Case for Support, Meet the Moment Campaign, Salem State University

For nearly 170 years, Salem State University has served as a beacon of hope and opportunity across the North Shore and beyond.

Students come to Salem State to build a brighter future for themselves, their families and their communities, and the ripples of our impact extend far beyond our campus.

New generations of Vikings are successfully navigating serious challenges due to economic insecurity, family contribution and responsibility, juggling multiple jobs, mental health, and the effects of the global pandemic. At Salem State, we’re rising to meet this moment through

the largest campaign in our school’s history, which combines deep investments in student success with the modernization and unification of our academic buildings. By responding to the opportunities of our time while ensuring equal access to high-quality education within an inclusive, welcoming environment, the Meet the Moment™ campaign embodies and celebrates the best of Salem State.

“Our community has demonstrated our resilience time and again, and we will continue to build on that strength. Salem State has a responsibility to meet our students where they are, to adapt strategically to address their evolving financial and educational needs and to remain a powerful force for upward mobility and equity in our community and the Commonwealth. By working together to make this campaign a success, we will not only meet the moment for today’s learners, but also ensure we can meet the moment for future generations of Salem State students.”

PRESIDENT JOHN D. KEENAN

A FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS

Meet the Moment ™ addresses our community’s greatest needs and positions us to make a positive, tangible impact on student success through a $75 million comprehensive campaign.

This landmark initiative advances our mission on multiple fronts:

• We will dramatically enhance student financial assistance to ensure a Salem State education remains accessible throughout our communities.

• The integration of even more innovative, studentcentered programming into our academic offerings will give students not only the skills and knowledge to succeed in their lives and careers, but also the support they need to excel in the classroom.

• Support for unrestricted giving will provide us with the flexibility to respond to emerging needs and the capacity to seize unexpected opportunities, such as investing in powerful Bloomberg Terminals that provide business students with industry-standard tools of the trade, or enabling liberal arts students to present original works at academic conferences.

• Through the SSU BOLD initiative, we will reimagine Salem State’s physical spaces unifying our campus, creating the leading-edge science facilities required by today’s students and fostering a stronger, more cohesive campus community.

Together, these priorities represent a collective leap forward for our university by providing our students with a stronger intellectual and social support system. They also signify our commitment to fostering a dynamic and thriving community that meets students where they are, celebrates diversity and inclusion and creates equitable, affordable pathways to personal and professional fulfillment.

“We are at an inflection point in history in which we are being called to stand for what is right. Meet the Moment ™ inspires me to take that stand. Salem State students are some of the most awe-inspiring individuals: Their grit and determination rival their intelligence. This campaign is our opportunity to create meaningful change that will help students thrive at the university, to achieve their goals and instill a sense of purpose to empower them to go on to meet their own moments throughout their lives.”

NICOLE E. GOGGIN ’14, ’17G Co-Chair, Campaign Steering Committee

A WORTHY INVESTMENT

Salem State is the region’s leading educational resource: We transform students’ lives, contribute to the intellectual and economic vitality of the North Shore and fuel the workforce of the Commonwealth.

From law enforcement officers to social workers, preschool teachers to entrepreneurs, Salem State graduates play an important role in the life of every city and town in the region. As a public university, our student body reflects the rich diversity of our communities; we continue to evolve our programs and services to help students with different goals and backgrounds navigate their academic journey.

We take great pride in our commitment to engage and support virtually anyone looking to advance their lives and careers: first-generation college students, veterans, immigrants, and individuals representing diverse racial identities and socioeconomic backgrounds. In recent decades, as the funding model for state universities has evolved, the financial hurdles for many of our students have increased. For example, in 1983, students paid 30 percent of the cost to attend Salem State, with the Commonwealth covering the balance; today’s students pay 70 percent. For those we serve, family incomes have remained flat for the past 50 years, while the decline in state support has caused our tuition and fees to climb an increase of more than 100 percent in the past 20 years alone.

Your gift to the Meet the Moment™ campaign affirms and empowers the students we serve: an exceptionally talented, diverse and tenacious group of learners who benefit dramatically from the generosity of donors who believe in their potential.

“Most of the world’s problems can be solved through education. Supporting Salem State enables me to have the biggest impact I can on the region. Our mission is more relevant than ever, our students’ needs are greater than ever and our case for support is stronger than ever. When I watch students being trained on the state-of-the-art equipment in the Cabot Wealth Management Lab, I see how Salem State isn’t just developing their skills it’s lifting up the entire North Shore.”

ROB LUTTS, former chair, Board of Trustees

STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

$20 MILLION

It’s our responsibility and our privilege to ensure that we continue to make those opportunities available and accessible for current and future students, especially those from under-resourced households and underrepresented communities for which an education may be less financially feasible. The sincerity of our commitment is reflected in our student demographics: in 2022, 47 percent of first-year students had a family income of $50,000 or less, one-third of Salem State students were the first in their family to attend college and 36 percent identified as students of color.

These students are prepared to work hard to earn their degree this is part of what makes them exceptional employees and leaders when they leave the university. However, this work ethic has diminishing returns if the financial burden becomes a greater focus in their lives than their education.

Gifts of all sizes have a profound effect on helping our students meet the moment and reach the finish line. For some Salem State students, the cost of a single $200 textbook can be enough to prevent them from completing their coursework. Your gift can change the life trajectory of those students enabling them to earn their degree, take charge of their future and reap all the benefits of a college education.

47% of first-year students had a family income of $50,000 or less

1/3 of Salem State students were the first in their family to attend college

36% identified as students of color

As the North Shore’s comprehensive regional university, Salem State has a proud legacy of unlocking the doors of opportunity.

BELOW Students enjoying a lounge within Viking Hall

CLASS OF 2022 PROFILE

Removing the Hurdles

“When we heard about a student who had to borrow a textbook from a classmate because they couldn’t afford to buy their own, we knew we had to step up,” Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83, ’18H explains. “We wanted to give hard-working students a bridge to help them complete their degree.” In response, Kim and her husband Philip established the Viking Completion Grant Endowment with a significant portion of their $6 million gift to Salem State. The fund provides grants to help seniors overcome the last financial hurdles they face before graduation.

Alyssa Giordano ’21 was one of the first to benefit from Kim and Philip’s generosity. She describes the moment she learned about the grant: “My phone rang, and I saw it was from Salem State. I was afraid they were calling to tell me I couldn’t graduate because I had an outstanding balance. Instead, they said ‘We have some good news.’ My heart just about stopped when they told me I was a perfect candidate for a completion grant that would allow me to earn my degree.”

Kim and Philip hope their gift will allow everyone in the Salem State community to achieve a return on their collective investment in student success. “We’re grateful for the chance to give students the boost they need at a critical moment in their lives,” Kim says. That was exactly the case for Alyssa, who adds, “I probably would have given up and not graduated if I couldn’t cover my balance. I can’t say thank you enough.”

“Salem State students often face the kinds of hurdles that don’t just slow you down they can knock you down in a single moment. Philip and I decided that the best way for us to support the Meet the Moment ™ campaign was by removing some of those hurdles.”

KIM GASSETT-SCHILLER ’83, ’18H Co-Chair, Campaign Steering Committee

ABOVE Alyssa Giordano ’21, Bachelor of Science in education

TOP Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83, ’18H and Philip Schiller

These programs represent both proven strategies and innovative approaches to financial assistance that benefit students at different stages of their academic career.

UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS $10 MILLION

Salem State students face a number of external demands beyond their academic requirements, including a heavy employment schedule, caring for loved ones and contributing to household income. While nearly 95 percent of our full-time undergraduates request financial aid, only 81 percent receive it. Closing that gap through philanthropy will help ensure that every Salem State student can take full advantage of the high-quality education that we provide and that they deserve.

In addition to need-based scholarships, the campaign will provide significant support for merit-based financial assistance. Strengthening our robust Honors Program, investing in merit scholarships for underrepresented populations and providing support for continuing education and graduate students will position us to maintain a rigorous, collaborative learning environment where high-performing students develop their skills, raise the university’s academic profile and ensure our students achieve their full potential.

VIKING COMPLETION GRANTS $7 MILLION

Many students who excel in the classroom face outstanding bills that prevent them from graduating. If these students don’t graduate, they find themselves in a precarious situation: simultaneously burdened with educational debt and without a degree to show for it. Completion grants are a low-cost, high-reward strategy that can make all the difference, ensuring an outstanding balance of $6,500 or less won’t prevent students from earning the degree they worked so hard to attain.

STUDENT EMERGENCY FUND $2 MILLION

Our students often navigate serious financial challenges resulting from job losses, illness, family responsibilities, and other factors. In response, we’re growing the base of support for our Student Emergency Fund, which provides critical aid in moments of unexpected need. Standing in solidarity with our students has always been a hallmark of Salem State; we’re honored to strengthen that commitment.

INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS $1 MILLION

Students often balance coursework with one or more jobs unrelated to their career track, which can cause them to miss out on critical experiential opportunities that position them for long-term success. In addition, professions such as nursing, social work and teaching often require students to complete unpaid clinical or student teaching experiences to earn their degree. The campaign includes support for paid internships and clinicals that will enable more students to take advantage of vital opportunities that align with their ambitions without jeopardizing their financial stability.

We’re increasing investment in student support where it’s needed most.

’19,

Uplifting Communities

Reverend Arthur T. Gerald ’12H first joined the Salem State community in 1972 as the advisor to the Afro-American Society. The following year, he became the director of the minority affairs program, with the mission of helping to recruit additional students of color. It quickly became clear that bringing students of color to campus wasn’t enough the school also needed to provide resources to help them succeed on campus. Arthur’s position was shifted from student life to academic affairs, and the focus became retention and support. He and his colleagues helped develop a summer program for incoming students and created what was then called the Learning Center now the Center for Academic Excellence to ensure that every student not only had a place at Salem State, but also had the support they needed to thrive.

Arthur remained an important voice for inclusivity from the moment he stepped foot on campus until he retired from his role as associate dean in 2010. In 2009, he and his wife Henrietta ’75 endowed the Arthur T. Gerald, Jr. Scholarship Fund to continue his work of helping students of diverse backgrounds attend, succeed and realize their dreams at Salem State. Students like Keyla Romero-Velasquez ’23.

“Systems like FAFSA don’t fully address the needs of today’s first-generation, low-income students. Students aren’t going to graduate if they’re hungry and have nowhere to sleep. The Student Emergency Fund is helping to provide our most vulnerable students with the basic security, dignity and autonomy they need to succeed in college.”

Already the first in her family to graduate high school, Keyla is determined to earn her college degree. “I pay my own bills and buy my own food. For a while, I was working 30 to 40 hours every week at Starbucks on top of going to class, but I had to stop because it was taking a toll on my mental health,” says Keyla. “I want the Geralds to know their contribution to my education is deeply appreciated.”

Making the decision to support student scholarship was simple for Arthur. “I’m indebted to all those who helped me get where I am in life,” he says. “And as I have been helped, so must I help others.” For her part, Keyla is also looking to pay this gift forward: “Once I graduate, I want to help heal and uplift the communities that raised me.”

“If I can help somebody as I travel on, then my living will not be in vain. And if we all live by that mandate, I believe the world will be a far better place for everyone.”

REV. ARTHUR T. GERALD ’12H Campaign Steering Committee Member

SUSAN BERUBE, Case Manager, Student Life Office

BELOW

Left to Right: Keyla Romero-Velasquez ’23, interdisciplinary studies major, with Arthur Gerald ’12H and Henrietta Gerald ’75

$25

STUDENT SUCCESS

$25 MILLION

Throughout their time at Salem State, students need access to positive, formative experiences that allow them to explore their passions, develop as individuals and remain deeply engaged in their studies. Our experience has shown that students who feel a sense of community are more likely to succeed academically. Spaces and programs where students can focus on intellectual exploration, collaboration and skills development can also lead to better retention and graduation rates. We’re committed to meeting students where they are, affirming their goals and passions and fully supporting them in their quest to grow and challenge themselves.

DEGREE COMPLETION OPPORTUNITIES

$15 MILLION

Success Cohorts and Coaches

For our students, having someone in their corner can make all the difference. The Meet the Moment™ campaign will allow us to expand peer-to-peer mentoring and grow the number of success coaches serving students with distinct needs, including veterans, first-generation students and students from underrepresented populations. Our Emerging

14% 38% 20%

more students persist to graduation with a success coach

Scholars and Educator-Scholars of Color cohorts are prime examples: They provide students with academic and college navigation skills, social support, camaraderie, networking, and mentoring that create a close-knit learning community to enhance their college experience.

Financial Literacy

Every student can benefit from financial literacy skills that help them with budgeting, managing credit and understanding their ability to afford their education, as well as how that education will fuel their future success and social mobility. Increasing programming and support around financial literacy education will position our students to maximize the benefits of available aid resources and make informed decisions that help alleviate the anxieties associated with financing their education.

Food and Housing Insecurity

For some of our students facing serious challenges related to food and housing insecurity, the generosity of our community can be a true lifeline not only helping them remain enrolled and on track, but also providing emergency assistance during the most trying of times. It’s imperative that we can be there for our students in all situations, and especially in those moments when they may feel they have nowhere else to turn. Investing in funding for these types of scenarios allows us to meet students where they are so they can focus on meeting the academic standards expected of them.

2021–2022 PROFILE

At Salem State, doing all that we can to help ensure our students earn their degree is Job One.

Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83, ’18H with students participating in the Center for Civic Engagement’s First Year Day of Service

Network of Support

When Carlos CuevaCaro ’25 was accepted to the Emerging Scholars cohort at Salem State, he decided he was going to take full advantage of the opportunities that came with it. Originally from Peru, Carlos especially benefited from the support of his Emerging Scholars coach who helped him navigate the American college system. “The education system in Peru is so different,” he explains. “Having a mentor to meet with on a regular basis and help me with planning and scheduling was so helpful.”

Elisa Castillo, associate dean of students for wellness, says this is one of the most important goals of the cohort model: “Connection and belonging are so important to student success. We need to be intentional and strategic about creating these experiences for our students that’s what helps them persist in their education.”

“College life is complicated, especially as a commuter student, and we often don’t know what to do or where to turn for help,” Carlos reports. “My coach was a built-in support system who opened my eyes to everything that needed to be done in order to be successful it really made a difference.”

“I’m constantly thinking about how we can create systems that serve students of all identities and backgrounds. Students go through so much growth in college, and we need to support them holistically and offer a variety of resources to help them succeed.”

ELISA CASTILLO, Associate Dean of Students for Wellness and Campaign Steering Committee Member

ABOVE Carlos CuevaCaro ’25, history major RIGHT Elisa Castillo, PhD, associate dean of students for wellness

Career and life preparation encompass more than what can be learned in a classroom or library. We need to immerse students in the real world, expand their cultural awareness, connect them with mentors and future employers, and position them to hit the ground running after graduation. Our investment in student success strategies also focuses on creating those hands-on, life-changing oppor tunities: from internships with leading Greater Boston businesses to collaborative international experiences that broaden students’ intellectual and personal horizons.

CAREER AND LIFE READINESS OPPORTUNITIES $10 MILLION

For-Credit Internship Programs

Today’s employers expect that students will arrive prepared to hit the ground running with the type of training and expertise that can only be gained through hands-on learning. In response, we are investing in for-credit internship programs that will provide students with invaluable experience in an area that aligns with their ambitions while providing stipends that bring these internships into financial reach. These faculty-supervised opportunities will ensure far more of our students can participate in internships during their college careers and receive academic credit for doing so.

Micro-Internships

Over the last decade gig workers have ballooned to 46 percent of the workforce and gig employment provides students with meaningful experience on their path to a full-time job. Often these short-term projects provide a foot in the door with employers and allow students to build a resume of professional experiences to demonstrate their skills with prospective employers. At the university, short-term student employees play a significant role in uplifting the school from the marketing department to information technology, and research shows that on-campus workers also enjoy greater peer interaction and co-curricular participation, contributing to their sense of belonging and helping to develop leadership skills. Through the campaign, we will build a micro-internship

infrastructure within career services to help students find work through dedicated platforms that connect students with off-campus opportunities, while also placing students in jobs within the university that align with their career aspirations and talents, helping them gain valuable career expertise as active and enthusiastic participants in the gig economy.

Cultural Immersion and Study Abroad

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is more important than ever that students have the chance to engage and learn with peers from around the world. Traditional study abroad is one avenue for doing so, but it’s not always a feasible option; only 2 percent of our students take part currently. Short-term faculty-led study travel courses and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) represent innovative ways for students to afford a global engagement experience. They allow course material to come to life and for our students to participate in digitally facilitated cultural exchanges that prepare them to be global citizens.

Academic Centers

Contributing to the world’s understanding of significant subjects and educating students who are engaged, active citizens are fundamental aspects of our mission. Salem State’s academic offering is supplemented and strengthened by celebrated academic centers focused on topics such as civic engagement, entrepreneurship and holocaust and genocide studies. The campaign will enhance these centers of excellence, which will help ensure that our rigorous curriculum is complemented by dynamic experiences that help students build their professional network, participate directly in research and scholarship and strengthen their resumes.

At Salem State, when our students succeed, the university and the greater community succeed as well.

Career readiness includes investing in academic programs such as Master of Science in athletic training and Master of Science in occupational therapy that provide the necessary degree and required experience for students.

RIGHT Sanjay Jain, PhD, associate professor of accounting and finance, instructing a student on a Bloomberg Terminal in the Cabot Wealth Management Lab

Practice Makes Perfect

For saxophonist Adam Silvia ’20 a highlight of his Salem State experience was the Boston University Tanglewood Institute: an immersive, two-week musical masterclass that Adam was able to attend during his sophomore year thanks to the generosity of Dr. Bernard M. Gordon ’85H and Mrs. Sophia Gordon. “I was surrounded by leading musicians, including two of the best saxophonists in the state. It was an amazing experience where I was constantly meeting new people, learning new things and making connections that I still draw on today.”

Salem State Foundation Chair Annalisa Di Palma and Dino Di Palma are hoping to inspire more experiences like Adam’s hands-on, co-curricular opportunities that help students bring their talents to life in real-world settings. Their campaign gift created the Ouellette-Di Palma Family Internship, in memory of Annalisa’s mother Carol, who was herself a graduate of Salem State in 1960. The pair also provided significant unrestricted support.

“It’s not enough to just fund internship programs we also need to create the emotional and social infrastructure to ensure students can take advantage of all the opportunities available to them,” explains Annalisa. “That, to me, is what we mean when we talk about ‘student success.’”

ABOVE Adam Silvia ’20, Bachelor of Arts in music, minor in educational studies

LEFT Dino and Annalisa Di Palma

“Internships and apprenticeships are all about student success we need to make sure our students are ready to meet their moment when they graduate.”

DINO

DI PALMA, Campaign Steering

Committee Member

UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT $20 MILLION

General and current-use funds support a wide range of activities: from short-term grants that allow students to continue their studies, to infrastructure investments required for online learning, to vital support for basic needs such as food and housing, to financial assistance for students to undertake an internship opportunity.

Throughout the Meet the Moment™ campaign, the Salem State Annual Fund will play a critical role in transforming unexpected opportunities into reality and responding to pressing needs.

rigorous academic experience. Unrestricted giving provides students with access to tools that replicate realworld working environments from the Bloomberg Terminals used in the Bertolon School of Business to high-quality lab equipment. It supports co-curricular programs from the Anime Club to the Student Veteran Organization that cultivate their creativity and leadership skills, as well as their intellect. Unrestricted giving also provides the fuel needed to launch new clubs, activities and programs that reflect changes in society and the job market.

Unrestricted giving to the annual fund plays a critical role in directly supporting our students by supplementing financial aid, supporting the Student Emergency Fund, helping homeless students secure housing, and fueling our efforts around inclusive excellence and civic engagement, which are designed to ensure everyone can feel an authentic sense of belonging and engagement within our community.

Great universities need flexible resources that enable them to meet the moment when a challenge arises or an opportunity emerges.

Decisive Moments

For Virginia Lyons ’16, choosing to attend Salem State was a life-changing moment. “I loved it,” she recalls. “The class sizes were manageable, and I connected to the community through my participation in student groups.”

That participation included co-founding Black, Brown and Proud, an organization focused on educating members of the Salem State community about the challenges faced by students of color. “Unrestricted funding plays a key role in creating initiatives and programs for students and alumni, such as financial literacy programs and alumni-student mentoring programs that help participants advance their personal and career success,” she explains.

As a senior consultant at Ernst & Young, Virginia remains committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in her workplace. She also serves on the board of the Salem State Foundation. “The increased emphasis we’ve seen on addressing equity-related issues is a moment that’s long overdue,” she notes. “We need to make a commitment, an investment, and put our money behind our mission to develop a clear plan of action for advancing DEI at Salem State over the longer term.”

“As an intern at the Salem State inclusive excellence office, my work focused on making our campus safer for students in the LGBTQ community. The more unrestricted funding we can access, the more programs we can develop and resources we can devote to support underrepresented student populations.”

EVAN KRAVETTE ’22G Master of Social Work

“The Center for Civic Engagement helped me find my passion and my voice. With programming that helps students build community, become leaders and make a difference in the world, the Center is at the heart of Salem State’s service-oriented mission. I’m grateful to be part of it.”

LIZABETH DAVIS ’23

History major, civic engagement fellow

“The Massachusetts housing pilot program and the Student Emergency Fund helped me overcome a really bad time in my life by providing housing, food and grocery store gift cards. I’m happy with where I’m headed now, and I have Salem State to thank for making that possible.”

ISABEL COLLAZO ’21

Psychology major, participant in the Massachusetts Student Housing Security Pilot

BELOW

Virginia Lyons ’16, Bachelor of Business Administration

Our faculty members and academic departments go to great lengths to supplement coursework with out-of-class and off-campus experiences from a biology student participating in a faculty research project to a business student presenting at an academic conference to a theatre student visiting Broadway. These programs and offerings are often made possible by unrestricted academic support for our colleges in the form of our schools and colleges funds. Similarly, unrestricted support for our President’s Fund allows university leadership to invest in new and emerging opportunities that enhance student success, such as the Vikings Success Collaborative, which will streamline student services and more effectively connect students with the resources they need to achieve their goals.

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES FUNDS $11 MILLION

Each of our academic deans is responsible for directing their respective fund to best support their faculty and students. These uses include aid for student career development, including certifications and internship expenses; funding to secure and maintain accreditation; and faculty research fellowships especially in fields like business, where grants and government funding are rarely available for academic research.

• Bertolon School of Business Fund

• College of Arts and Sciences Fund

• Frederick E. Berry Library Fund

• Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services Fund

• School of Continuing and Professional Studies Fund

• McKeown School of Education Fund

• School of Graduate Studies Fund

• School of Social Work Fund

• School of Nursing Fund

THE PRESIDENT’S FUND $1 MILLION

In collaboration with leaders from across the university, President Keenan takes a 50,000-foot view of Salem State’s funding needs when distributing resources from the President’s Fund. In the past, the President’s Fund has provided much needed backing for the inclusive excellence office, the Student Emergency Fund and student financial assistance.

“A lot of people in the workforce need to finish their bachelor’s to move forward in their careers. Unrestricted funds help us run courses that continuing education students need and to subsidize students’ completion. That’s a win for our students and regional employers alike.”

“Having flexible resources that enable people of color to come together and talk about their experiences and how those very same experiences can profoundly impact the lives of their students is a powerful thing.”

STEVEN THURSTON OLIVER, P h D Associate professor of secondary and higher education

AMY EVERITT, P h D Chair of healthcare studies

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of digital learning. Philanthropy will help us continue to innovate in this medium and utilize online resources—inside and outside the classroom—to educate future leaders.”

MICHELE LOURO, P h D Professor of history

A meaningful college experience encompasses more than classroom learning.

BELOW Theatre department production at the Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts

$20

“At the Bertolon School, students and faculty members are engaged in applied research to tackle contemporary business challenges from digital marketing and human resources practices to financial planning. This is exceptional handson training that students can put to use immediately in their work places after graduation. Philanthropy is critical to help ensure they can take advantage of these opportunities and to provide faculty with the resources, equipment and time they need to undertake meaningful research endeavors.”

Rewarding Research

For Professor Linda Coleman, a faculty member in the marketing and decision sciences department at the Bertolon School of Business, conducting original research is one of the most rewarding parts of her job. “I love to dig deeply into the things my students and I are curious about whether that’s learning how Starbucks built a successful international business or exploring the social trends in tattoo culture across different societies.”

To ensure she and her colleagues can discover new knowledge through novel research, each school and college at the university has its own fund that is fueled by donor support a fact for which Linda is deeply grateful. “I can’t tell you how much it helps to have philanthropic support

for our research it enables us to live up to our potential as scholars as well as teachers.”

“Research projects are also a win-win for the students who participate,” Linda adds. “They gain valuable experience that supplements their coursework, and they have the extra benefit of putting academic publications on their resume.” Research opportunities are valuable, but they are not always accessible especially for students who need to work while in school. “We need support for students to get involved in research,” Linda explains. “We also need to help defray the cost of attending events so students can travel to present the papers they worked on, too.”

RAMINDER LUTHER, P h D Dean, Bertolon School of Business

ABOVE Left to Right: Linda Coleman, professor of marketing and decision sciences, with Raminder Luther, PhD, dean of the Bertolon School of Business

SSU BOLD $10 MILLION

By modernizing our facilities and unifying our campus, SSU BOLD represents a dramatic leap forward for our campus and our university.

SSU BOLD will consolidate Salem State’s campus footprint and provide for state-of-the-art laboratories that will energize our curriculum and enhance the career preparation we offer. These efforts embody our vision for a Salem State that is more collaborative, more student-centered and better positioned to prepare our students for success.

Salem State enrolls more students in biological and biomedical sciences, physical sciences, health professions, and related programs than any other state university in the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, our students are at a disadvantage compared to their peers at other institutions that possess significantly stronger science facilities. Salem State’s current science labs within Meier Hall, built in the 1960s, are inadequate for today’s curriculum.

SSU BOLD seeks to level the playing field by renovating the now-vacant Horace Mann Building to house South Campus programming and constructing a state-of-the-art addition to Meier Hall to house much needed, modernized, flexible high-intensity teaching labs, helping us recruit the next generation of highly qualified students and prepare them to thrive in a 21st-century economy.

SSU BOLD will also centralize our residential and academic programs, improving students’ class scheduling and access to critical spaces and services, such as the Frederick E. Berry and Learning Commons, the Student Navigation Center and the Ellison Campus Center. Unifying the campus will create new opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and foster a stronger sense of community and connection. Relocating programs previously housed on South Campus will further increase collaboration among faculty members by bringing diverse disciplines from management and nursing to criminal justice and computer science into much closer proximity.

7,700

9,300

of new simulation and skill labs for nursing and occupational therapy

of six new science teaching labs and prep space

SQUARE FEET

SQUARE FEET

A Unifying Moment

When Mary (Midge) DeSimone ’76 and her husband Tom began looking at areas within the Meet the Moment ™ campaign that could benefit from their support, they immediately gravitated to the BOLD initiative. “BOLD is something we needed yesterday,” says Midge, who currently serves as a campaign steering committee co-chair. “This is our moment to unify the campus in ways that support the success of students, faculty and staff.”

Midge’s experiences as a Salem State student also influenced the couple’s decision. “The distance between North Campus and South Campus was always an issue,” she recalls. “The travel time between the two campuses was often a factor when you were deciding which courses to take. Eliminating that distance and unifying our campus will create new opportunities for cross-pollination at Salem State both across academic disciplines and through human interactions among the university community.”

While Midge and Tom’s gift supports enhancements to facilities at Salem State, what happens within those buildings is what matters most to them. “New labs, classrooms and community spaces will enable our students to carry out more sophisticated experiments, participate in real-life simulations and convene with faculty members,” she notes. “The skills they gain from those experiences will not only set them up for professional success, but also strengthen the economy of the entire North Shore.”

“As a lifelong educator, I know that the only way to make our society stronger is to educate our young people because they are tomorrow’s leaders. I support Salem State University because of the experience I had as a student, and because I believe in its mission. We need to ensure that the students who attend Salem State University today have the opportunities they deserve, just as I did when I was an undergraduate.”

Your generous support for the Meet the Moment™ campaign will play an essential role in helping them realize their full potential.

This landmark initiative represents a huge step forward for the institution we love and affirms our commitment to educate future generations of learners and leaders who will make vast contributions to our unique corner of the world.

We have always helped our students meet moments of challenge, exhilaration, transformation, excitement, and opportunity. We hope you will partner with us in meeting this moment.

“During my sophomore through senior years at Salem State, I was fortunate to have an internship that launched my career. Even though the company I worked for was an hour and a half away in Taunton, I commuted there three days a week during school and full time during the summers. Through that internship, I not only gained experience and important skills—I also built confidence and self-esteem. Internships funded through the Meet the Moment ™ campaign will enable our ambitious, resilient students to develop the expertise and resilience they need to succeed in the real world.”

ELLIOT M. KATZMAN

Co-Chair, Campaign Steering Committee

At this pivotal moment, our world needs the talents, voices, perspectives, and solutions that Salem State students have to offer.

DONNA KATZMAN ’78, ’98G Co-Chair, Campaign Steering Committee

’78

’78, ’98G and Elliot Katzman ’78

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

to keep Salem State dynamic, diverse and resilient.

CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

Mary G. “Midge” DeSimone ’76, co-chair

Kim D. Gassett-Schiller ’83, ’18H, co-chair

Nicole E. Goggin ’14, ’17G, co-chair

Donna M. Katzman ’78, ’98G, co-chair

Elliot M. Katzman ’78, co-chair

Elisa Castillo, PhD

Jake J. Cotter ’12

Annalisa C. Di Palma

Dino N. Di Palma

Ryan Fisher, PhD

Arthur T. Gerald, Jr. ’12H

Bernard M. “Bernie” Gordon ’85H

Kathleen A. “Kathy” Murphy ’75

John C. Pastore, Jr. ’94, CRPC

Philip M. “Phil” Ricciardiello ’19H

Cindy Vincent, PhD

PRIMARY PHOTOGRAPHY: Tom Kates

DESIGN: Stoltze Design Group

CONTENT: Libretto, with contributions from Rebecca Hains, PhD, Sarah Jackson, Taylor Dunn, Beth Harrington

Salem State University Foundation, Inc.

352 Lafayette Street

Salem, Massachusetts 01970

978.542.7591

give@salemstate.edu

salemstate.edu/moment