Feature
Jo Surpin Steps Down as Board of Trustees Chair Salus University Board of Trustees (BOT) chair for the past 14 years, Jo Surpin stepped down from that role effective July 1, 2021. Rebecca Delia, who joined the board in 2018, stepped in as the new chair. “Different circumstances always continued to extend my term,” said Surpin, president of Applied Medical Software in Collingswood, New Jersey. “But, I think as the board has evolved and with all the new board members who have been brought on over the past few years, it seemed this was as good a time as any to allow for a change in leadership.” The change of board leadership at Salus has been a constant theme for Surpin, who first joined the board as a member in 1995. She saw — and helped promote — an evolution of leadership at the University over the years. “I think one of the most significant things in my mind that I feel I had a lot of influence on is changing the nature of the board itself,” she said. “What’s evolved is that now we are more than 50 percent women on the board, we’re a diverse board in gender, ethnicity and race. I am extremely proud that the board is now looking more and more like the University itself, those that we represent.” With the student population at Salus now more than 50 percent female, Surpin believes the faculty and administration have been sensitive to that
AFTER SERVING AS THE
aspect over the years, and what better way to start but at the top with board leadership. Among her other accomplishments on the board while chair has been working with Melissa Vitek, OD ’95, FAAO, dean of International and Continuing Education and Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) assistant professor, to create a mentor group for academic leadership and board members. It was at first intended for women, but several men in academic leadership wanted to participate. “And, their rationale for that was that they are teaching a lot of women and working with women in faculty positions,” she said. “So I believe we have opened up people’s eyes to the fact that there are differences. Not saying they are better or worse, but there are differences and you need to be sensitive to what those issues are.” The pandemic was especially challenging for everyone, including the BOT. Surpin credits Salus president Michael H. Mittelman, OD ’80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, for leading the University through rough waters. “With his public health background and his leadership in general, he really helped to guide the effort and kept the board fully apprised,” she said. “The board worked with him in terms of making sure that we handled things the best we could. This was new to every-
body. No one person could possibly do this, we needed a team to really think things through.” Dr. Mittelman recounted the significant contributions Surpin made to the University over the years, first as a member of the board and then as chair. “For me personally, it has been a pleasure to work closely with her as I began my tenure here at Salus and then as we worked together to continue to build on the wonderful legacy that was established before I got here,” he said.
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