Salem State University Impact 2016

impact 2016 SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

BOARD OF OVERSEERS Felix Amsler ‘87 Karen E. Andreas John C. Archer Kathleen L. Atkinson Richard C. Bane ’11H Wade Boylan ‘95 Arthur Broadhurst ‘88 Stuart A. Cohen Magnolia A. Contreras Joseph C. Correnti Katherine M. Curley-Katzman ’06 Lucy Dearborn ‘92 Henry S. Dembowski ’60, ’62G Midge DeSimone ‘76 Robert D. Ellison ’92 Joanne M. Fortunato ’84 Herbert A. Fox Francois G. Gadenne Kathleen T. Gardner ’82 Joseph G. Gauvain ’61 Dolores R. Gormley ’84 Rose M. Grant ’94 Andrea Gregory Joseph P. Haggerty ’02 Cynthia Hatch-Belhumeur Donald W. Hunt ’79 Geoffrey P. Hunt Holly J. Jannell Nicole L. Kieser Claude G. Lancome Diane R. Lapkin John H. Lindahl Wayne P. Marquis ’75 Owen Mathieu ‘01H Peter J. Martel ’77 Brian J. McNamara ’77 John D. Migliozzi ’80 Pamela M. Nottingham ’80, ’87G Nancy H. Palmer John C. Pastore Jr. ’94 Stacy A. Phelan ’91, ’10G John F. Piazza ’84 Todd Provost ‘86 Marcel Quiroga Karen L. Roberts ’78 Ruthanne Russell ‘82 Phyllis K. Sagan Steven Salvo ‘74 Julie M. Shea ’76 Ryan L. Shefferman ’02 Nancy H. Stager Deborah Tatelman Susan U. Vatalaro ’71, ’78G, ’91G Howard J. Wayne Wayne E. Webster ’74 Michael R. Wheeler Joel R. Whitman Elaine A. Zetes ’88G 28

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT LEADERSHIP

Patricia Maguire Meservey, president

Cynthia McGurren ’83 vice president and foundation executive director cmcgurren@salemstate.edu // 978.542.7591

A LUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Eileen M. O’Brien ’01, ’09G associate vice president eobrien@salemstate.edu // 978.542.7529

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Joseph Wamness ‘00G, president Debra Lee Surface ‘05, vice president of administration Christopher Corrente ‘10, 12’G, vice president of outreach Mikki Wilson ‘09, secretary Alyce Davis ‘75, alumni trustee Pamela Doherty ’92, immediate past president AFFINITY GROUP PRESIDENTS Patricia Libby ’71, friends of education Kelly Quinn ’08, ‘10G, friends of social work Barbara Baggs ‘13G, Bertolon School of Business alumni network MEMBERS AT LARGE Mary Bertrand ’13 Robert Callahan ’72 Guy Clinch ’89 Grazia Crivello ’09 Stephen Daly ’84 Kathryn D’Amour ’63, ’67G, ’81G Carol DiMento Esq. ’65, ’67G Josue Flores ’11, ’12, ‘15G Joanne Mendes ’79 Janet Merriman ’82 Linda Power ’90 Timothy Shea ’83G Carol Vara ’85, 92G Hope Watt-Bucci ’96G LEGACY MEMBERS Erik Champy ’89, ’94G Eileen Smith Connolly ’59, ‘77G Richard Durgan ’69 Dorothy Foley ‘48 Judith Josephs ’63, ’65G Josephine Kennedy ’72, ’76G Frank Lillo ’64, ’69G Jane Moroney ’60, ’62G Gary Roach ’80 Frederick Sannella ’64 Deirdre Sartorelli ’83 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Elizabeth Cabral, student trustee Daniel Veira, student government association representative

Cheryl Crounse assistant vice president and campaign manager ccrounse@salemstate.edu // 978.542.7527

FOUNDATION BOARD James M. Muse ’83, chair Gina V. Deschamps ’92G, president Frederick L. Cavanaugh ’69, vice president Kathleen L. Skrabut, vice president Jeffrey V. Cicolini ’94, treasurer Jeffrey E. LaCross ’93, secretary EX OFFICIO Patricia Maguire Meservey, university president Peggy L. Carl, director of athletics and recreation Joseph M. Wamness ’00G, alumni association president Cynthia McGurren ’83, executive director, vice president of institutional advancement DIRECTORS Annalisa C. Di Palma Albert V. DiVirgilio ’64, ’66G Carlie L. Dugan Richard L. Elia Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83 Suzanne S. Gruhl Robert T. Lutts Kathleen A. Murphy ’75 Paul A. Petrowski ’66 Bruce P. Potter ’79 Robert M. Riley ’00 Deirdre A. Sartorelli ’83 Jacob S. Segal Frank J. Sparicio ’53 Patricia H. Zaido ’12H

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Paul Mattera, chair Alyce Davis ‘75, vice chair Teresa J. Chisholm Elizabeth Cabral, student trustee Elliot Katzman ‘78 Rob Lutts Oscar F. Malcolm Kathleen Murphy ‘75 Pamela C. Scott Jacob S. Segal Diane T. Stringer

On the cover, a group of students gather on campus in Viking Hall. Pictured left to right: Camila Ferreira, Quinton Hurd, Ashley Walsh, Emelia Burke and Alexandria Acacia.

EDITORS James K. Glynn ’77 Lauren Carr DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Simeen Brown PHOTOGRAPHY Simeen Brown Mark Katz ’17 Michael Sperling CONTRIBUTORS Erica Bourbeau ’15 Nicole Bousquet Cheryl Crounse Wendy Davison Shannon Pettis Speros A. Zakas ‘70, ‘76G WRITING James K. Glynn ’77 Debra Longo Lauren Carr

Copyright 2016 Salem State University All publication rights reserved.

Send address changes to Institutional Advancement 352 Lafayette Street Salem, MA 01970 e: alumni@salemstate.edu t: 978.542.7530

Table of Contents 2 3 4 6 8 10 13 16 18 20 22

A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT MESERVEY FINANCIALS FOUNDATION REPORT THE GASSET T-SCHILLER ’83 ENDOWED CHAIR ACADEMICS COMMUNIT Y FACULT Y STUDENTS MOVING FORWARD SENIOR CL ASS GIF T EVENTS

In an effort to maximize our resources, and also to take green measures for the health of our planet, we have placed our donor roster online at salemstatereasons.com/DonerRoster.

impact

President’s Message

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ituated on the northeastern seaboard, we find ourselves in a wondrous region—not to mention in the heart of our nation’s top seafood providers. Protecting and harboring the treasured resources of the Northwest Atlantic is considered a vital charge for our location.

And Salem State is at the forefront!

At the university’s Cat Cove Marine Laboratory our students and professors are maritime researchers and aquatic farmers, spawning and raising New England staples—clams and mussels—in Massachusetts waters.

The transfer of knowledge and skills generated by Salem State collaborators is disseminated by outreach specialist and Fulbright scholar Joe Buttner, PhD. “Dr. Joe” is a professor of biology and aquaculture specialist and this past year, with colleagues and fellow Fulbright scholars Greg Carroll of Interdisciplinary Studies and Alan “Rocky” Shwedel, PhD, from education, helped to nurture a sustainable peace by creating jobs and promoting food security through aquaculture. Efforts have yielded a memorandum of understanding with the United Methodist University in Liberia and an opportunity for students to visit Liberia in 2017 as a new course experience. It appears that aquatic advances on Salem Sound are having regional and global impact.

In addition to Buttner, Carroll and Shwedel, two other faculty Fulbrights traveled the world. Associate Professor of Economics Van Pham lectured on economic education and development in Vietnam. Professor Van Pham spent five months educating students who are living in poverty in that region. And Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Liz Duclos-Orsello lectured on American studies and public humanities in Greece.

Continuing our forward motion, we made some important leadership appointments.

Chunju Chen, PhD, became our executive director for strategic planning and decision support. With 15 years of experience as executive director of institutional research at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Chen has extensive experience working across divisions to provide a full range of institutional research

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functions and strategic planning support that has already enhanced our data-driven decision making.

Following a national search, Gail Gasparich, PhD, joined us as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences this past spring. A celebrated scholar, she has received wide acclaim for her work with spiroplasma, a unique bacteria found in insects and crustaceans.

We welcomed Carla Tharp, PhD, as our new dean of students. Scott James, vice president of enrollment management, student life and marketing, remarked, “Carla is an accomplished and skilled administrator who brings renewed energy and expertise to the leadership of our student life programming, collaborating with all areas across campus to ensure that our students receive the best educational experience possible.”

With the arrival on campus of Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Lisa M. McBride, PhD; the advice and leadership of the President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity, Affirmative Action, Equity & Social Justice (PAC-D); and the active engagement of the entire Salem State community, the university took the necessary steps to prioritize diversity, achieve inclusivity at every level and further strengthen its efforts to retain and ensure the successful degree attainment of marginalized students.

And, like every year, it is our nearly 10,000 students who are our motivation for continuing to take the university to the new levels of excellence. The 2,156 members of the Class of 2016 represent the university’s largest-ever graduating class, and our graduation rate reached an all-time high of 52 percent. Read more on these pages about our students— such as Victoria Chase ’16, who was honored by Governor Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education with one of this year’s “29 Who Shine” awards—to learn more of the many programs established to support job opportunities and student success.

With that, I invite you to read on and appreciate all that is today’s Salem State University. We hope you’re as proud as we are of what’s been accomplished over the past year.

Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Patricia Maguire Meservey President, Salem State University

University Financials For Fiscal Year Ending June 30

(figures rounded to millions)

Expenses FY 2016

Revenues FY 2016

$18.1

$24.3 $0.08

$22.8 $62.7 $77.9

$27.8 $56.4 $0.7 $18.8

$23.6

Net Student Tuition and Fees: $62.7

Instruction and Academic Support: $77.9

Government Grants and Contracts: $18.8

Student Services and Scholarships: $23.6

State Appropriations, Net: $56.4

Public Service $0.7

Capital Grants: $0.08

Institutional Support: $27.8

Other Revenue: $24.3

Operation and Maintenance of Plant and Depreciation: $22.8 Auxiliary: $18.1

Net Position as of 6/30/16 Invested in Plant (net) $122.2 Restricted $5.8 Unrestricted $(17.0)

TOTAL NET POSITION

$111.0

Expenses FY 2016

Instruction and Academic Support $77.9 Student Services and Scholarships $23.6 Public Service $0.7 Institutional Support $27.8 Operation and Maintenance of Plant and Depreciation $22.8 Auxiliary $18.1

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impact

FOUNDATION REPORT

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t has been an exciting and momentous year for the Salem State University Foundation.

We are delighted to report the 10,000 Reasons Campaign has raised $22.1 million toward its $25 million goal. As we take a moment to recognize this impressive accomplishment, we cannot help but reflect on the impact the 10,000 Reasons Campaign is already making on our campus. There has been a tangible shift in giving culture as a result of 10,000 Reasons. This fiscal year, 11,844 donors gave to Salem State, our Annual Fund alone realized an 8 percent increase from last fiscal year—with our crowdfunding playing an integral role. Furthermore, our employee giving continues to impressively increase, both in dollars raised and in participation, with 93 percent of full-time faculty and staff giving back to Salem State.

This tangible progress means our message is resonating with our community. And with that support, come exciting new opportunities, like

the installation of the Gassett-Schiller ’83 Endowed Chair in Accounting and Finance—the first appointed tenured faculty chair position at Salem State University. The impact of this chair will be far-reaching, enabling us to be even more competitive in attracting and retaining top-caliber faculty to the Bertolon School of Business and, with AACSB accreditation, allowing us to go up against the best of the best when competing for students of extraordinary promise.

As was one of its intents, the campaign has positively impacted our endowment and investment portfolio, creating 47 new scholarship funds, seven of which were established last year alone. These scholarships play an integral role in keeping Salem State affordable. As state funding has declined, these efforts enable us to offer critical financial resources to help alleviate the financial burden many students feel. Furthermore, support for the campaign has increased our portfolio to $27 million.

Renovations of the new stateof-the-art Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts were a major funding priority of the campaign. The “Sophia” will function as a 32,000-square-foot center to house theatre and dance performances, music recitals, community gatherings, creative art displays, poetry readings and much more. We are pleased to see

this project come to life, confident that it will impact our students, faculty and the region for years to come.

The incredible fundraising success of our campaign is made possible through the collaboration of many strategic partners, including two outstanding volunteer leadership boards, the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board, the deeply committed volunteers of the 10,000 Reasons Campaign Steering Committee, our skillful advisors at Eastern Wealth Management, and you—the more than 11,000 (and counting) donors to this landmark campaign for Salem State.

In closing, we would like to pause and recognize the passing of one of our most beloved alumni and volunteers, Marilyn Flaherty ’54, who passed away in February. She spent nearly 60 years on the board of the Alumni Association, where she served as president twice. She also served for several decades on the Board of Directors of the Salem State University Foundation and the Friends of the School of Education. She was tireless, loyal and ever-focused on building relationships with Salem State students, alumni and anyone she came to know. She will be greatly missed.

To every one of you who, like Marilyn, believe in the important mission of our university, thank you for your support and generosity.

Yours truly,

Cynthia McGurren ’83 Executive Director, Salem State University Foundation Vice President of Institutional Advancement 4

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

Jim Muse ’83 President, Salem State University Foundation

Endowment Growth Since Inception of Campaign Through June 30, 2016 $30,000.000 $25,000.000 $20,000.000 $15,000.000 $10,000.000 $5,000.000

16 20

15 FY

20 FY

20

14

13 FY

20

12 FY

20

11 FY

20 FY

20 1/ 7/

Balance as of

10

$

Endowment Asset Allocation as of June 30, 2016

International Equities 13%

Cash and Short Term Securities 5% Commodities U.S. Treasury Notes 3% and Bonds 4%

U.S. Equities 46%

Corporate Bonds 27%

International Bonds 2%

Caretakers of the gifts entrusted to our institution are the members of the Salem State University Foundation Board, pictured at Marsh Hall on Central Campus.

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impact

11,844

11,844 alumni made a gift to Salem State in fiscal year ’16.

Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83 addresses the gathering for the GassettSchiller ’83 Endowed Chair in Accounting and Finance—the first appointed tenured faculty chair position at Salem State University.

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Alumna’s Gift Creates First Appointed Endowed Chair

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sk Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83 what her fondest memory of Salem State University is and it’s hard for her to pinpoint just one. “My whole experience at Salem State was so positive. All students can greatly benefit from their dedication to their course work,” says Gassett-Schiller.

Delve even deeper and you’ll see Gassett-Schiller truly exemplifies the Salem State spirit. Like many Salem State alumni, Gassett-Schiller is a first-generation college graduate who worked two jobs while attending classes, including serving as a tutor for the Learning Center, now the Center for Academic Excellence. Gassett-Schiller saw the value in giving back very soon after she left Salem State when she made her first gift to the university in December of 1983 just seven months after graduating.

The generous, hardworking resolve she developed at Salem State has served her well over the years. GassettSchiller credits her accounting education in preparing her for her own business career, in which she worked for companies including Putnam Investments and Oral-B. Today, she continues to give not only her financial support, but also her business expertise, including serving as a member of the Salem State Foundation Board of Directors and co-chair of the 10,000 Reasons Campaign.

Her long-standing dedication to Salem State culminated in a seven-figure gift she and her husband, Philip, made to help establish the Gassett-Schiller ’83 Endowed Chair in Accounting and Finance—the first appointed tenured endowed chair at Salem State University.

“Philip and I saw an opportunity to make a multilevel impact, one that would help students and faculty and elevate Salem State’s well-deserved reputation as a renowned business school,” explains Gassett-Schiller.

Associate Professor Norbert Tschakert, PhD, who has taught accounting in the Bertolon School of Business since 2011, is the inaugural chair. Tschakert also serves as the faculty advisor to the Student Accounting Association and

By Lauren Carr

is deeply engaged in the Bertolon School of Business and accounting academia. He is particularly eager to engage his colleagues and students in collaborative research studies.

“Research is very important because it advances the accounting field. Without it, progress would be much slower,” says Tschakert. “Investors and creditors from around the world rely on accounting information for many of their decisions. One area I would like to focus on is how data analytics can be used to improve accounting information and, more specifically, how it can improve auditing and forensic accounting.”

This transformational gift comes at an opportune time for the Bertolon School. According to its dean, Linda Nowak, PhD, “Employment reports for 2016 show accounting and auditing among the top 15 occupations in terms of job growth. The establishment of this endowed chair in the field will have very real benefits for both our majors and the school.”

Specifically, the endowed chair will help Salem State as it pursues establishing a master’s degree in accounting, as well as acquiring professional accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—a certification held by only 5 percent of business programs throughout the world.

Indeed, the chair’s impact is far-reaching. “We are humbled and very excited by this gift, which will directly impact our community, our faculty members, and most of all, our students,” says President Meservey.

“We hope this gift serves as a catalyst to attract other resources from our community to support our faculty in their research and teaching endeavors.”

“Kim has a deep, abiding commitment to our university,” says Cynthia McGurren, vice president of Institutional Advancement, and a fellow ’83 alumna. “She is not only generous with her financial contributions, but also with her time and talent—not to mention her contagious Salem State spirit.” n

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impact U.S. News & World Report ranked Salem State’s Master of Social Work program number 91 in the nation. In September, the School of Social Work marked its 30th anniversary.

Academics

I

t’s at the heart of what we do, and our unwavering commitment to excellence guides our approach to academics.

That approach caught the attention of the national media and received high-profile recognition when U.S. News & World Report ranked Salem State’s Master of Social Work program number 91 in the nation! Salem State is the only public institution of higher education in Massachusetts to crack the top 100 list, which places us in the company of Boston University and Boston College. Our previous highest ranking was 104 in 2013.

Placement in the top 100 is a credit to the innovative work, high academic ideals and extensive community outreach and leadership provided by Carol Bonner, PhD, associate dean of our School of Social Work, which marked its 30th anniversary this past September.

Our academic leadership also deserves credit for social work’s recognition and continues to play an integral role across campus. Last year there were several key transitions: •

Gail Gasparich, PhD, appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

•

Linda Nowak, PhD, appointed dean of the Bertolon School of Business

•

Neal DeChillo, PhD, stepped into his role as associate provost full-time and he will focus on academic assessment and faculty development

•

Occupational Therapy Department Chair Jeanne Corcoran, PhD, was appointed interim dean of the College of Health and Human Services

•

Librarian Zachary Newell was appointed interim director of the Frederick E. Berry Library

Under the leadership of our academic deans and with the participation of faculty from many different disciplines, we created several new programs and reformatted a few existing ones to better meet student and market needs. In undergraduate programming we developed and launched a fully online RN-BSN program and an accelerated second

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In response to a healthy demand for our newest major, we created an academic department of Healthcare Studies, which is housed in the College of Health and Human Services. In graduate programming, we developed and launched a popular new part-time Saturday Master of Social Work program and developed five new graduate certificates: Strategic Communications, Digital Studies (fully online), Foundations in Computer Science, Public Policy & Administration and Public History.

We also submitted the university’s Fifth Year Interim Report to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) to favorable review. Our report was recognized as outstanding, and Salem State’s NEASC team has been invited to present on how to prepare an interim report at the fall NEASC conference.

The Bertolon School of Business submitted its eligibility application to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and received notification in August that its application was approved to move forward. In addition, the School of Nursing’s Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program earned national approval for its curriculum by the American Nurses Credentialing Center; and the Criminal Justice program was Quinn Bill certified.

We strengthened our commitment to broaden Salem State’s international reach. During this academic year we entered new partnerships with the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland; Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University, Ukraine; and United Methodist University, Liberia.

Provost David Silva, PhD, Assistant Dean of International Students and Programs Ela Kijowska, and Professor of History Li Li, PhD, traveled to China to develop new relationships and strengthen existing ones with several institutions, including: Normal University, Soochow University, Ginling College, Huaqiao University and Beijing Union University. Finally, our recent partnership with the University of Mannheim facilitated two Salem State students studying in Germany. This fall we are reciprocating by hosting two students from Mannheim —one undergraduate and one graduate. n

What’s your reason? salemstate.edu/reasons

REASON

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Scott R. Sumrall ‘17 “To be able to support others in their studies while pursuing my own is the opportunity of a lifetime for me. The Kim Gassett-Schiller Tutoring Scholarship and the Kevin B. Harrington Scholarship have not only inspired me to continue to push myself to the limits of my abilities in order to grow as a student and as a teacher, but they have also helped make this possible in the first place.”

SALEM SALEM STATE STATE UNIVERSITY IMPACT

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impact

450,986

Student organizations and athletes performed over 450,986 hours of community service last year.

Student volunteers, including freshman education major Jessica Harr ’20, seen here applying a fresh coat of paint at the Nathaniel Bowditch School in Salem, volunteered at 31 organizations for the university’s inaugural “Moving Forward, Giving Back” event.

Community

U

nder the creative leadership of Cynthia Lynch as the Center for Civic Engagement’s first director, more than 250 students and 150 faculty, staff and alumni opened the current academic year with the university’s inaugural “Moving Forward, Giving Back” event. Together our community volunteered for 31 organizations across the region. As celebrated in an article in The Salem News, volunteers participated in outreach and learning initiatives such as preparing classrooms at a local school to help stimulate student learning, building new garden beds to increase the amount of vegetables that are grown and donated to needy families, and providing comfort to more than 70 dogs and cats that arrived at the Northeast Animal Shelter following a 15-hour drive from a kill shelter in South Carolina.

Marion Frost, a nursing professor, said helping at the shelter “couldn’t have been better for me. I’ve adopted four dogs here.” According to Jen Adams, volunteer coordinator at Northeast, “having 10 students here helping us is huge,” adding that the group was knocking out tasks “in a quarter of the time” that busy shelter staff couldn’t have done.

Former high school basketball All-American Chris Herren, alcohol- and drug-free since 2008, shared his harrowing story of substance abuse, shattered dreams of playing in the NBA and recovery at the 16th annual Youth at Risk (YAR) all-day conference. “We had a record 800

participants,” noted Jane Truesdell Ellis, co-chair of the YAR Committee. “The air was electric as participants networked and learned about new agencies and programs. As we listened to our keynote speakers talk about the current drug crisis, you could feel the sober reality of this critical issue facing all youth and those that serve them. Yet, there was optimism that we all can make a difference in creating a better future for youth, our work does have an impact, and our youth will be successful and reach their potential.”

Attendees were also treated to a short concert during lunch by the Lynn Public Schools Jazz Band, comprised of approximately 20 high school students directed by Joseph Picano, supervisor of fine arts. Salem State is committed to hosting the annual YAR event in the years to come.

For many years, the Bertolon School of Business has offered an IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program through local nonprofits to residents of surrounding communities. VITA trains volunteer students and provides free tax preparation to families and individuals who might be negatively impacted without help.

“It’s a win-win situation for the taxpayers, the community partners, and the students,” said Professor Nancy Osborne.

Student volunteers gained valuable professional accounting experience and many were offered full-time jobs after the program was over. According to one community partner, “Our intern’s work was consistently above average. continued on page 12

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What’s your reason? salemstate.edu/reasons

REASON

bachelor’s degree program in nursing.

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Kathleen Murphy ’75 “As was the case with many first generation college graduates, attending a local state college was my only option. My family could not afford a private school nor could we afford for me to stay on campus. I was the prototypical commuter student, trying to make a better life for myself. If not for the opportunity to attend Salem State, I would not be where I am today. The biology faculty helped me believe that I could be more than I ever dreamed, that I could get my MS and PhD degrees, and that I could become an expert in my field (consulting in the medical laboratory industry) followed by becoming the CEO and owner of my own firm. It’s time for me to pay it forward. I work part-time now and serve on the university’s Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board and have developed scholarship funds for current and future biology students. I am committed to helping others have the same access and opportunity that I enjoyed so many years ago.”

A health care consultant, Kathy is CEO and owner of Chi Solutions.

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The Center for Creative and Performing Arts joined with Art + Design this year to support the ArtBox project in Salem where our students converted otherwise unsightly electrical boxes into works of art. One example is in Salem’s downtown where artist Mark Katz ’17 completed this painting.

Another was painted by Emily Kwong ’17 and is right across the street from North Campus on the corner of West and Lafayette. Both Mark and Emily are Art + Design students.

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It was a unanimous decision to offer her a full-time job.”

The university once again organized community environmental activities during its Earth Days celebration in April. This year’s theme was “Elections and Environment: What’s At Stake?” and explored the role of environmental issues in the elections, and the role of the elections in deciding the future of planet Earth. The university also hosted the annual Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Career Day for 450 local middle school students in March. The event encourages young women to consider a profession in science and featured WBZ-TV meteorologist Danielle Niles as the speaker.

Two groups of students dedicated their spring break to volunteer. One group traveled to St. Joseph, Mo., to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, while another group returned to New Orleans and spent the week volunteering with The Saint Bernard Project.

In November, the university presented the first program in the 36th annual Salem State Series, featuring former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis and former FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers. Preceding the 2016 presidential election and the release of the movie Patriots Day, Davis and DesLauriers shared their stories of events during the Boston Marathon bombing, including responding to terrorist attacks, tracking down the offenders and rebuilding community confidence. Moderated by Lisa Hughes, the award-winning news anchor for WBZ-TV News, the event also raised funds to endow the Sean Collier ’09 Scholarship, in honor of the MIT patrol officer and Salem State alumnus who was killed in the days following the bombing.

The Salem State Alumni Association Civic Engagement Committee ran two Global Days of Service, adopted a home from the Northeast Arc and participated in charity walks, blood drives, and holiday gift card drives for nonprofits. It is a part of an important network of more than 60,000 alumni. Chaired by Mikki Wilson ’09, it created a strong relationship with the community.

“This program works because of the impact it makes on our alumni giving back to their community,” said Sean Morrow of Alumni Relations. “Ultimately, we want to create a program that brings in alumni who are passionately engaged in their community and understand the importance and value of their civic participation.”

Committed to imbuing a spirit of service across all sectors of its campus, Salem State has for the past three years achieved the highest federal recognition possible for an institution of higher education, by being placed on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. n

What’s your reason? salemstate.edu/reasons

REASON

866

Brian McNamara ’77 “As I look back on the start of my relationship with Salem State University in the fall of 1973, it occurs to me that the factors that drew me here may not be drastically different from that of many of today’s students. I was a blue-collar kid with good grades looking to be the first of my family to attain a college degree. Salem State was a good fit in terms of the size of the student body, the availability of on-campus housing and the ability to get a degree in business administration with an accounting concentration. As I moved along my career path, I’ve looked at the foundation I developed at Salem State to be a critical factor in the success I’ve had. I’ve continued to support the university financially during that time and was honored when asked to join the Board of Overseers a few years ago. It has provided another way for me to repay the university for all that it has given me.”

Brian is a senior compliance consultant at John Hancock financial services.

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impact

Assistant Professor of English January O’Neil received the 2015 Mass Book Award for Poetry for her poem “Misery Islands.”

93%

Ninety-three percent of faculty and staff have donated to the 10,000 Reasons Campaign.

Faculty Achievement

W

hen assistant professor of English January O’Neil’s poem “Misery Islands” (page 15) received the 2015 Mass Book Award for Poetry and was celebrated at the State House in January, it was just the beginning. Later that year, she was invited to the White House to participate in a celebration of student poetry as part of National Student Poets Day. For the record,

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O’Neil has also written for our alumni magazine Salem Statement, penning “Why Poetry? Why Now?” in the Spring 2014 issue.

The list of recognized faculty goes on.

Professor of English C. Julie Whitlow, PhD, received a Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation grant to visit teacher training departments and classrooms at various

Misery Islands

By January O’Neil

We were never of one body.

You said wind. I said water.

And whatever connected us has all but disappeared.

I was the reedy weeds clinging to the bottom edge of everything.

I was the red algae rotting on the shore in the summer heat.

I was the stinging salty air, the air around your tongue.

Out of your tongue you carved a boat.

Out of the boat you sailed to a new life.

Out of your lifeboat I was wrecked.

No man is an island but it lives inside of you, adrift in you like a rupture, a fault, magma rising from your ocean floor as you become whoever you are becoming.

universities in China. Assistant Professor of Education Melanie Gonzalez, PhD, received a grant to participate in the International Society for the Linguistics of English Summer School at the University of Amsterdam.

Assistant Professor of Geography Noel Healy, PhD, participated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as part of a grant received from the Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation in 2015. The fellowship provided “the rare opportunity to observe the negotiation of the world’s most important global climate treaty,” he said. And it provided “an extraordinary opportunity to collect data for my timely research project on the fossil fuel divestment movement.”

Assistant Professor of Dance James Morrow, PhD, was honored with a prestigious 2015 Meier Achievement Award from the Helen Coburn Meier & Tim Meier Charitable Foundation for the Arts for his creative achievements in dance.

Professor of Geography Stephen Young, PhD, and Professor of Biology Paul Kelly, PhD, had their work “Macro or Micro? Challenging Our Perceptions of Scale” exhibited at the Museum of Science. Bridging art and science, this fascinating work depicted a range of satellite and

microscopic images that challenged viewers’ perceptions of Earth and raised questions about our place in the universe.

February saw the release of the acclaimed new book Understanding and Teaching American Slavery co-edited

by Associate Professor of History Bethany Jay, PhD. Deemed “a book that has the potential to change the way that slavery is taught in American schools” by Education Week, this compilation of essays provides content and teaching strategies to examine the historical underpinning of slavery in America and how it has shaped our culture and institutions. She presented to the Salem State Board of Overseers in October.

In the spring Assistant Professor of Music Mike Testa was selected as a quarterfinalist for the Grammy in the Schools’ 2017 Music Educator Award, which was established to recognize current educators that have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education.

Art + Design Professor Ken Reker and his summer students were responsible for outdoor sculptures that captivate the imagination, including a work titled “Double Trouble” along the Harborwalk in Boston. Their works are also on display at various locations on the North Shore.

Assistant Professor of Education Laurie DicksteinFischer, PhD, conducted clinical trials for her Penguin for Autism Behavioral Intervention (PABI). Shaped like a penguin, this toy-like social robot has the potential to be a functional tool for families and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practitioners by increasing child engagement, standardizing procedures and enhancing supervision. Her cutting-edge research is in collaboration with faculty at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Professors Reva Kasman, PhD, and Julie Kiernan were recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award. Kiernan is a full-time temporary lecturer in theatre and speech communication and received the award for faculty in the non-tenure track. Kasman is an associate professor of mathematics and received the award for faculty in the tenure track. In announcing the winners, Provost David Silva, PhD, noted, “The award publicly acknowledges the core mission of the university through recognition of those faculty members who have profoundly inspired and engaged our students. Although only two faculty members are recognized each year—one tenure track and one nontenure track—the award is intended to honor all educators at Salem State who are committed to teaching excellence.” n

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Student Success

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ur students’ success remains at the core of everything we do at Salem State.

Theatre earned recognition for its excellence with a gift of nearly $23,000 from the Irene Ryan Foundation to create the Irene Ryan and Kingsley Colton Scholarship for undergraduates studying acting.

The scholarship was brought up to the endowment level of $25,000 with the additional donations of professors Celena Sky April and David Allen George, who have mentored and inspired Salem State actors for more than 30 years. This endowed, institutional scholarship will be awarded annually to deserving students selected by theatre and speech communication.

Also on the national level, activist Nazda Alam, a 2004 graduate of the School of Social Work, who earned praise for her efforts to register eligible but unregistered Muslim voters nationwide, was the guest of Massachusetts 5th district congresswoman Katherine Clark at President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address on January 12.

Also on Pennsylvania Avenue, student trustee Elizabeth Cabral ’17, a double major in political science and criminal justice, gained invaluable experience interning in the offices of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Edward Markey through the generosity of donors to the Washington DC, internship endowment. She learned the dynamics of implementing change through policy, particularly on issues stemming from criminal justice reform.

Philosophy student Melissa Sagendorph was awarded a national fellowship from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Melissa was among 51 fellows throughout the US to be awarded $5,000 as a member entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Awardees are chosen in part based on their outstanding academic performance and service and learning experiences.

Pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in world languages and cultures with a concentration in Italian, seniors Lindsay Asaro and Caitlin O’Toole, together with Megan-Michael Powell, who is minoring in Italian, were awarded eightmonth scholarships to assist secondary school teachers of English in Lombardy, Italy. The Lombardy program, also called SITE (Study Intercultural Training Experience), is

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Jesse Fermin ’18, left, and Jehovanie Robert ’16, front center, wrote and produced a powerful play about mental health. an exciting opportunity for students or new graduates to gain a better understanding of the Italian language and culture, while assisting Italian teachers in their work. This unique program promotes linguistic and intercultural exchange within Europe and across the globe.

While creativity abounds across the Salem State campus, it manifests itself in various venues. One particularly powerful expression came from the student-based Urban Arts organization which, under the leadership of Jesse Fermin ’18 and Jehovanie Robert ’16, staged a powerful play about mental health. Jesse Fermin, executive vice president of the Latin American Student Organization, who also holds the position of junior senator of the Student Government Association, said a strong message was

delivered: “If you are suffering from mental illness, or you know of someone who is, never be afraid to seek help.”

Career Services hosted 136 employers and 450 students on campus for its annual Career Fair, which continues to serve as an integral resource for connecting students with potential employers. Companies in attendance included Boston Ballet, Bank of America, FBI, North Shore Medical Center, Museum of Fine Arts, Target, Verizon and YMCA of the North Shore, among many others.

In September, accounting and finance majors participated in the annual Meet the Firms Night, a popular networking event, which enables students to schedule interviews with potential employers and make important career connections with CPA firms and other organizations with accounting recruiting programs. This year’s event was the largest yet, with 24 companies and 99 students attending. Firms such as State Street, PwC, Ernst & Young, Putnam Investments and others attended this year.

Meanwhile, our accomplished alumni in the workforce have been on the lookout for Salem State grads. One is Jeff Cicolini, a 1994 business major and economics minor, who has served since 2009 as treasurer and chair of the Foundation’s Audit and Finance Committee. He joined Alexander, Aronson and Finning (AAFCPAs) and worked his way up to become a partner in December 2006. “Each of my professors played an integral part in my preparation for the real world. I use the verbal, written, accounting and management skills I learned every day in the business world,” Jeff says. At East Boston Savings Bank, Jeff Camenker ’94G notes there are four Salem State grads on his risk management team, “and we’re looking for more.”

Scholarships continue to expand the learning experience for deserving students. Salem High School senior Javier Fernandez Gonzalez was named the university’s newest Jack Welch Scholar. The coveted designation will be providing Gonzalez full tuition in the Bertolon School of Business for four years. It’s the result of a $1 million gift made to the university in 2005 by former General Electric CEO Jack Welch, a Salem native, and his wife Suzy.

This year marked the awarding of the first Harold T. and Alice M. McCarthy Scholarship to a deserving first-year art + design student. This endowed scholarship was established

by Harold and Alice with a $1.8 million bequest. Siblings who were born and raised in Salem, they wished to support talented students in need to further their education in the areas of painting, graphic arts or ceramics. The McCarthy

Scholarship covers tuition, fees, and room and board in full for four years. The first recipient was Adriana Ansaldi, now a sophomore, who submitted an extraordinary 10-15 piece Our graduation rate portfolio of original artwork increased from 37 in a variety of mediums. percent to 52 percent On the fields of athletic over the past decade. competition, three Viking teams—men’s hockey, baseball and golf—captured Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) titles while the new club rugby team went all the way to a national championship with senior Marquise Bailey-Dillard named MVP of the final game. Also recognized for their outstanding performances last year were men’s hockey goalie Marcus Zelzer and baseball co-captain Richard Fecteau. Zelzer, who returns to the team as a senior this season, was named the 2015-16 MASCAC men’s ice hockey player of the year. Fecteau, who powered Salem State to the MASCAC baseball title, earned MVP honors and was drafted by the California Angels. n

52%

Student trustee Elizabeth Cabral ’17 interned in Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office as well as in the office of Sen. Ed Markey (above).

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Moving Forward

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ront and center on well-traveled Lafayette Street, the Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts will open its doors next spring! And we have our donors to thank for that. From the 2006 campaign to the 10,000 Reasons Campaign, you have been a part of it all, participating in the Take Your Seat program and making other gifts that have made the project possible. You’re the reason! And, if you haven’t taken your seat yet? Well, there’s still time. Call Erica Bourbeau at 978.542.2264 or email her at ebourbeau@salemstate.edu.

A special thanks, of course, to Bernard ’85H and Sophia Gordon for providing the lead gift that gave us the financial momentum. We look forward to celebrating this beautiful state-of-the-art building that will have a positive

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impact on our university and the North Shore region.

In the spring, the next Series installment brings Grammy Award-winning soulster John Legend to campus. With the establishment of the “Show Me Campaign,” Mr. Legend is encouraging social, economic, personal and educational growth of individuals, families and communities.

The Collaboration Committee has accepted the responsibility for leading the process of developing the university’s next five-year strategic planning document. The committee, co-chaired by Monica Leisey, associate professor of social work, and Nate Bryant, assistant dean, center for academic excellence, has been outlining the process. We hope you’ll participate.

Meanwhile, Sasaki Associates is undertaking a six-

26% to eight-month North Campus Precinct Study with a goal of determining the most feasible and efficient way to relocate and reconfigure various areas of our campus—in particular, North Campus—without interrupting ongoing activities.

Partnering with Ben Szalewicz, assistant vice president of facilities, Sasaki is developing a plan to move the Horace Mann Lab School to South Campus and programming housed in the Harrington Building to North Campus.

Through the work of the President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity, Affirmative Action, Equity and Social Justice, we have undertaken a campus climate study. This effort is being led by Rebecca Comage, director of diversity and multicultural affairs, and Sophia Evett, chairperson of psychology. Through focus groups and interviews, they

Applications soared over 10,000, an increase of 26 percent over 2015.

will identify areas of strengths and opportunities for improvement. The information gathered during the fall will be supplemented by the results of surveys conducted during the spring semester. Together, the data will provide an assessment that will inform our initiatives going forward.

In March 2015, Salem State University lost a beloved member of its community in a tragic car accident.

Meaghan Noel, who was a senior, will be remembered by her friends in both the dance and education departments.

A Celebration of Meaghan’s Life took place in April, and The Meaghan Noel Scholarship for Dance was recently endowed and will be awarded for the first time in the fall of 2017. n SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

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2,156

The 2,156 members of the Class of 2016 represent the university’s largest-ever graduating class, which contributed the largest amount of any class to the campaign.

Senior Class Gift A New Salem State Tradition What is the Senior Gift Campaign?

Established by the Class of 2013, the Senior Class Gift Campaign is a giving program designed specifically for graduating seniors. The goal is to build a sense of community and class unity. It also offers seniors the opportunity to leave their mark on the university.

Who benefits from our class gift?

All gifts donated by seniors will go into the Senior Class Gift Fund and then be awarded in the next academic year to an incoming first-year student.

Why do seniors give?

It’s a way for students to leave a legacy on campus and express appreciation for Salem State, which has brought friendships that will last a lifetime.

Participation also shows Salem State pride.

How much should I give?

The senior class gift is more than the dollars raised, it’s about the fellowship and fun created when the class participates in a cause. Whether you give $5, $15, $20.17* or $50, the important part is your participation in the senior gift process. *If a student makes a gift of $20.17 or more, in honor of his or her graduation year, he or she will be recognized at commencement by wearing the green cord of philanthropy.

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Senior Class Gifts Over The Years:

2013: $1,500 2014: $ 3,950 2015: $ 5,385 2016: $ 5,857

What’s your reason? salemstate.edu/reasons

REASON

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Arlene Jaquez ’16 “I’ve had so many opportunities at Salem State. When I think back to how lucky I felt, I realized I wanted a future Salem State student to feel that same special way. The senior class gift to me was a way to allow an incoming freshman to feel proud and lucky for opportunities they will have. The senior class gift is important to me because it gives the recipient a positive outlook and reinforces the idea that the sky truly is the limit and anything is possible.”

Arlene Jaquez ’16 is the former president of the Student Philanthropy Council and Senior Class Gift Campaign.

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Wine Auction More than 125 guests attended the sixth annual Fine Wines and Fabulous Finds Auction. The evening was filled with laughter and fun, featuring gourmet hors d’oeuvres, high-end wine and a wonderful community spirit. Thank you to our attendees for raising their paddles to generate nearly $ 90,000 for student scholarships. Pictured right are Rick Meservey, Trustee Chair Paul Mattera, Donna Katzman ’78, Elliot Katzman ’78, Judy Mattera and President Patricia Maguire Meservey.

Attending the annual wine auction at the seaside home of the Di Palmas in Swampscott are, from the left, Rick Meservey, Annalisa Di Palma, Dino Di Palma, President Patricia Maguire Meservey, Jeanne Muse and Foundation Board Chair Jim Muse.

Drinkwater Way Dean Drinkwater ’94, left, and his dad, Dennis ’67, ’12H, both longtime supporters of Salem State, arrive for the dedication of Drinkwater Way, a pedestrian stretch along the library on North Campus.

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Be a part of history.

The U.S. Senior Open Championship returns to Salem Country Club in the summer of 2017. The Salem State University Alumni Association is proud to partner with the U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Join us to capture the magic of this historic occasion.

Learn more at 2017USSeniorOpen.com

2017 U.S. Senior Open | June 26 - July 2 | Salem Country Club | Peabody, MA SALEM COUNTRY CLUB

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Alumni Weekend

The Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony at Homecoming with our newest inductees, from the left, Matt Baran ’07 (men’s golf), Jeff Santora ’10 (men’s golf), Yuta Kizaki ’09 (men’s soccer), Tim Shea ’83G (athletic director from 2002 to 2014 and head women’s basketball coach from 1981 to 2011), Danielle Jenkins-Herman ’12 (women’s basketball) and Joe Sarcia ’93 (baseball).

A group of fun-seekers are in the right place—Salem State’s North Campus where the fun is just starting at the annual Party on McKeown Plaza.

Homecoming Above, led by Sabrina Ornae ’19, the student club Ssockapella performs during the Viking Tailgate Celebration at the Gassett Fitness Center—just part of the fun over the course of Homecoming and Family Weekend in September and October.

Left, a group of ’66 alums gather for a photo during the 50th Reunion Reception and Induction for the Class of 1966 at the elegant Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. Part of Alumni Weekend 2016 in June, it was a chance to share old memories. But that was only part of the fun. The evening included hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary open bar.

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Thursday, March 30 O’Keefe Complex • 7:30 pm PRESENTING SPONSOR

978.542.7555 salemstate.edu/series † deceased

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352 Lafayette Street

Salem, Massachusetts 01970-5353

salemstate.edu

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