benefits. I think if more people stepped outside their comfort zone and talked to people outside their horizon, the fulfillment felt across humanity would be palpable.”
Learn more about Destiny’s trip to China.
Modernizing Our Campus
SSU BOLD addresses the major capital needs of the university by establishing a compact and efficient campus core while maximizing programmatic synergies. The project includes the sale of South Campus; the renovation of the Horace Mann Building; and the construction of a Meier Hall Addition, which will house much needed, modern, flexible high-intensity teaching labs for our science programs. The facilities gained through SSU BOLD provide faculty and students with the teaching and learning spaces they deserve.
Relocating programs previously housed on South Campus will further increase collaboration among faculty members by bringing diverse disciplines into much closer proximity, helping to foster a stronger sense of community and connection.
Horace Mann Building
The renovation of the Horace Mann Building will create a new home for the majority of the Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services and restore the existing building to its original prestige while providing new state-of-the-art classroom and teaching spaces for the nursing, healthcare studies, occupational therapy, and criminal justice programs.
Meier Hall
Intro to Biology Teaching Lab
Horace Mann Nursing Bedside Skills Lab
Meier Hall
Organic Chemistry Teaching Lab
Note to the reader: These images are examples of visual representations of the designed classroom spaces.
Fostering Community and Connection
Unifying Campus Through SSU BOLD
Joel
’23G and Research and Instruction
Librarian Dawn Stahura work together in the Berry Library Makerspace
Bettyna Elescar ’23,
Caballero
While SSU BOLD presents an incredible moment for Salem State University to modernize its facilities through renovating the Horace Mann building to house academic programs and build out new simulation laboratories for nursing and occupational therapy, another important improvement will be unifying campus by moving South Campus academic programs to North Campus, a prospect that Dean of the Frederick E. Berry Library Elizabeth McKeigue, MSLIS is excited about.
“We expect to see even more students using the library,” Elizabeth explains. “We have a lot of students on South Campus who have cars, but the distance can be a barrier to using the library on a regular basis. For these students to be able to get out of class and just walk across the quad to the library, that will be a very different experience.”
The consolidation of South Campus will create a 10-minute walking radius between campuses, fostering a stronger sense of community and connection and enabling all students to easily take advantage of resources the university has to offer.
“The distance to South Campus on a map looks small, but we know it’s not,” Elizabeth says. “By having the opportunity for those programs on South Campus to be closer to the library, to be closer to the student center, to be closer to the gym, that would hopefully allow those students to feel more integrated into campus.”
“The impact of SSU BOLD is not solely tied to classroom walls. It represents a dramatic leap forward for our university, one that extends far beyond the physical aspect of our campus. We are committed to a vision that fosters the evolution of a Salem State that is more collaborative, more student-centered and more aligned with the workforce and societal needs of the current generation–and beyond. Through SSU BOLD, we are bringing to life an imagined plan that addresses many of our students’ essential educational needs. One of our core strengths as an institution is our ability to evolve, and so we meet the moment and embrace change.”
—David J. Silva, PhD, provost and academic vice president
Students in a marine botony lab using new Nikon compound microscopes, a technology upgrade made possible through donor funding.
salemstate.edu/moment
