Salem Statement Spring 2017

Salem

The Magazine of Salem State University Alumni | Spring 2017 SPECIAL EDITION

STATEMENT

YOU’RE THE REASON! SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY COMPLETES LARGEST-EVER FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN.

REASON

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Patricia Maguire Meservey President

YOU’RE THE REASON! YOU’RE THE REASON!

Campaign Priority

“I am so moved by the support we have seen as a result of our 10,000 Reasons Campaign. Thousands of alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff have stepped forward and demonstrated their dedication to Salem State University. It is heartwarming to see how many people believe in our university and our students.”

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Paul Mattera Chair, Board of Trustees “The 10,000 Reasons Campaign has enabled Salem State to expand and evolve in critical ways, including growth in the physical campus, curriculum, student life, student achievement, and the university’s endowment. I am honored to have been a part of this tremendous group effort that will have long-lasting impact on the university.”

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Dear Friends, In this special campaign issue of the Statement, we are celebrating the wonderful success of our 10,000 Reasons Campaign—the institution’s largest-ever fundraising effort and firstever comprehensive campaign—which raised $26,500,701. This extraordinary achievement is a true reflection of the teamwork and community spirit that Salem State embodies.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the institutional advancement (IA) team who, under the expert guidance of Cynthia McGurren ’83, vice president of IA, worked diligently throughout the past five years to secure invaluable philanthropic support from our large community of supporters, including our own faculty, staff and students, along with the extended community of alumni, neighbors, foundations, corporations and many others. We are particularly proud to note that an overwhelming 94 percent of full-time university faculty and staff supported 10,000 Reasons—a figure that reflects their pride and commitment to Salem State, which we are privileged to witness firsthand every day. We would also like to thank our campaign co-chairs, Henry Bertolon ’74 and Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83, who were tireless champions and leaders of this campaign, helping to promote, support and advocate for this special institution, as well as our phenomenal Campaign Steering Committee who generously volunteered their time to raise support and awareness of 10,000 Reasons.

These collective efforts enabled us to reach and surpass our $25 million goal. This success will propel us to the next level of academic excellence by embracing and fueling important university- and campus-wide priorities. Whether funding student scholarships, educational programs, crucial student experience funds, or faculty and academic funds, helping Salem State means helping students achieve their dreams of a higher education and a bright future.

We invite you to read through this special edition of the Statement, which highlights some of the campaign’s most significant achievements, including raising more than $5.5 million for student financial assistance; programming for the creative and performing arts that will occur in the “Sophia” and around our entire campus; and establishing the Wellness U program, a unique initiative that promotes well-being for the entire college community by offering wellness sessions such as cardio kickboxing, smoking cessation and a walking meditation class. You will also meet a few of our inspiring students who are directly benefitted by the campaign.

Thank you for your support of the 10,000 Reasons Campaign—you’re the reason Salem State will continue to serve as a leading university that offers more opportunity and promise than ever before.

Sincerely,

Patricia Maguire Meservey President

Paul Mattera Chair, Board of Trustees

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Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83 Campaign Co-Chair “At our core, we are a community that helps people. Look at the faculty and staff and the support they give their students already. Every day, in every building on campus, there are amazing things happening. I’m proud to support them through the 10,000 Reasons Campaign.”

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Henry Bertolon ’74 Campaign Co-Chair “I’m so proud to be a part of Salem State, where people care about their work and about every one of our students. Hopefully, more people will recognize what a jewel we have in the center of our community, do what they can to contribute and help us become an even better place.”

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Dear Friends, We did it—and more! We surpassed the 10,000 Reasons Campaign goal, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you—our dedicated community of supporters who gave their time, efforts and resources to make Salem State’s first-ever comprehensive campaign a resounding success.

You’re the reason more students will receive financial support for their education. You’re the reason our outstanding faculty can pursue important professional development efforts like faculty fellowships and field research studies. You’re the reason Salem State will continue to sustain and enhance its world-renowned reputation of fostering the next generation of teachers, business men and women, and community leaders who will give their best to strengthen the social and economic fabric of the city of Salem, the state of Massachusetts and beyond.

While it is important to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate these incredible achievements, we will not rest on our laurels. In fact, we have only just begun. Support for 10,000 Reasons has put a foundation of support into place—a foundation that will provide important financial backing for students, new state-of-the-art facilities and a wide range of other important initiatives (described throughout this special edition of the Statement) that will enable Salem State to continue to offer a world-class education to students, no matter their financial background. However, it doesn’t even come close to solving the need that our students have for attending the university.

Indeed, with an approximate 60 percent decrease seen in public funding over the past 50 years, it is more important than ever before to make sure Salem State can continue to meet the rising costs of higher education so that students who can least afford it still have the opportunity to go to see their dreams become a reality.

As alums of Salem State, we know firsthand how well the university prepares its students for their future aspirations. We were thrilled to be a part of this incredible journey, whose success will directly impact thousands of students, faculty, staff, and others in our community now, and in the future. We could not have done this without you.

Thank you for playing your part—you’re the reason!

In gratitude,

Henry Bertolon ’74 Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83 Co-Chair Co-Chair 10,000 Reasons Campaign 10,000 Reasons Campaign FA L L 2 0 16 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

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Dear Friends, Together, we have had the privilege of leading and collaborating with a talented group of Foundation Board members who each were dedicated to steadfastly supporting the 10,000 Reasons Campaign and further strengthening this wonderful university that is central to our community and our region. Our 25-member board, a group comprised of alumni and community leaders who take their roles seriously as stewards of contributed private funds, worked together to ensure Salem State’s largest-ever fundraising campaign was successful. The campaign’s success is easily seen by the numbers: • $26,500,701: cumulative total raised by the 10,000 Reasons Campaign • 12,297: total number of campaign donors • 112.3%: percentage the Salem State University Foundation endowment has grown since the campaign’s inception in 2011 (from approximately $12.08 million to $25.65 million) • 49: number of new scholarship funds created for a total of more than $5.5 million These are just a few of the impressive achievements that illustrate the breadth and depth of the support behind the 10,000 Reasons Campaign and its message and mission. These accomplishments will impact the university now, and in the years and decades to come. In particular, the strength of our endowment will ensure Salem State remains solid, able to provide important financial assistance to students in need, as well as to fuel important academic initiatives that enhance our schools and departments and the renowned faculty who lead them.

The Foundation Board also hosted a variety of important fundraising and educational events throughout the campaign, including our annual Fine Wines and Fabulous Finds Auction that has raised more than $590,000 for student scholarships, and the popular Salem State Series, one of the first high-profile speaker series in the country, which has featured countless world leaders, athletes and artists including former U.S. Presidents Ford, Carter, Bush (41) and Clinton, as well as Benazir Bhutto, Robert Redford, Maya Angelou, and Tom Brady, to name just a few.

We are so proud of what this university has achieved with the 10,000 Reasons Campaign. On behalf of our dedicated team, we thank you for being part of our family—and for being a “reason” Salem State will continue to succeed.

Sincerely, Cynthia McGurren ’83 Executive Director 4

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James Muse ’83 Robert Lutts

Chair Past Chair (2013-16)

Gina Deschamps ’92G President

editor

TAB LE O F C O N TE N T S

Lauren Carr design and production Simeen Brown copy editors Lauren Carr Cheryl Crounse Speros A. Zakas ’70, ’76G p h o t o g r a p hy Simeen Brown Joel Haskell Photography Michael Sperling writing Lauren Carr Brieanne Christian ’17 Cheryl Crounse Katie Curley-Katzman ’06

CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES 6

Introduction and Timeline

Academic Programs and Faculty Support

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Gordons Make Record-Breaking Gift to Salem State Social Justice for All A Legacy of Educational Leadership in the Community Endowing the Future Nursing Matters

Anne Driscoll ’76 Ashley Festa Debra Longo Lisa McFadden ’99G Cynthia McGurren ’83 Michael Randall Mariana Sousa ’17 Patricia Zaido ’12H

Student Experience

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Honoring Unlimited Potential Tapping Student Talent Fulfilling Our Promise of Inclusivity UPS Helps Student Vets

t: 978.542.7519 e: statement@salemstate.edu w: salemstate.edu/statement

Financial Assistance

Salem State University,

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Funding Dreams

Salem, MA publishes Salem Statement twice a year.

Copyright 2017 Salem State University All publication rights reserved. Send address changes to Alumni Affairs a: 352 Lafayette Street Salem, MA 01970 e: alumni@salemstate.edu

Annual Support

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The Art of Giving The Power of Unrestricted Support Wellness U: A Healthy Community The Senior Class Gift: An Ongoing Tradition Expanding Support for Upward Bound Campaign Leadership

t: 978.542.7552 on the cover President Patricia Maguire Meservey, along with students, staff and faculty, gather on

Alumni

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North Campus, McKeown Plaza, to show their gratitude to our donors.

Class Notes Honoring Eileen O’Brien: Salem State Alumna, Leader and Friend

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10,000 REASONS CAMPAIGN: A LOOK BACK

Salem State University is more than a degree-granting institution; it’s a community of people brought together by a shared belief that higher education can transform lives.

The 10,000 Reasons Campaign ­­— the university’s first-ever comprehensive campaign— underscored our community’s unwavering commitment to students. From enhancements to academic programs, facilities and support services to increased opportunities for student-faculty research and experiential learning, this campaign has strengthened our ability to provide every Salem State student with a truly world-class education. The following timeline highlights some of the key milestones achieved throughout this successful campaign.

CAMPUS COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED WITH FLASH MOB

December 2011 and December 2016: Nate Bryant ’87, assistant dean of the Center for Academic Excellence, and Amy Everitt, professor of healthcare studies, chaired a campus community campaign leveraging support from 94 percent of the university’s faculty and staff—contributing more than $2.2 million and more than an additional $1 million in planned gifts recognized through membership in the Crosby Society. The co-chairs kicked things off with a flash mob dance at the 2011 holiday party and ended with a lip dub at the 2016 holiday party with “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang.

DECEMBER 2011

GASSETT FITNESS CENTER OPENED

A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marked the opening of the Harold E. and Marilyn J. Gassett Fitness and Recreation Center. The center offers Salem State’s 9,600 students access to 45,000 square feet of top-tier exercise equipment, a new basketball court, studios for dance and yoga, a batting cage, and a lounge area. Named in memory of 1983 alumna Kim Gassett-Schiller’s parents, the center promotes a culture of health and wellness on campus.

NOVEMBER 2013

Campaign Timeline FEBRUARY 2011 BOARDS VOTED TO ENTER A COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN At a joint meeting of the Foundation and Trustees, a vote was taken, committing to providing the resources for a $25 million campaign.

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JANUARY 2012 CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE HELD ITS FIRST MEETING

This diverse group of 11 committed volunteers was the key decision group guiding the campaign to its successful completion.

FEBRUARY 2012 RECORD-BREAKING SUPPORT

The university received its largest estate gift on record, from Alice McCarthy, totaling $1.8 million to endow a scholarship for art students.

NOVEMBER 2012 BOARD PARTICIPATION REACHED 100% The Foundation Board of Directors and Board of Trustees reached 100 percent participation in support of the campaign.

$26,500,701 campaign

RAISED FOR THE

WALSH WRITING CENTER DEDICATED

Salem State formally honored Rick and Jean Walsh ’71 and their longstanding support to the university, with the dedication of the Mary G. Walsh Writing Center, named after Rick’s mother, who loved to read.

Jean and Rick have committed $500,000 since the inception of the 10,000 Reasons Campaign.

AUGUST 2013

APRIL 2014

PUBLIC LAUNCH OF THE 10,000 REASONS CAMPAIGN FOR SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

The university’s largest-ever fundraising effort and firstever comprehensive campaign launched at a black tie gala.

In name and in spirit, it celebrated the individual voices of our 10,000 students as well as the community we build together of faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.

timeline continued on page 8

JULY 2014

MCKEOWN MEMORIAL PLAZA DEDICATED TO A ‘REGULAR’ PERSON WHO MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE

The James L. McKeown ’77 Memorial Plaza honored the late “Jamie” McKeown, a magna cum laude graduate of Salem State’s Class of 1977. The university dedicated the plaza to acknowledge the wonderful generosity that Joyce and Bill Cummings ’13H made possible through the Cummings Foundation. The Cummingses’ cited Jamie’s “unwavering integrity, professionalism, friendliness, and dedication to his community and its young people,” in their dedication remarks.

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DEDICATION OF THE PAUL PETROWSKI ’66 CONFERENCE ROOM

Marsh Hall 210 is now formally titled the “Paul Petrowski ’66 Conference Room,” which recognized Mr. Petrowski’s $435,000 commitment to the university through the campaign.

APRIL 2015

RICCIARDIELLO ATRIUM CELEBRATED

During the annual celebration of giving event held at the O’Keefe Center, the new atrium in the Gassett Fitness Center was named for alumna Joanne (O’Keefe) Ricciardiello ’68 and her husband Philip Ricciardiello. Their major gift of $250,000 will provide students with generous scholarship support.

SEPTEMBER 2014

VIKING CHALLENGE REACHED ITS GOAL

Campaign co-chairs Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83 and Henry Bertolon ’74 generously issued the Viking Challenge to our alumni and greater community to bring our campaign donors from more than 9,000 up to 10,000. The goal was surpassed with more than 10,000 donors and $19,831.40 raised by the challenge.

JUNE 2015

Campaign Timeline

timeline continued from page 7

MARCH 2015

DENISE AND MIKE GILLIGAN ’70 NAMED A ROOM IN HONOR OF WILLIAM GILLIS ’66G

The William “Bill” Gillis ’66G Office was honored with a naming due to a gift made by Denise B. and Michael W. Gilligan ’70. Bill was a longtime faculty member, former coach and athletic director who left a strong legacy in those he touched while at Salem State. The ceremony united many alumni who were former men’s hockey players, including Gilligan.

Mike, the university’s first hockey player to earn All-American status, went on to coach at University of Vermont and, ultimately, the women’s Olympic hockey team.

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FIRST GASSETT-SCHILLER ’83 ENDOWED CHAIR INSTALLED

The Bertolon School of Business welcomed Norbert Tschakert, PhD, the inaugural Gassett-Schiller ’83 Endowed Chair of Accounting and Finance, the first appointed tenured endowed chair at Salem State University. The chair honors contributions of Kim D. Gassett-Schiller ’83 and her husband Philip Schiller.

SEPTEMBER 2016

DRINKWATER WAY DEDICATION

Dean Drinkwater ’94 and father Dennis ’67, ’12H, both longtime supporters of Salem State, at the dedication of Drinkwater Way, a pedestrian stretch along the library on North Campus. The walkway was named in recognition of the Drinkwater family’s longstanding support of Salem State.

JUNE 2016

AUGUST 2015

BERNARD AND SOPHIA GORDON MADE UNPRECEDENTED $3.36 MILLION GIFT

The Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts opened its doors at Salem State University this spring. The “Sophia” was named by Bernard Gordon ’85H to honor his wife, Sophia Gordon. This, our largest campaign gift, will create transformative opportunities for creative and performing arts at the university.

NOVEMBER 2016

HARRIGAN PERIODICAL ROOM NAMED IN MEMORY OF DANIEL F. HARRIGAN ’27 AND TO HONOR PHILANTHROPISTS JANET ’68 AND KENNETH HIMMEL ’85H Family and friends of Janet ’68 and Kenneth Himmel ’85H gathered in the library to pay tribute to Janet’s father, Daniel F. Harrigan ’27, to name the Periodical Room in the Berry Library. The tribute also recognized the generous support of Janet and Ken and their long-standing commitment to Salem State’s Fine Wines and Fabulous Finds Auction, and their own philanthropic generosity.

DECEMBER 31, 2016 CAMPAIGN CONCLUDED

Campaign ended, successfully concluding the first-ever comprehensive campaign for the university and raised a total of $26,500,701.

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Campaign Priority On June 3, 2014, Bernard and Sophia Gordon (center) celebrated the groundbreaking of the “Sophia” with (lef t to right) John Keenan, general counsel and vice president of administration at Salem State; James T. Morris, board chairman of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority; Shirin Karanfiloglu, director of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance; Pamela Scott, member of the Board of Trustees at Salem State; Patricia Maguire Meservey, president of Salem State; Andrea Leers, principal of Leers Weinzapfel Associates; and William Cunningham, professor of theatre and speech communication at Salem State.

GORDONS MAKE RECORDBREAKING GIFT TO SALEM STATE PATRICIA ZAIDO ’12H In the early 1960s, the faculty of the newly created theatre and speech department was quite an unusual cast of characters: the chair, Frank Callan, a librarian with a love of theatre and a professor of public speaking. In 1965 two new faculty members were hired, myself, with an undergraduate degree in theatre and a master’s in speech pathology and Charlotte Ettinger, who did have a master’s degree in theatre. That year, Charlotte taught the one theatre class offered called “Introduction to Theatre Arts.”

She also directed the “Footlighters,” a student-run drama club driven by a group of enthusiastic students with no theatrical experience. All this, in a 1950s auditorium— and so it began!

In 1974 a bachelor of arts in theatre was approved.

Whizz White, our first set and lighting designer, arrived from Indiana. He pulled up to the auditorium and

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thought, “Where is the marquee?” As he walked in, he noticed there was nowhere to hang lights—there wasn’t even a light booth! Thus began 42 years of great technical theatre created in what was called our “Mainstage.”

The year 1976 brought David Allen George to Salem.

When asked about his first impression of the auditorium, he replied, “I didn’t know what to do. Acoustics were a disaster. The shop was a shower, and there were no dressing rooms.” So 40 years of exceptional productions with superb acting and directing began.

Together, the faculty overcame these challenges, and excitement continued to grow. In the 1980s, the bachelor of fine arts degree began to offer four options, and now there was an excellent academic program and practical theatrical experiences for students, and outstanding productions for theatre lovers on the North Shore. Today,

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND FACULTY SUPPORT it still is the only bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre in the Massachusetts state university system. In 1983, the Board of Trustees approved the creation of a Center for Creative and Performing Arts, whose purpose was to establish the college as a cultural center for the North Shore through its art, creative writing, dance, music, and theatre offerings. Furthermore, all students could now attend art exhibits, creative writing readings, dance, music, and theatre productions free of charge. In addition, Presidential Arts Scholarships were established, which gave 20 students a tuition waiver based not on need but on their talent and abilities. We were growing and excelling but our “home,” where faculty and students were spending thousands of hours, was still an auditorium.

In the ’90s and early 2000s, Salem State productions received a wide range of prestigious local and national recognition. Our shows won rave reviews in Salem and Boston newspapers. The theatre faculty and students received numerous local and national theatrical and technical awards. In 1999, the theatre department became an associate member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), the national accrediting body for the profession, In 2004, the department became a full member, which was possible thanks in part to the major fundraising undertaken for a new Center for the Creative and Performing Arts facility.

In 2006 Sophia and Bernard Gordon committed an unprecedented $3 million to build a creative and performing arts space at Salem State. At the time this was among the largest private donations ever made to a Massachusetts state college. Thanks to the Gordons’ financial support and their faith in the arts at Salem State, the Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts was completed in 2016. These two extremely generous people have made a dream of more than 50 years a reality for dedicated faculty, talented students and arts lovers on the North Shore.

As Karen Gahagan, director, Center for Creative and Performing Arts expressed, “We are thrilled to

have a stunning new gateway into the creative life of Salem State University. The Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts is a physical reflection of the depth, breadth and quality of the university’s arts programs. The Gordon Center will expand opportunities for our campus community, the greater North Shore community, and beyond, to experience the transformative power of the arts.”

But, there is more! Sophia and Bernard Gordon, in November 2016, made another extraordinary commitment, this time making a $3.36 million gift to develop programming within the Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts and around campus.

This will allow for artists-in-residence, opportunities for both dance and theatre, including a dance faculty concert, dance and theatre collaborations, and musical theatre productions, all of which provide greater learning experiences for our students. This gift also will provide student employment opportunities and support summer artistic development grants for upperclassmen.

Collectively, these new efforts will inspire faculty, better prepare students for employment and provide extraordinary professional productions in a state-of-theart facility for audiences in the North Shore and beyond.

“We could not be more excited about the generous gift that Mr. and Mrs. Gordon and the Gordon Center Foundation have given us. This support will propel all our arts programming to the next level, and the quality of those programs will match the beauty of the new ‘Sophia’,” says President Patricia Maguire Meservey. n

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Campaign Priority

SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL LISA MCFADDEN ’99G In 1986 Bill and Joyce Cummings ’13H embarked on a journey that would transform lives throughout northeastern Massachusetts. Cummings Properties, the commercial real estate firm that Bill had founded in 1970, was thriving, so the couple decided to establish a charitable foundation that would give back to communities where Cummings properties were located.

Today, Cummings Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic foundations in New England, managing several complex divisions that all rely on the expansive financial footprint that Bill and Joyce sustain. In May 2011, they became the first couple in Massachusetts to sign the Giving Pledge, publicly pledging to donate the majority of their wealth for philanthropic purposes.

Intentional about how they would fulfill that pledge, Cummings Foundation accepted its first round of public grant applications in 2012. Professors Christopher Mauriello (history) and Robert McAndrews (social work) led a team of Salem State faculty and staff focused on merging the nonprofit Holocaust Center, Boston North (HCBN) with the university, creating a larger and more sustainable Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies to serve the North Shore community. They worked closely with HCBN co-founder Harriet Tarnor Wacks to make a persuasive case for the merger.

Salem State University was one of 10 grantees awarded $100,000 in the inaugural round of funding.

Within 18 months, the Holocaust Center, Boston North had dissolved as a nonprofit, charitable organization. Harriet Wacks oversaw the transition of archives, a small library and primary source materials, to the new Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

(CHGS) before retiring from her position—33 years after she and the late Sonia Schreiber Weitz ’87H began their crusade to convert bystanders to “upstanders” in unjust situations. McAndrews and Mauriello, dedicated members of HCBN’s executive board, were personally familiar with the scope of the responsibility Salem State University was assuming. So they rolled up their sleeves and got down to work.

In addition to the physical work of moving and cataloging the collection, the team adopted HCBN’s Holocaust Legacy Partners Program, where a volunteer is paired with a Holocaust survivor to learn his or her life story and to bear witness once the survivor is too frail to speak to classes or groups. They reached out to the substantial population of Rwandan refugees in eastern Massachusetts, making strides toward recording the oral histories of people who escaped from or survived the world’s most recent genocide.

Salem State embraced the chance to prepare teachers to teach difficult topics, expanding its academic offerings with a certificate program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education recognized the important work the university had undertaken and chose Salem State as one of six universities nationwide to participate in the 2013 Belfer First Step program, a long-standing partnership between the two institutions to prepare teacher candidates to use content about the Holocaust in their classrooms. The center established a free public lecture series, assumed responsibility for hosting the North Shore’s annual Yom HaShoah remembrance and welcomed the Hatikvah continued on page 14

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND FACULTY SUPPORT

Alice (lef t) and Jill Sullivan ’16G browse one of the books included in the Harriet Tarnor Wacks and Jill and Scott Sullivan book and archive collections, located in the CHGS. S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

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continued from page 12 Officers Mission to present a public forum with Salem State’s student veterans to compare and contrast their experiences serving in the U.S. and Israeli armies. Finally, the university renewed its commitment to provide needbased scholarships for study-and-travel institutes to sites related to the Holocaust and comparative genocides.

Bill and Joyce Cummings had a powerful experience of their own on a trip abroad. “In 2012 we spent two weeks on a trip to Rwanda, where in 1994, some 800 or 900,000 people were slaughtered in about 100 days. Our primary objective was to visit, and to learn more about a village and school that was built for 500 orphans of this 1994 genocide.” Their visit to Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village left an indelible impression. They connected the village to critical healthcare resources in-country and worked tirelessly to forge meaningful partnerships between Agahozo-Shalom and higher education institutions in the United States.

In 2014, Bill and Joyce invited Salem State President Patricia Maguire Meservey to submit a proposal for $1 million and thus became the first institution to win transformational multiyear support within the Cummings Foundation’s new major grant program. “At Salem State, we have found educators and other leaders who share our belief that teaching the next generation about the dangers of intolerance and the warning signs of genocide will help prevent future violence and injustice,” said Joyce Cummings. They also found a university with a shared interest in helping Rwanda heal.

To date, Salem State has hosted two study-travel sessions to Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, bringing a multidisciplinary group of Salem State undergraduate and graduate students to work with and learn from the Rwandan survivors. A hallmark of the university’s study-and-travel institutes, the students participate in academic sessions and experience firsthand the places and people whose lives were changed forever by indescribable hostilities. Chelsea teacher Mark Martineau commented on the depth of his experience: “In so many ways the

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students at Agahozo-Shalom are so strong and smart.

My students, many of whom come from difficult backgrounds, could benefit from seeing this level of strength and perseverance in the face of such adversity.

Both my academic and professional pursuits were altered a great deal by my experience at Agahozo-Shalom.”

Cummings Foundation’s second commitment also strengthened the fledgling programs that had originated from the initial grant. The Sonia Schreiber Weitz Lecture Series was formalized. Two of the most memorable programs brought personalities of international renown to Salem: Benjamin Ferencz, lead prosecutor during the Nuremberg Trials; Bahktiyar Tuzmukhamedev, current appeals judge at the Hague; and moderator Neil Chayet in a forum titled “Nuremberg and Now: Genocide and the International Courts” and historian and poet Peter Balakian, who highlighted “A Day of Education and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,” just weeks before winning the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The center gained the financial stability to name faculty fellows and host graduate research conversations. And the significant commitment from Cummings Foundation leveraged an ongoing partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston and with a growing corps of annual donors. Philanthropy has already made a significant impact on this unique center, and additional funding is still needed to ensure the university can continue to advance its reach and resources.

Chris Mauriello, who serves as academic coordinator for CHGS, knows that the investment Bill and Joyce Cummings made in Salem State University five years ago will pay dividends long into the future for area educators, Salem State students and individuals in our communities who identify with the increasingly marginalized populations of refugees and survivors worldwide.

“Individuals make decisions, and those decisions impact matters of life and death. We will always be grateful that Bill and Joyce saw in Salem State a community that shared their passion for integrity and justice.” n

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A LEGACY OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY MICHAEL RANDALL Claire Crane, EdD, ’60, ’09H’s passion for the community school movement is undeniable. With more than three decades of service as the principal of Lynn’s Ford Elementary School, her commitment to education grew of the necessity for change. The Ford School struggled to reach performance goals expected. Crane identified that a solution did not exist within the four walls but rather in the transformation of the communities’ investment in the education of its children.

Committed to leading this change, she established a comprehensive English as a second language (ESL) program for community adults, a healthy meal program for students and a thriving community garden. The Ford School became a true model for community schooling, a model replicated throughout the region with great success due to Crane’s fine leadership.

It came as no surprise that, upon Crane’s retirement, she chose to continue her work with community schools. Her goal: to make Salem State University the premier academic resource for community school programs throughout New England. With her vision, and leadership, the university has created the Center for Community Schools, an interdisciplinary approach to the education of a community. In just months since its inception, the center has already gained the attention of local and regional school districts. Recently, Crane was invited to Bridgeport, Conn., to share the work being conducted at the Center for Community Schools at Salem State, as well as her success story at the Ford School in Lynn.

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In addition to her time in fostering the work of the center, Crane has also committed her own generous philanthropic support through a bequest intention. Crane established a fund that will support the community school efforts in perpetuity. “It is important for me to support continued work in community schools,” says Crane. “Working alongside the institutional advancement team, I know that my gift to Salem State will provide a lasting impact on future educators and will be used in a meaningful way. Salem State has played such an important part of my career; I wanted to say thank you.”

The university recognizes friends of the university, like Crane, through membership in the Crosby Society, which honors this group of philanthropic leaders who have included Salem State in their estate plans.

With the benefit of Crane’s vision, the Center for Community Schools will be a valuable resource for our local and regional school districts for years to come.

Joseph Cambone, PhD, dean of the School of Education, remarked that “Claire Crane is an extraordinary person and a dedicated advocate for full service community schools. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of all children and their families and this work has inspired classroom teachers and community leaders alike. Salem State University is thankful for Crane’s able leadership in this important endeavor, and grateful for her generous philanthropic support to the university.”

For more information on how you might get involved with the Salem State University Center for Community Schools, contact the office directly at 978.542.6019. n

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND FACULTY SUPPORT

94% of full-time university

FACULTY and STAFF GAVE to the campaign Claire Crane ’60, ’09H, (lef t) speaks during the Center for Community Partnerships KickOff Celebration while attendees (above) enjoy the program.

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ENDOWING THE FUTURE Salem State prepares students to become leaders in their professions and communities. Our academic programs are designed to advance the intellectual and personal growth of all students through a wide spectrum of learning opportunities. In realizing this goal, we rely heavily upon the dedication and contributions of our superb faculty, our gifted librarians and our talented staff.

The 10,000 Reasons Campaign sought to further cultivate academic programs and learning experiences that inspire creativity, promote innovative thinking, advance global awareness and prepare students for careers in the 21st century workplace. With the support of many generous donors, the university has created several new endowments that will enable faculty and students to achieve these goals for years and generations to come.

According to our provost and vice president of academic affairs, David Silva, PhD, “Students and faculty will be afforded new opportunities to contribute to the intellectual and professional discourses through which we seek to explore, understand and improve the world that we share.”

The support provided through the 10,000 Reasons Campaign says Silva, “will enrich the excellent work of the Salem State faculty by allowing them to extend the impact of their work as teachers and scholars, all to the benefit of our students and our community.”

Highlighted next are just a few examples of endowment funds created with support from the 10,000 Reasons Campaign.

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DEBRA LONGO

Mary (Midge) DeSimone ’76 and Tom DeSimone of Swampscott

DESIMONE ENGLISH ENDOWMENT The DeSimone English Endowment was established by alumna Mary (Midge) DeSimone ’76 and her husband, Tom DeSimone, to provide annual support to our undergraduate and graduate English majors, helping them to professionalize their academic studies by attending national conferences and conventions relevant to English, writing and literary studies.

In March 2016, for example, undergraduate student Robert Auld traveled to Minneapolis to present his collection of original poems titled “Exorcisms” at the 2016 Sigma Tau Delta Convention. Sharing his work at a national forum was a first for Robert, and also marked the first time that Salem State’s chapter of the Psi Tau Honor Society had student representation at this highly regarded international honors conference.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND FACULTY SUPPORT

In addition, in February 2017 five students—two graduate and three undergraduate—traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Association of Writers and Writing Program’s Annual Conference (AWPAC), North America’s largest literary conference.

AWPAC is an incredible opportunity for students to learn from the some of the most influential organizations and opinion makers in contemporary literature. Students also set up a table with information about the English department and its national literary magazine, Soundings East. “Being able to offer our students professional opportunities such as these not only provides them with practical applications of what they are learning in class,” remarked department chair Theresa DeFrancis, “but also helps to elevate the stature of our academic programs.”

Midge and Tom have hopes that others too will join in their support of the English faculty and students.

EDWIN FRANCIS ENDOWMENT Bequeathed to the world languages and cultures department by late professor emeritus Edwin Lopes Francis, PhD, his estate established an endowment to support faculty scholarship and professional development opportunities, areas that were important to Francis who taught French at Salem State for 36 years. The department’s first-ever endowment, the Edwin Francis Endowment will provide valuable resources for world

The late professor, Edwin Francis, PhD

languages and cultures faculty and students to broaden their participation in the global community.

For faculty, this will largely come in the form of support to participate in conferences and symposiums related to internationalization, foreign languages, linguistics, and world cultures. “It is critical for faculty to stay up-to-date on cultural developments in the countries that we teach about,” explained department chair Michele Dávila Gonçalves. For students, the endowment will be used to help them take advantage of study abroad opportunities. “Language is not learned just by sitting in a classroom two days a week,” remarked Dávila Gonçalves. “Rather, it is something that you cultivate by immersing yourself in it every day.” The department hopes that the fund can continue to grow with support from alumni who have graduated from the program. continued on page 20

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continued from page 19

GRIFFIN FAMILY RARE BOOK COLLECTION Salem State’s first large rare book collection, the Griffin Family Rare Book Collection, is filled with important works of British and Irish literature, including many volumes related to Samuel Johnson, James Boswell and their circle of friends and associates.

The collection is particularly rich in travel literature from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The collection was donated by Luke Griffin in honor of his late wife Barbara (Johnson) ’73 and his father Stephen. Barbara was a student of English and possessed a deep love for literature that grew during her time at Salem State. With the help of her father-in-law, Stephen, she built a formal and meticulously kept book collection. After she passed away, Luke wanted to donate the collection to an institution that would make good use of it. The late professor Richard Elia, Barbara’s mentor and teacher, suggested Salem State.

The Frederick E. Berry Library and Learning Commons had just opened its doors and provided a perfect home for the collection, affirming the importance of archives and special collections at the university.

“Our goal is to make this collection a true public resource,” remarked archives librarian Susan Edwards. “We want our community to use it. It is especially important for our students, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college, to be introduced to important rare materials.”

The Griffin Family Rare Book Collection includes a fine selection of British and Irish literature, travel writing, biographies, and histories.

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND FACULTY SUPPORT

KATHLEEN MURPHY ’75 BIOLOGY RESEARCH FUND ENDOWMENT It is a particularly exciting time to be a biology student at Salem State where plans are currently underway to establish a Summer Research Academy, the cornerstone of the Kathleen Murphy ’75 Biology Research Fund Endowment, named for biology alumna and former CEO and owner of Chi Solutions, Inc., Kathleen Murphy, who is now senior advisor for Accumen. Launching in June 2017, the academy will be a six-week directed study where students will work one-on-one with faculty to conduct field and laboratory research. For example, this summer a student will work with assistant professor Jason Brown on a project designed to discover how the single-celled alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii regulates the expression of its ciliary proteins. Another student will be out in the field with assistant professor Sheila Schreiner taking water samples to determine if there are non-biodegradable plastic beads called “microbeads” present and, whether they have associated bacterial colonies.

Students will earn both course credit as well as a stipend for their work, and this work may ultimately lead to a publication.

“The endowment will fuel and strengthen undergraduate research, particularly in the cell and molecular field,” states biology chairperson Ryan

Kathleen Murphy ’75

Fisher, “and will help the department to meet long-term needs as more and more students look toward pursuing careers in STEM disciplines.” Once the academy has launched, Fisher plans to work with his colleagues to examine the possibility of creating endowed student scholarships. n To learn more about how to support one of these endowments, contact Mike Randall in institutional advancement at mrandall@salemstate.edu or 978.542.2345.

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Nate Bryant ’88, ’93G Campus Community Subcommittee Co-Chair “I’m paying it forward because I truly appreciate the opportunities Salem State has given me, first as a student and now as a longtime employee.”

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND FACULTY SUPPORT

NURSING MATTERS Visit any hospital in Greater Boston and you are guaranteed to find a nurse who graduated from Salem State University’s respected School of Nursing. But did you ever wonder how our untested nursing students learn to administer a vaccine? Or respond in such a levelheaded manner when a patient is coding? Long before they walk onto a floor with living, breathing humans, they spend scores of hours addressing the health issues that present in simulated humans.

Nursing students practice in the Simulation “SIM” Lab for about 100 hours before beginning their clinical rotations—a critical opportunity for hands-on patient experiences within an instructor-controlled environment.

Simulated patients in actual hospital beds present symptoms and conditions that are computer-controlled by the instructor. After completion of an exercise, instructor and students gather to debrief and analyze what was successful and how they could improve their care. The SIM Lab is a safe setting where students begin to gain practical experience and prepare for actual placements.

With the SIM Lab in use seven days a week, it is rare that Salem State’s simulated men, women and infants get much rest. Which explains why SIM mannequins need to be refreshed.

The Evelyn Lilly Lutz Foundation at Beverly Hospital in Beverly, Mass. provides grants to ensure that the North Shore has an adequate pipeline of exceptionally trained nurses. Salem State usually places more than 100 students in clinical rotations annually at Beverly Hospital, a number significant enough to convince the foundation to invest nearly $52,000 in a state-of-the-art SIM man and the extensive technology to support him. The 2014 grant award also included a generous amount to augment and upgrade the laboratory equipment and models used by first- and second-year nursing students who were

LISA MCFADDEN ’99G

A nursing student (center) gains handson experience in the Simulation Lab, with guidance from nursing instructors.

completing foundation classes in biology, microbiology, anatomy, and physiology for a total commitment of $63,826.

Linda Frontiero, DNP, director of Salem State’s Nursing Resource Center, comments on the new simulated components of the lab. “Technology is essential to delivering quality healthcare to patients; it is invaluable in educating the nursing workforce. It’s essential to update the equipment in the lab as it enables the nurses to utilize the contemporary technology they will encounter in the top tier healthcare facilities in the region. As clinical placements become more and more challenging to secure, nursing educators will have to expand their use of simulation labs even further.”

Thanks to the Evelyn Lilly Lutz Foundation, an exhausted SIM man was finally “discharged” during the summer of 2015. In his place, the next generation of Salem State nursing students have found an even more enigmatic patient, who presents with a myriad of unrelated symptoms day after day. Chances are he’ll be under our care for many years to come. n S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

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HONORING UNLIMITED POTENTIAL Richardses’ Gift Elevates Commonwealth Honors Program

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Dr. Adrian and Efrosine ’59 and ’62G Richards visit with Professor Scott Nowka, PhD, (center) honors program chair.

KATIE CURLEY-KATZMAN ’06

Commonwealth Honors Program alumni continually remark about the passion of the faculty they were lucky enough to learn from during their honors classes at Salem State University. And the faculty say they have always felt “honored” to teach the program’s students: a group of highly motivated, smart and enthusiastic people from diverse backgrounds.

Salem State alumna Efrosine (Yeannakopoulos) Richards ’59 and ’62G and her husband, Dr. Adrian Richards believe in the importance of this initiative and showed their support by making an exceptionally generous gift of $250,000 to support the Commonwealth Honors Program. In recognition of their generosity, the university will name the programming space, which is housed within the Frederick E. Berry Library and Learning Commons, “The Efrosine A. Yeannakopoulos Center for the Commonweath Honors Program.”

Founded in 1983, the program provides unique enrichment trips and visiting scholar sessions and culminates in a senior honors project, typically a capstone experience. Furthermore, students look forward to the honors program retreat on Cape Cod for incoming students, and trips to New York or Washington D.C.,

in addition to a rich calendar of programs and activities outside the classroom. However, as state budgets continue to strain each year, some of these programs faced the chopping block.

When current Honors Program Chair Scott Nowka, PhD, stepped into the role in July, he was understandably concerned with the program’s slowly depleting budget.

Those fears were mitigated though, as funders like the Richardses became interested in supporting the honors program mission as a result of the 10,000 Reasons Campaign outreach efforts.

“The Campaign helped to change the culture,” Nowka says. “We had students speak at alumni weekend, identifying themselves as part of something more than just four years. Another recent graduate started giving monthly as a result of his experience in the honors program. The campaign made people feel like they want to help steward the future.”

Nowka’s predecessor, Joanna Gonsalves, PhD, worked closely with the administration to define the program’s needs/goals and reach donors at the start of the campaign.

“We aimed to raise $50,000 to help sustain the honors retreat, honors convocation and other important

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STUDENT EXPERIENCE programming. We were no longer able to hold the honors golf tournament, so the 10,000 Reasons Campaign was an important opportunity to replace support for programs that we believe add great value to the honors student experience and success.”

Through crowdfunding, the honors program newsletter and appeals to faculty and alumni, the program raised $40,000, and these efforts set the stage for future giving. The program was given a major boost in November when honors program founder and past coordinator Patricia Markunas, PhD, created a $25,000 endowment for the program as a way to make sure the program will continue operating at the level it has been for the past three decades.

“I wanted to be part of the campaign and because the honors program is not in an academic department, it is difficult to fundraise for it,” Markunas said. She served as the coordinator of the program for 11 years, starting with just 19 students. Today the program has 280. “I hope the endowment allows the program to maintain its excellence and continue to provide special activities that are a hallmark of the program.”

Previously serving Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement Eileen O’Brien ’01, ’09G, says Markunas’s gift will have long-lasting impacts. “There is a critical need for spendable dollars; however, it is also very important to look to the future of the program, and an endowment is one way to construct a financial bedrock that will live in perpetuity,” O’Brien said. “Pat decided to use her gift to establish the Honors Endowment and then utilized her philanthropy to challenge others to give to the endowment, and that strategy has worked well.”

Markunas says having the honors program creates a community of students who otherwise wouldn’t have a place to connect.

According to retired English professor, former coordinator and faculty emeritus Rod Kessler, honors program students are disproportionately represented among editors of The Log, the student newspaper, and

of Soundings East, the literary magazine. They are often presidents of student organizations, including the Student Government Association, and serve as student supplemental instructors for a variety of courses. But those benefits to Salem State University, however helpful, are secondary, Kessler says. The program’s importance chiefly plays out in classrooms where the presence of these students typically energizes everyone’s learning.

They ask questions. They form study groups. They engage intellectually or artistically with professors, bringing out the best in them. They serve as models of academic engagement, and they rub off on the rest of their classmates. It takes only a couple in a class to change the learning dynamic for the better, Kessler says.

Kessler took over the program in 1999 and looks back fondly on his time at the helm. In addition to academic highlights such as accompanying students to the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conferences sponsored by the Commonwealth Honors Council, he says it’s often the less academic highlights that live on in the memories of the program’s alumni.

“The students living in honors housing, for example, would occasionally put dinners together in the dorms and invite faculty members. Psychology professor David Gow amazed and entertained his honors program students by doing the cooking himself, whipping up a memorable meal of Thai cuisine. When the years pass and our alums think back on their happy days at Salem College—it’s these moments that will live in their memory,” he says.

Looking ahead, gifts from the campaign and the endowment will go toward expanding research and study abroad opportunities within the honors program. While the program may expand, Nowka says he is committed to making sure it stays small enough that each student has the same experience students have had since the program’s inception more than 30 years ago. n For those interested in learning more about how you can support the Commonwealth Honors Program, please contact Lori Boudo at lboudo@salemstate.edu.

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TAPPING STUDENT TALENT KATIE CURLEY-KATZMAN ’06 Elizabeth Cabral ’17 credits an internship in the offices of two U.S. senators for empowering her to pursue a career as a lawyer when she graduates from Salem State University.

Cabral, then a third-year student, spent seven weeks Elizabeth Cabral ’17 in the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ed Markey ’14H as part of the Washington, D.C. internship program, an opportunity given to political science students who show an interest in government affairs and meet strict criteria.

“It was an eye-opening experience to learn about public policy and how the government works,” Cabral said, noting her time sitting in on policy briefings and performing constitutional work. “It was interesting to learn how changes are implemented on that level. You may be talking to people who completely disagree with you, but you learn a lot of skills as to how to speak to people and how to do research on what other senators are doing or saying in order to get a bill passed.”

The Washington, D.C. internship program is just one of the many opportunities Salem State University students have to ready themselves for a future career. The 10,000 Reasons Campaign was instrumental in furthering the efforts of career readiness initiatives at the university and putting students on a path to success. Last fall the university assembled a concerted effort to endow funding

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for the D.C. Internship program, which they kicked off with a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $16,000 in just a couple of weeks. Thanks to a significant financial commitment by former Congressman Michael Harrington ’81H, the program will be endowed and is set to continue in the years to come with the ultimate goal of sending two students per year.

“The program gave me a lot more confidence,” Cabral said, noting her professor Jennifer Jackman pushed her to pursue the program initially. “Without Michael Harrington’s donation, I could not have afforded the opportunity financially. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I learned so much.”

For Harrington, owner of the Hawthorne Hotel and involved in philanthropy at Salem State University for many years, the choice to endow the program was an easy one. “We were the first to have an intern from Salem State when the program started in the 1970s,” Harrington said. “We want to grow this so it continues to allow a student to go down to Washington and get a broader understanding of government rather than just reading about it.”

Harrington says to this day, he describes his first election win to a bunch of college students convincing their parents and grandparents that he wasn’t “a closet Marxist” and to vote for him.

“I always wanted to make sure the door was open to encourage that level of activity among the youth,” he says. “The program is motivating for students with an early interest in politics to get involved meaningfully and purposely in the process.”

Political Science Professor Richard Levy says programs like this enrich the classroom experience for all students.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

“They have a better understanding of how the political world works in D.C., beyond stereotypes, they learn new skills, make a host of contacts both in the office and other offices and all students mention the incredible amounts of confidence they build. It’s really energizing to hear.”

The 10,000 Reasons Campaign invigorated programs that, otherwise, may not have been able to remain fully funded. Funds such as the Korzeniewski Career Services and Internship Fund and Bertolon Career Readiness funding, John D. Galaris Endowed Internship Fund, Lutts Award and the Salem Summer Fellowship are all being put to good use, making sure students are ready for the world outside the university.

“The campaign has allowed us to round out our services adding the employer relations function to the career development team. This has enabled us to engage companies and organizations in strategic recruitment of students for internships and full-time employment

THE

In honor of his long-standing support of the 10,000 Reasons Campaign, Michael Harrington ’81H, center, accepts a glass art version of his honorary degree presented as a surprise by President Patricia Maguire Meservey in June.

Trustee Jacob Segal, who is a close friend of Harrington’s, participated in the presentation.

opportunities,” says Lauren Hubacheck, director of career services. “During the last few years, the state has provided financial resources that have been matched by campaign funds to support students completing academic credit bearing internships.”

Along those lines, the Bertolon School of Business and partners are working to develop a formal job shadowing/ mentoring program that launched this spring. The program will identify students to match with alumni partners for a job shadowing experience followed by a mentoring relationship. The university is utilizing an online portal CampusTap to facilitate the matching of job shadow experiences and mentoring opportunities for our students. This program will begin in the Bertolon School of Business with the plan to expand to additional departments in three years.

“The goal is to refine the program in the business school and ultimately roll it out to benefit all Salem State students,” Mandy Ray, director of alumni affairs and advancement events, said. “We purchased CampusTap through campaign funding and are looking for additional resources to sustain the program.” n

C R O S B Y S O C I E T Y

HAS GROWN BY

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FULFILLING OUR PROMISE OF INCLUSIVITY

KATIE CURLEY-KATZMAN ’06

It’s not often that a state university in Salem, Mass., could make a compelling case for funding to a family foundation in Getzville, N.Y. But the tremendous commitment of the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation extends to Essex County, because family members have lived and raised their families in the area.

Salem State made its first approach to the foundation in November 2014, and was awarded a two-year grant of $114,727 to hire and provide technology for a dedicated alternative text specialist in the disability services office.

Students who require alternative text are those with print disabilities, which may prevent a person from reading print due to a visual, physical, perceptual, cognitive, or learning disability. The alt-text specialist provides books, journals, handouts, and online materials in a format other than traditional print. Alternative formats such as digital copies, converted PDF documents, Braille materials, and audio files are used to meet the specific learning needs of individual students.

Salem State University has seen a significant increase in the number of alternative texts requested by students registered for disability services in the past few years.

During academic year 2012-13, the office handled 85 alt-text requests; this past academic year, the number had risen 725 percent, to 617 requests.

“Salem State is dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to reach their academic and career goals,” says Lisa Bibeau, director of disability services.

“We anticipate that these accommodations and the accompanying outreach for training and awareness will

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broaden the understanding of students’ needs and the ability for our campus to be a fully inclusive community.”

Salem State’s alt-text specialist, Jennifer McDowell ’18G, tracks down alternative formats directly from textbook publishers whenever possible. However, there are still some university course materials not available in accessible formats. In that case, she manages the time-consuming process of “chopping” and scanning each page of a textbook, then editing the electronic files to clean up formatting glitches, such as chapter headings, graphs and symbols. She meets one-on-one with students to train them on using screen-reader software or converted audio files. To date, adding this personal component to the process has resulted in a 28 percent increase on students’ follow-through with the office.

Adrianna Vasquez is a freshman at Salem State, in her first semester using alternative format texts. She has trained with McDowell on how to use the text-to-speech software built in to her MacBook to read publishers’ PDF files. “Having alternative format texts has really helped me be successful in all of my classes,” she says.

The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation’s profound commitment to ensuring that young adults with learning disabilities are prepared for education and careers has helped build a practice of effective, high-quality accommodations for Salem State students with print disabilities. When grant funding concludes in 2017, the university will assume the full costs of the alternative text program, grateful that the Tower Foundation made such a generous investment in our vision for student success. n

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UPS HELPS STUDENT VETS

CHERYL CROUNSE

Veteran student success is dependent not only on what occurs inside the classroom, but also on the foundation of support outside the classroom. In creating a space—like that of our Veterans Center—Salem State is sending a clear message to its growing number of student veterans that we value what they bring to our campus and are prepared to help them succeed in their ‘second mission.’

Student military veterans often have unique needs on campus, and it is incumbent upon the university to not only understand their differing requirements, but to accommodate them as best as possible. Says President Patricia Maguire Meservey, “Enabling success of our nation’s veterans is the very least we can doing to pay tribute to them for their selfless service to our country.”

UPS Foundation understood that need and stepped up to do their part in December 2014 when they awarded Salem State a $25,000 grant earmarked to the center. It was a fitting gift from the foundation, as they are one of the nation’s largest employers of military reservists and veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

The funding from UPS provided new equipment such as computers, software and other technology to support our veteran population all so that students had a place to convene and utilize resources to better themselves.

Recent graduate, Arlene Jaquez ’16 says, “During my time at Salem State the Veterans Center allowed me to find a safe and comfortable space during a time of change. The support and friendships that came from being present at that space gave me the chance to find myself while creating lasting bonds and memories. The resources

Above, lef t to right: Miguel De La Cruz, UPS; Pamela Scott, member of the Salem State University Board of Trustees; Kevin DiLibero, UPS; Ed Brzychcy, president, Salem State University Student Veteran Organization; Salem State University President Patricia Maguire Meservey

available at the space also made the college experience simple and stress free.”

With a focus on individualized student attention, our veterans’ affairs staff assists current and former members of the armed forces, as well as survivors and dependents, in accessing both state and federal educational benefit programs. Salem State values its veteran students and their families and is dedicated to providing resources and services to assist them in achieving their academic and career goals.

According to Sam Ohannesian, director of enrollment services and veterans’ affairs at the university, “The gift has made a great impact and helped the center serve more than 250 veteran students currently enrolled.”

The university has been designated a military-friendly institution by G.I. Jobs, placing it in the top 20 percent of schools nationwide. The Veterans Center is designed to give these students and alumni veterans a designated space where they can find targeted help with academic direction, military benefits, financial assistance, and assistive technology. n To learn more about how you can advance the work of Veterans Center, please contact Mike Randall, senior director, institutional advancement, at mrandall@salemstate.edu.

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Campaign Priority ASHLEY FESTA

FUNDING DREAMS The university set out to raise $4 million dedicated exclusively for financial assistance, one of five priorities in its $25 million 10,000 Reasons Campaign. Financial aid quickly became a popular area of support, with 2,698 donors giving more than $5.5 million collectively.

Their generosity has already created 48 new scholarships, with only a handful needing additional funding to reach their full endowment potential. That means $380,449 for students each year, up from $249,284 (a 53 percent increase) before the campaign began.

These scholarship dollars, which are managed by the Salem State Foundation, make a university education possible for students like Jayne Tangusso ’16, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

After working as a flight attendant for 15 years, Tangusso decided she wanted to go back to school to 30

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ASHLEY FESTA

become a kindergarten or first grade teacher. But as a nontraditional student, she couldn’t rely on her parents to help her pay for her education. Almost 90 percent of incoming students need financial aid to cover the cost of tuition and books, but she didn’t want to go that route.

“Financial aid was a burden because I knew I’d have a big loan after graduation,” Tangusso said. Instead, she applied for two scholarships—the Walter A. Cuffe Jr. and Sally A. Cuffe Class of 1962 Endowed Scholarship and the Mary, Marilyn and James Flaherty Scholarship Fund—that helped her afford her education.

“When you go back to school as an adult, you’re more focused because you’re paying for it yourself,” she said.

“When I was granted these scholarships, I wanted to do even better. I wanted them to know I appreciate it. I didn’t want to disappoint anybody, including myself.”

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EVERY PENNY COUNTS Hosted each year by the Salem State Foundation, the Scholarship Recognition Reception honors the many donors who have established scholarships in support of our students. Pictured on facing page, President Patricia Maguire Meservey gathers with some of the 2016 student recipients.

53% increase in funding

TO

At least $25,000 is needed to establish an endowed scholarship fund, but most gifts to the university are much smaller—and equally important.

“When people think of a fundraising campaign, they think of big gifts of a million dollars or more,” said Scott James, vice president of enrollment management, student life and marketing. “Those donations have a huge impact, of course. But there’s something touching about the number of people who have donated at lower levels to support students. They want to pay it forward.”

When he talks to potential donors about how their gift helps the university, James names several important areas, such as funds for new programs. But by far, he says, the most direct way to support students is to fund scholarships.

“For many students, a $1,000 scholarship means they will be able to buy books that semester,” James said.

Sometimes books alone can cost several hundred dollars.

“The scholarships saved me,” Tangusso said. “I don’t know if I would have been able to finish if it weren’t for them.”

Donors have the ability to designate their gift to specific types of students. The Mary, Marilyn and James Flaherty Scholarship Fund, for example, is offered to a student in financial need, preferably an education major from Arlington or Somerville, the hometown of Marilyn Flaherty. She was a longtime volunteer and donor to the university, who gave more than $25,000 to establish the endowed scholarship fund.

“Everything she promoted is everything I want to be,” Tangusso said of Marilyn Flaherty ’54, who passed away in February after dedicating her career to children’s education as a teacher, principal and reading consultant. “I was honored to get this scholarship.”

Tangusso had the opportunity to meet Flaherty’s brother Jim and sister Patricia at the Foundation’s annual Scholarship Recognition Reception, an event

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Alisha Simon ’19 Nursing “I chose to attend Salem State University because I’ve heard wonderful things about the nursing program offered here.

I enjoy the campus life, the student organizations and all the endless opportunities that are provided. I’m glad to have chosen SSU!”

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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Jayne Tangusso ’16 (center), recipient of the Mary, Marilyn ’54 and James Flaherty Scholarship Fund, meets members of Marilyn’s family, including (lef t to right) James Flaherty, Gracemarie Flaherty, Pat Moore, and Tom Moore

continued from page 31 that brings together hundreds of students, family members, benefactors, and university employees to meet one another.

“They were so proud of me,” Tangusso said. “They asked what my goals were and what I wanted to study. They were happy that I wanted to work with students with disabilities and make time for each individual child.”

“Ten years ago or so,” Jim Flaherty said, “my sister wanted to do something lasting in memory of our parents, Mary and James. Marilyn wanted to take care of students who had a financial need that would impact their ability to gain an education. My sister would have been proud that Jayne was the recipient. She has a lot of the virtues my sister would have looked for.”

Tangusso plans to begin her master’s at Salem State, studying special education or reading. Eventually Tangusso wants to pursue an administrative position promoting services for children with special needs. She said her two scholarships removed the burden of paying tuition and ultimately helped her graduate on time.

“I think it’s wonderful what donors do for the school and what they do for people like me,” Tangusso said. “I’m going to go into a field I know I’m going to be good at, and I appreciate the financial support.” n

36% of our first year students are from

DIVERSE

BACKGROUNDS

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Campaign Priority

THE ART OF GIVING

Celebrating Ira and Judy Rosenberg ’14H and Their Boundless Generosity and Commitment The Rosenberg name is familiar to many in the North Shore community—and for good reason. Their mutual desire to give back and provide positive change has left them with a worthy legacy. Faculty, students and guests of Salem State University, in particular, have reaped the rewards of Ira and Judy’s generosity for many years.

When asked why he was blessed with financial success, Ira Rosenberg replies, “All I can come up with is that I’m supposed to be charitable in return.” Ira Rosenberg credits his philanthropic inclinations to a spiritual understanding of his life’s path. After dropping out of high school to join the U.S. Navy, surviving two years at sea on the U.S.S. Forrestal in Korea, and returning home to attend

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MARIANA SOUSA ’17

Suffolk University for only three semesters, he decided to drastically shift the course of his life and work for a used car lot. One change of heart led to another and soon enough Ira asked to be moved to sales, which set off a passion in business that made him never look back. From that moment on he continued to climb up the ladder, reminding us that “nothing really works unless you want it to” and that the key to success is a willingness to keep pushing forward.

Ira noticed this same willingness to grow in Reverend Laura Biddle, Salem State’s resident chaplain, who he refers to as “super, super woman.” Biddle has been blessing Salem State campus events from convocation to

ANNUAL SUPPORT

The Rosenberg Institute for Passionate and Emerging Artists features a stateof-the-art glassblowing facility and gallery. This working art studio allows students, professional staff and visiting artists to demonstrate this dynamic and vibrant art form daily.

commencement for years. Most recently, she introduced the university to a labyrinth initiative that focuses on meditative walking. Biddle’s goal for the project was to promote spirituality and wellness on campus in a new way, separate from basic physical exercise and religious practices. Inspired by Biddle’s kindness and positive impact in the Salem State community, the Rosenbergs pledged the means necessary to continue shaking things up at Salem State with innovative ideas like Biddle— helping the community evolve and flourish.

Additionally, the Rosenbergs also encourage the talents of aspiring artists through The Rosenberg Institute for Passionate and Emerging Artists. Since its launch in 2013, this state-of-the-art annual summer residency glassblowing program has been offering chosen artists the opportunity to create and collaborate in one of Massachusetts’s top-tier glass facilities. Sharing an abiding love of the arts, Ira and Judy provide the means for artists to dive into their work with the proper resources. The couple view quality arts programming as an essential

addition to our education systems—they understand the benefits of integrating creativity in various fields of study.

For the month of July, four artists are chosen to live on campus and work in the studio located in the Enterprise Center—their meal plans, living costs and transportation are funded by the Rosenbergs. In the past, guests have left the program’s artist demonstrations claiming to have witnessed contemporary glass making history. Thanks to the Rosenbergs’ commitment to the art program, appreciation for praiseworthy work will continue to grow.

Whether it’s by enhancing the quality of Salem State’s campus experience, providing for faculty, supporting the careers of emerging artists or helping students thrive, the couple’s charitable instincts never fail to impress. If there’s one thing the community can agree on it’s that the Rosenbergs’ endless support has left a permanent impact. So here’s to you, Ira and Judy. Thank you for recognizing the value in public higher education and for making Salem State University a better place with every gift. n

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Campaign Priority

THE POWER OF UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT Why is unrestricted support such a remarkable source of strength for Salem State? It sustains the university with critical, flexible funds. Rather than being reserved for one particular area, unrestricted dollars can be used when and where they are needed most. While these priorities shift and evolve with the university’s ongoing needs, unrestricted funding continuously provides a basis of support to help ensure these needs are met.

In fact, this type of giving is so critical, the university set and achieved a combined unrestricted goal of $4.3 million for the 10,000 Reasons Campaign. Rob Lutts, member of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Rachel Lutts ’98G, contributed to this success by giving the first gift to the campaign—$100,000 that established an unrestricted endowment so that this continuous support can be utilized in perpetuity. Foundation Board member, Frank Sparicio ’53, and his wife Nancy added to the fund with their campaign gift.

“Unrestricted giving is essential because its impact is far reaching and the funds support urgent needs,” says Rob. Karen Morrissey ’71, ’93H, member of Salem State’s Campaign Steering Committee, agrees, and has contributed $175,000 in unrestricted funding. “Salem State University has always been consistent in its mission to serve students first. These funds enable the university to immediately meet the needs of students, thus keeping Salem State responsive to the most important members of its community and relevant in this rapidly changing world.”

One distinct and tangible way unrestricted giving has made an impact is by supporting faculty members.

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LAUREN CARR

Lef t to right, Cynthia McGurren ’83, vice president of institutional advancement, with Karen Morrissey ’71,’93H, and President Patricia Maguire Meservey

In 2015 the university used campaign unrestricted funds to create the Faculty Support Endowment, which will provide annual academic support to faculty members for initiatives such as faculty scholarship, travel and interdisciplinary collaborations that will allow our faculty to further advance as leaders in their fields.

Unrestricted funding also supports the Salem State Foundation—the university’s private, not-forprofit organization—whose work includes managing Salem State’s $24.85 million portfolio, cultivating and stewarding a culture of philanthropy and assisting and planning for future campaigns.

Says Cynthia McGurren, vice president of institutional advancement, “These funds are always focused on areas where they will have the largest impact and have moved the needle forward in many ways. We are so grateful to our donors who have the foresight and understanding of why this type of support is so crucial.” n

ANNUAL SUPPORT WHY DO YOU GIVE? My wife Joan and I believe that higher education is the economic stepladder for first generation students. They are a thoroughly diverse population looking to better themselves and their families through learning.

Joan and I are proud to support their goals, and making an unrestricted gift ensures we are helping support the students in the areas where funding is most urgently needed. We hope the process of learning is instilled in them, and that they develop a lifelong thirst for knowledge. It’s a gift we can carry through our lives.

HOW DID SALEM STATE PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?

TOM FEELEY ’68 In addition to earning a Salem State business administration degree in 1968, Tom Feeley and his classmate also initiated and grew Salem State’s first Business Advisory Council, which unites local business and nonprofit leaders who provide valuable guidance to the business school.

Feeley went on to pursue a successful career as a financial advisor and managing partner of the CPA firm Feeley & Driscoll, P.C. in Boston. He has since become a longtime dedicated donor, including making a $500,000 unrestricted gift to the 10,000 Reasons Campaign, and he explains why here.

It taught me to love learning, and how to compete academically. My professors were extremely instrumental in my academic life and my personal growth.

DO YOU REMEMBER MAKING YOUR FIRST GIFT TO SALEM STATE? I remember being part of the second class of graduating business students. We knew in the ’70s that it was, and still is, incumbent upon alumni to give back to the school that contributed to their success. When I think about how the state only supports 34 percent of the university’s budget, it makes alumni contributions imperative. I encourage everyone to consider making an unrestricted gift—it provides the flexible funding needed to ensure the university’s priorities are fulfilled.

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Campaign Priority WHY DO YOU GIVE TO SALEM STATE? We are passionate about supporting social justice causes. Salem State provides access to a future. One of the common threads linking poverty in America with poverty around the world is a lack of education, so investing in college students is entirely strategic. They go on to make our communities stronger.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO MAKE A $500,000 UNRESTRICTED GIFT?

JIM AND KAREN ANSARA ’10H Jim Ansara joined Salem State’s Board of Trustees in 2009 after being inspired by President Meservey’s long-term vision for the university. Jim had just sold his company, Shawmut Design and Construction, and he and his wife Karen were eager to jump headfirst into a life of philanthropy, particularly with organizations dedicated to social justice. In this feature, they discuss why Salem State means so much to them and why unrestricted giving is important.

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It was quite out of the ordinary for us in its scale and in supporting a large academic institution, but knowing that Salem State graduates a significant number of firstgeneration college students, including new Americans and international students, it made sense to extend our giving to the university. Access to education here isn’t much different from access to healthcare in Haiti, Rwanda or West Africa. Survival shouldn’t depend on economic means.

WHY IS UNRESTRICTED GIVING SO IMPORTANT? We really believe in making unrestricted gifts, in resisting specificity. Being able to trust in the leadership is part of that. But more important is that the breadth of the challenge demands flexibility. At Salem State, constraints on resources are the biggest factor. Dollars are stretched a lot further here, and we know our gift will be very well spent.

ANNUAL SUPPORT

WELLNESS U: A HEALTHY COMMUNITY What do a whale watch, pink boxing gloves and a coloring book all have in common?

Each were connected to a Wellness U course offered for free this past year to Salem State University staff and students, thanks to the generosity of Kim GassettSchiller ’83 and her husband, Philip Schiller.

Wellness U is a unique program offering a variety of free classes, seminars, fairs, field trips and events that promote well-being for the entire college community— from staff to department heads, day undergraduate students to evening graduate students. The Wellness U program defines well-being broadly as addressing a person’s physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and occupational needs. To do so, the Wellness U courses are also broad and varied in scope, ranging from lunchtime coloring book sessions, cardio kickboxing and smoking cessation courses to a harbor seal cruise, knitting sessions and walking meditation class.

Since its launch in 2013, the program, which was endowed through a gift from the Schillers, has grown tremendously and is expected to continue to expand significantly.

The idea of the Wellness U program took hold during a flight back to Boston when Amy Everitt, the thenassistant provost for administration and faculty, and Michele Sweeney, the then-interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, were returning from the national conference of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance where a friend of theirs did a presentation on employee well-being programs.

At the time, there was no such benefit offered to Salem State University employees. “We said this is something

ANNE DRISCOLL ’76

we could do for ourselves. When we got back to Salem, we started to sketch an outline of what the possibilities looked like and then offered a proposal,” said Everitt.

The idea was embraced by the university’s human resource department as a welcomed additional employee benefit with an initial gift of $500,000 by Kim and Philip, who is senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple.

“The more active we can be, the healthier we are, especially in an educational atmosphere where it’s important to step away from the classroom or books and pick up free weights or hit the treadmill. I think there’s something for everyone there. The fact that it’s all inclusive is really, really important. Where the weather gets so cold in the winter and dark so early, Wellness U offers a safe alternative,” said Gassett-Schiller, who is as apt to train at the gym as to take a coastal trail walk.

“I think Wellness U helps create well-rounded students, faculty and staff. It’s not just students hitting the books. It’s also for staff correcting exams and doing all that prep work. Wellness U is a great addition to have a well-rounded university.”

As Wellness U coordinator, Richard Meltzer hopes to increase visibility of the program, boost traction and double the number of courses being offered in the next year. “The mission of Wellness U is to promote a campus culture of wellness by empowering members of the Salem State community to make healthy lifestyle choices and enhance their quality of life. It’s a very exciting program,” said Meltzer.

Each spring, a 12-member advisory board calls for proposals and reviews scores of prospective Wellness U continued on page 40 S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

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Campaign Priority

continued from page 39 projects seeking funding for as little as $500 or as much as $8,000. Anyone within the university community, staff or student, can propose to run a Wellness U program, but it must relate to at least one of the six dimensions of wellness—spiritual, emotional, physical, environmental, intellectual, or occupational. The beauty of Wellness U is that it taps into the talents, interests and skill sets of staff and students who instruct the courses or host the programs. The endowment is crucial to funding these programs, as it provides funds for equipment, training and instructor’s time.

Not surprisingly, the Gassett Fitness Center has hosted a number of Wellness U programs since 2013, including four of the most popular courses and events:

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Pink Gloves Boxing, which has had 919 participants; Gassett After Dark, which has had 625 participants; Viking Warrior Field Day, which had 450 participants; and the Multisport Festival, which had 217 participants.

“The funding for us has been extremely helpful, without which we would be much more limited. We’ve been able to offer a huge range of different programs that have impacted not only staff and faculty, but also students. Every program has received fantastic feedback either by the number of people who participate or by the results we’ve gotten afterwards in our surveys,” said Kelly Janos, director of the Gassett Fitness Center. In a survey of more than 100 students who participated in a Black Light Volleyball event, for example, 83 percent rated

ANNUAL SUPPORT Wellness U, which was created with a generous gif t from Kim Gassett-Schiller ’83 and her husband, Philip Schiller, offers free health and well-being programs for students, faculty and staff, many of which take place in the Gassett Fitness Center.

“I made friendships and built a community, which is not easy to do as a commuting and nontraditional student. I learned so many new workout skills that I took home with me and continued to use in my conditioning. I could feel myself becoming healthier, happier and better at managing my time now that I had such an amazing twice weekly workout in my schedule.

I just love this class, and I want to do it until I graduate,” said one student of her experience with Pink Gloves Boxing.

the program as excellent or great, and 92 percent of the women surveyed who participated in Pink Gloves Boxing last spring found the course useful.

The first Wellness U class created by a student for the entire community was a yoga class and concert conceived of by Cameryn Tierno, who had been an intern with Janos at the Gassett Fitness Center. Other examples of Wellness U classes for both students and staff include the Pink Gloves Boxing program where female students, along with staff, gather in the gym at the Gassett Fitness Center, don pink-trimmed black boxing gloves and train together to build muscle, a sense of camaraderie and a feeling of confidence and well being. n

Another novel wellness course was Experiencing Wildlife, which offered five pairs of symposia and field trips on wolves, whales, seals, bees and birds, and was open to the entire Salem State University community. The class was organized by Sport and Movement Science Associate Professor Katharine Bloom who coordinated a multidisciplinary team from the university’s political science, sports and movement science, communications, biology, and psychology departments to take advantage of area environmental resources, such as the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary for birdwatching, Rockport for a seal cruise, Gloucester for a whale watch, Wolf Hollow in Ipswich and local beekeepers in Salem.

To learn more about the Wellness U program, please visit salemstate.edu /wellnessu.

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Campaign Priority

THE SENIOR CLASS GIFT: AN ONGOING TRADITION Wise words of Maya Angelou would tell us, “One must know not just how to accept a gift, but with what grace to share it.” For the Salem State Class of 2016, giving came naturally when 2,156 members represented the university’s largest ever graduating class to contribute to the Senior Class Gift campaign.

Since its founding in 2013 by former student Nahomie St. Louis ’13, the Senior Class Gift campaign has become a giving program designed specifically for graduating seniors. St. Louis’s vision was to allow a future student the opportunity to earn a degree at Salem State, just as she did.

“I feel as if my Salem State education is the best thing to ever happen to me,” says St. Louis. “To be able to offer another student the same opportunities I have had, and to leave a legacy, fills my soul.”

The 2013 Senior Gift Campaign Committee was represented by Mary Bertand, Duna Dumel, Joanna Jobe, Josh Latham, Rose Marius, Juan Nunez, and St. Louis herself, all former students who felt compelled to pay it forward before graduating.

Together, they inspired their fellow seniors to give over $1,500 in gifts to create a financial aid award for an incoming first-year student. To achieve their goal, they attended multiple campus events including grad finale, takeover weekend and senior carnival to deliver their message of philanthropy and pride to classmates. Their message has set precedence on future classes to not only leave a legacy on campus, but to express appreciation and

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BRIEANNE CHRISTIAN ’17

a long-lasting pride for Salem State.

Senior Class gifts over the years have significantly increased since 2013. At the end of the 2015-2016 year, the Class of 2016 collected a total of $5,857 toward a scholarship for an incoming student.

Every year, more and more students learn about the fund and the legacy that the campaign has created for Salem State. Brought on by the Salem State Student Philanthropy Council, an organization comprised of student volunteers committed to educating their fellow students about the importance of donor generosity, participation has evolved into a special tradition. Arlene Jaquez ’16, former president of the Student Philanthropy Council and Senior Class Gift, resonates with what an education at Salem State can do for a prospective student, especially for what it has done for her.

“The senior class gift to me was a way to allow an incoming freshman to feel proud and lucky for opportunities he or she will have,” says Jaquez. “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.”

By “paying it forward” and participating in philanthropic activities, students create a meaningful moment and give back to the Salem State community.

In a time when it’s more crucial than ever to bridge the gap in education costs, it is most important that we remember to create that meaningful moment and truly pay it forward. n

ANNUAL SUPPORT

29,834

GIFTS

GIVEN DURING THE CAMPAIGN

SENIOR CLASS GIFT LEADERSHIP The following Salem State alums have proudly served as president of the Senior Class Gift Campaign.

NAHOMIE ST. LOUIS ’13 Nahomie is now working as a residential coordinator for Eliot Community Human Services. As Nahomie thinks back to her time helping with the Senior Class Gift Campaign, she thinks fondly about when she met the student who received the scholarship. Says Nahomie, “It was incredible to play a role in helping someone go to college.” Nahomie’s current career is focused on giving back to the community. “It’s about spreading positive light to youth that may not see the sun in the midst of difficult periods in their life.”

KATIE HERLIHY ’14 Katie credits her role as leader of the Senior Class Gift Campaign to teaching her the importance of philanthropic giving and “the power of small gifts given in big numbers.” Currently, Katie lives in Portland, Maine, and works for Wayfair as a supplier operations analyst.

ERICA BOURBEAU ’15 Erica’s perception of philanthropy changed after working with the Senior Class Gift Campaign. Says Bourbeau, “A person doesn’t have to be wealthy to give and doesn’t have to give big to make a big impact.” She currently lives in Salem, Mass. and works for Salem State as a staff assistant in advancement communications.

ARLENE JAQUEZ ’16 Arlene’s time with the Senior Class Gift Campaign greatly influenced her views on giving. “By giving, we are providing others not only something monetary but things like hope, happiness and the ability to pursue dreams with confidence,” says Jaquez. She is currently working for Salem State in the veterans’ affairs office and is planning to pursue her master’s in mental health counseling at Salem State.

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Campaign Priority

EXPANDING SUPPORT FOR UPWARD BOUND

The 2016 Upward Bound program traveled to Washington D.C., where they participated in a youth leadership conference and other cultural and educational activities.

“The Upward Bound program helped me to develop valuable leadership and communication skills, and opened doors filled with opportunities I never thought I would have access to as a low-income minority. As an Upward Bound alumna, now attending the College of the Holy Cross, I am proud to say I will always return to this program to give back to a community that strongly impacted who I am today.” —Yankelly Villa Funding from the Rogers Family Foundation has played an integral role in expanding and enhancing the stellar Upward Bound program for students like Yankelly Villa in Lawrence High School. Their inaugural support in 2014 came at a particularly important time.

The Lawrence Public Schools were in the early years of a district-wide turnaround plan. High school graduation rates were reported at 60.6 percent. Salem State presented a program that served 69 students in after-school and

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LISA MCFADDEN ’99G

enrichment classes, as well as a four-week, residential program on the campus of the university. Operating solely on a five-year grant through the federal TRIO Program, the Upward Bound cohort had a 100 percent graduation rate.

The Rogers Family Foundation became an enthusiastic private investor, providing a $10,500 grant for enrichment programs, regional travel, college visits, and civic engagement opportunities for the Upward Bound team.

Pleased with the continued success, the foundation has made increased annual grants the past two years: $15,000 in 2015 and $17,500 in 2016. This has fueled even more impressive results from the Upward Bound team, a staff of three Salem State professionals imbedded at Lawrence High School.

Some of the notable results from the Rogers Family Foundation support: • Upward Bound has increased its capacity during the past three years. The four-year high school graduation rate remains at 100 percent and in fall 2016 every Upward Bound graduating senior had been accepted to and planned to attend college. Program director Mona Savastano is pleased with the progress, but acknowledges the breadth of our need for additional private support. “The generosity of the Rogers family has allowed us to increase nominally student participation in Upward Bound each year. We are serving 73 students this year, a 6 percent increase beyond what our federal TRIO grant supports. But families are so eager to ensure success for their children that we have had to cap and close the waiting list for admission. If we could clear the waiting list, it would double the number of students we serve.”

ANNUAL SUPPORT • During their on-campus residency in 2015, 15 Upward Bound seniors took the Spanish Language College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) exam, earning a total of 180 college credits.

Daritza Germosen expressed her gratitude, which was echoed enthusiastically by her classmates: “Thanks to the Rogers Family Foundation and Upward Bound, I will begin college having already earned 12 college credits through the CLEP Exam.”

• Staff increased the number of college visits for Upward Bound students and established a mentoring program where Upward Bound seniors received one-on-one weekly support to encourage college exploration, monitor college application deadlines, review college essays, and research scholarship opportunities. n

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Campaign Leadership

CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE Henry J. Bertolon Jr. ’74, Campaign Co-Chair Kim D. Gassett-Schiller ’83, Campaign Co-Chair Nate Bryant ’87, ’93G Brian C. Cranney ’01H Gina V. Deschamps ’92G Amy L. Everitt

Bernard M. Gordon ’85H Robert T. Lutts Karen M. Morrissey ’71, ’93H Joanne O. Ricciardiello ’68 Pamela C. Scott

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2016-2017

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2011-2012

Paul Mattera, chair Alyce Davis ’75, vice chair Elizabeth Cabral Teresa “Teri” Chisholm Elliot Katzman ’78 Rob Lutts Oscar Malcolm Kathleen “Kathy” Murphy ’75 Pamela C. Scott Jacob S. Segal Diane T. Stringer Pamela C. Scott, chair Paul Mattera, vice chair David C. Abdoo ’97 James S. Ansara ’10H Alexander Booker ’14 John J. Burns ’81 Alyce Davis ’75 Claude Lancome Marcel V. Quiroga Jacob S. Segal Diane T. Stringer

Paul Mattera, chair Alyce Davis ’75, vice chair David C. Abdoo ’97 John J. Burns ’81 Aboubacar Sidiki “Sidi” Diarra ’16 Claude Lancome Rob Lutts Oscar Malcolm Pamela C. Scott Jacob S. Segal Diane T. Stringer Pamela C. Scott, chair David C. Abdoo ’97, vice chair James S. Ansara ’10H Mary Bertrand ’13 John J. Burns ’81 Alyce Davis ’75 Claude Lancome Paul Mattera Marcel V. Quiroga Jacob S. Segal Diane T. Stringer Regina M. Villa

Pamela C. Scott, chair Paul Mattera, vice chair David C. Abdoo ’97 James S. Ansara ’10H Michael Crawford ’16 John J. Burns ’81 Alyce Davis ’75 Claude Lancome Marcel V. Quiroga Jacob S. Segal Diane T. Stringer Jacob S. Segal, chair Regina M. Villa, vice chair David C. Abdoo ’97 James S. Ansara ’10H Roger S. Berkowitz, ’07H Angel M. Donahue-Rodriguez ’12 Wayne Gates ’76 Lawrence McCully ’80 Marcel V. Quiroga Pamela C. Scott

Above: Members of the Campaign Steering Committee led a dedicated effort in supporting and promoting the 10,000 Reasons Campaign, serving as committed volunteers and leaders.

2010-2011

Jacob S. Segal, chair Wayne Gates ’76, vice chair David C. Abdoo ’97 James S. Ansara ’10H Roger S. Berkowitz ’07H Mary Bertrand ’13 Paul Mattera Marcel V. Quiroga Pamela C. Scott Regina M. Villa

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2017 Jeremy C. Awori ’99 * Richard C. Bane ’11H * Jeffrey P. Beale * Stanley P. Cahill * Frederick L. Cavanaugh Jr. ’69, vice president Erik J. Champy ’89, ’94G * Jeffrey V. Cicolini ’94, treasurer Stuart A. Cohen * Gina V. Deschamps ’92G, president Annalisa C. Di Palma Albert V. DiVirgilio ’64, ’66G Pamela A. Doherty ’92 * 46

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Carlene L. Dugan Richard L. Elia + Marilyn E. Flaherty ’54 + Kim D. Gassett-Schiller ’83 Rose M. Grant ’94 * Suzanne S. Gruhl C.P.A. James M. Healy ’69 * Brian P. Herlihy ’86 * Michael A. Jenkins ’80 * Mary Ann Jordan ’78 * Jeffrey E. LaCross ’93, secretary John H. Lindahl * Robert T. Lutts

Kathleen A. Murphy ’75 James M. Muse ’83, chair John C. Pastore Jr. ’94 * Paul A. Petrowski ’66 Bruce P. Potter ’79 Robert M. Riley ’00 Deirdre A. Sartorelli ’83 * Jacob S. Segal Esq. Timothy P. Shea ’83G * Kathleen L. Skrabut, vice president Frank J. Sparicio ’53 Howard J. Wayne * Patricia H. Zaido ’12H *

EX OFFICIO

Patricia Maguire Meservey, university president Peggy L. Carl, director of athletics and recreation Joseph M. Wamness ’00G, alumni association president Cynthia A. McGurren ’83, executive director, vice president of institutional advancement * former members + deceased

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2017 Jeremy C. Awori ’99 * Barbara L. Baggs ’13G Fatima Barry ’07 * Mary E. Bertrand ’13 A. Thomas Billings ’72, ’75G * Alexander F. Booker ’14 * Linda A. Brown MSW ’02, ’04G * Robert W. Callahan ’72 Jay D. Carey ’04, ’06G, ’14G * Erik J. Champy ’89, ’94G Guy W. Clinch ’89 Jacqueline M. Coogan ’70 * Christopher M. Corrente ’10, ’12G, vice president of outreach Michael J. Crawford ’16 * Grazia Crivello ’09 Major Thomas J. Cullinane ’86 * Stephen A. Daly ’84 * Kathryn E. D’Amour ’63, ’67G, ’81G * Alyce M. Davis ’75, alumni trustee Rose M. DeLuca ’73, ’03G * Aboubacar S. Diarra ’16 Carol A. DiMento Esq., ’65, ’67G Pamela A. Doherty ’92, immediate past president

Richard F. Durgan ’69 Lance V. Eaton ’01 * Robert D. Ellison ’92 * Marilyn E. Flaherty ’54 + Josue M. Flores ’11, ’12, ’15G Dorothy M. Foley ’48 Wayne A. Gates ’76 * John L. George ’53 * Daphnee Georges ’10 * Jim K. Glynn ’77 * Timothy T. Goehlert ’04 * Anthony T. Guerriero ’92 * Karen A. Henneberry ’64 * Judith Josephs ’63, ’65G Sheila P. Kearney ’54, ’67G * Josephine E. Kennedy ’72, ’76G Franlinette Khuon ’95G * Debra Lee Surface ’05, vice president of administration Patricia M. Libby ’71 Andrea C. Liftman ’75G * Frank A. Lillo ’64, ’69G Keila M. Lora ’13 * Stephanie S. Magdis ’06G * Alexandra L. Makarewicz ’08, ’11G *

Fatbardha Male ’08G * Deana R. Manfra ’11 * Craig F. Markiewicz ’05, ’12G * Dexter McKenzie ’95 * Joanne Mendes ’79 Janet L. Merriman ’82 Professor Jane E. Moroney ’60, ’62G Jo-Anne D. Murphy ’77G * Sean P. O’Brien ’12 * Melissa A. Ogden ’00 * Thomas M. Page ’75, ’76G * Linda H. Power ’90 Kelly A. Quinn ’08, ’10G Gary M. Roach ’80 Frederick A. Sannella ’64 Deirdre A. Sartorelli ’83 Timothy P. Shea ’83G Eileen Smith Connolly ’59, ’77G Jane R. Thompson ’68, ’03G * Carol A. Vara ‘85, ’92G Michael J. Vella ’05, ’08G * Alfred J. Viselli ’59, ’64G Joseph M. Wamness ’00G, president Hope M. Watt-Bucci ’96 Mikki L. Wilson ’09, secretary

BOARD OF OVERSEERS 2011-2017 Felix J. Amsler ’87 Karen E. Andreas John C. Archer Kathleen Atkinson Richard C. Bane ’11H Wade C. Boylan Sr. ’95 Arthur J. Broadhurst ’88 Stanley P. Cahill Stuart A. Cohen Magnolia A. Contreras Joseph C. Correnti Esq. Katherine M. Curley-Katzman ’06 Lucy E. Dearborn ’92 Henry S. Dembowski ’60, ’62G Mary G. DeSimone ’76 Annalisa C. Di Palma * Robert D. Ellison ’92 Joanne M. Fortunato ’84 Herbert A. Fox Paul R. Fuller ’97 Francois G. Gadenne Kathleen T. Gardner ’82 Joseph G. Gauvain ’61 Daniel P. Gibson Esq., ’79 *

Michael Goldstein MD ’92 Dolores R. Gormley ’84 Rose M. Grant ’94 Andrea L. Gregory Joseph P. Haggerty ’02 Cynthia Hatch-Belhumeur Geoffrey P. Hunt Donald W. Hunt ’79 Holly J. Jannell Nicole L. Kieser Claude G. Lancome Esq. Diane R. Lapkin Andrea C. Liftman ’75G John H. Lindahl Gayle MacEachern Colinet Wayne P. Marquis ’75 Peter J. Martel ’77 Owen R. Mathieu Jr. ’01H 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 R. Provost ’86 Marcel V. Quiroga Katherine E. Reid Robert M. Riley ’00 * Karen L. Roberts ’78 Ruthanne Russell ’82 Phyllis K. Sagan Stephen F. Salvo ’74 Julie M. Shea ’76 Ryan L. Shefferman ’02 Timothy J. Siefken ’13 Nancy H. Stager Deborah L. Tatelman Robert F. Thibodeau Jr. ’79, ’14G Susan U. Vatalaro ’71, ’78G,’91G Brian V. Vinagro ’97 Howard J. Wayne Wayne E. Webster ’74 Michael R. Wheeler Joel R. Whitman Elaine A. Zetes ’88G

* former members + deceased S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

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YOU’RE THE REASON!

MORE THAN

Campaign Leadership

312

UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP Patricia Maguire Meservey, president

ALUMNI,

FRIENDS, STUDENTS AND FACULTY/STAFF

volunteered for the campaign

PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Beth A. Bower, chief of staff Chunju C. Chen, executive director, strategic planning and decision support Karen P. House, vice president, finance and business Scott James, vice president, enrollment management, student life and marketing John D. Keenan, general counsel and vice president, administration Lisa M. McBride, vice president, diversity and inclusion Cynthia A. McGurren ’83, vice president, institutional advancement and executive director, Salem State University Foundation David J. Silva, provost and academic vice president

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Cynthia McGurren, vice president and foundation executive director Eileen O’Brien, associate vice president * Cheryl Crounse, associate vice president and campaign manager Led by Cynthia McGurren ’83, vice president of institutional advancement, and executive director, foundation, the institutional advancement team played a leading role in the campaign, helping to surpass its $ 25 million goal and raise $ 26.5 million.

Maria Bakas Lori Boudo Erica Bourbeau ’15 Nicole Bousquet Lauren Carr Wendy Davison Taylor Dunn Susan Fountain

Joan Gillis Jennie Holland Lisa McFadden Sean Morrow Emily O’Brien Jayne O’Leary Jeannie Patch Mike Randall

Mandy Ray Brenna Ruchala Diane Shahin Joanna Shellenberger ’13 Kerri Tingle ’12G Amy Turcotte Donna Wholley

10,000 REASONS ALPHEUS CROSBY SOCIETY DONORS The below donors were moved by the mission of our university and its students and made philanthropic plans in their estates —including contributions through wills, trusts and IRAs—during the 10,000 Reasons Campaign. To speak to someone more about how to become a member of the Crosby Society, contact us at crosbysociety@salemstate.edu or 978.542.7594.

Richard Anderson ’58 Richard ’58 and Mary Jane Anderson Anonymous (5) Suzanne Canner ’94 Elizabeth Coughlan Andrew Christensen Mary Commager ’69 Claire Crane ’60, ’09H Cheryl and Michael Crounse 48

S A L E M S TAT E M E N T I S P R I N G 2 0 17

Rocco DeLuca ’63, ’65G, ’75G Albert DiVirgilio ’64, ’66G Richard Elia + Edwin Francis + Michael ’70 and Denise Gilligan Joan Gillis Michael Gormalley’73 Maryann Hurley ’62 David Ives

Claire Keyes Lorraine Kipp ’64 Janet Ladd-Ryan ’83 Patricia Libby ’71 Andrea Liftman ’75G Patricia Markunas Paul Marks Patricia Maguire Meservey Dorothy McIlraith and Kenneth McIlraith +

Alberta Mooney ’36 + Karen Morrissey ’71, ’93H Janis O’Meara ’85 Theodore Regnante Paul Petrowski ’66 Philip and Joanne ’68 Ricciardiello Kathleen Skrabut Diane Stringer + deceased

C LAS S

CLASS NOTES

Notes

CALLING ALL ALUMNI

We want to hear from you! Send us your news all year round and we’ll be sure to get it into the next issue of the Salem Statement. Email us, message us on Facebook or give us a call to let us know what you’re doing. Your photos are more than welcome, too! Please note that marriage and birth announcements can only be printed after the event has occurred.

alumni@salemstate.edu // 978.542.7530 And be sure to keep your personal contact information updated so you don’t miss an issue!

SALEMSTATE.EDU/ALUMNI

’67 SAVE THE DATE FOR YOUR 50TH REUNION, ALUMNI WEEKEND JUNE 2017!

’73

STEPHEN DEL ANEY ’73 had two

of his landscape style photographs (pictured above) selected to appear in an online virtual gallery show via the Still Point Gallery of Brunswick, Maine. Only 30 artists were selected and the works include both paintings and photographs. Stephen’s featured photographs include one taken along the Ipswich River in Middleton, and the other was taken in Barrington, N.H. The theme of the show was an interpretation of the theme “The River,” how we, as individuals, see rivers. Congratulations on this achievement, Stephen!

’79

REINIER J. LORIST ’79 recently

retired after 45 years of employment within the healthcare field. During the

last 22 years he was a Clinical Educator at the department of Teaching Hospital of the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Congratulations on your retirement, Reinier!

’82

K ATHY GALLO ’8 2 was inducted

into Salem State University’s Northeast Regional Educators Hall of Fame on November 4, 2016, and she received the Salem State Alumni Award.

’83

TIM SHE A ’8 3G was inducted into

the Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame this past September for his service to the Athletic program. Tim was the athletic Director (2002-2015) and head Women’s Basketball coach (1981-2011). During his tenure, Salem State dominated the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), winning a combined 38 championships—(22 regular season

and 16 postseason titles). During the 1985-86 season he directed the Vikings to the university’s first and—to date—only national team championship.

’85

GREG CLEMENT ’8 5 Associate

Dean of Students at Mount Wachusett Community College was named the 2016 regional winner of the Doris Michiko Ching Excellence in Student Affairs Award by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) at the Region 1 conference. The award honors a student affairs professional at the mid-level whose outstanding commitment to the profession includes development of programs that address the needs of students, creation of a campus environment that promotes student learning and development, and support of an active engagement in NASPA. continued on page 54 S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

49

CLA A US MSN N I OTES

YOU’RE THE REASON!

REASON

1111

Eileen O’Brien ’01, ’09G Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement “I attended Salem State as a parttime student. What happened was, I landed a job here. I was a young single mother with two small boys.

The faculty here invested in me. They really encouraged me to take a class, find my talent, figure out my passion and do a little bit more. They saw in me what I didn’t see in myself.”

HONORING EILEEN O’BRIEN: SALEM STATE ALUMNA, LEADER AND FRIEND In December, Salem State University staff, faculty and students gathered to celebrate Eileen O’Brien, ’01, ’09G, who retired at the end of 2016 after a nearly three-decadeslong career at Salem State. A single mother, Eileen began her tenure in 1987 as a typist and culminated with her role as associate vice president of institutional advancement, in which she played a leading part in the success of the 10,000 Reasons Campaign. Throughout her career, Eileen also earned 50

S A L E M S TAT E M E N T I S P R I N G 2 0 17

an undergraduate and graduate degree from Salem State.

Says Cynthia McGurren ’83, vice president of institutional advancement, “Eileen was inspired to ensure that others like her—first-generation kids from working-class backgrounds— would have the same opportunities she did. Eileen has served as a role model and mentor for many people with a wisdom beyond her years. We will miss her dearly, but are very excited for her to enjoy this next chapter of her life.”

ALUMNI

In 2015, Eileen and her family established a memorial scholarship in honor of Eileen’s sister, Marguerite Ellen O’Brien, who was found in 2015 after being missing for 30 years. Eileen’s dream is to see this scholarship reach $100,000, which would provide $4,000 in annual support for a Salem State student on his or her path to excellence. Eileen and her family are very motivated in this cause and have raised nearly $63,000 thus far. If you would like to support the Marguerite Ellen O’Brien Memorial Scholarship Fund and help Eileen and her family reach their goal, please visit: salemstate.edu/OBrienScholarship.

Pictured above: Some of Eileen’s most memorable moments from her nearly 30-year-long career at Salem State.

S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

51

ALUMNI

E V E N T SH I GH L I GHT S

Above, Salem State alumni and friends celebrate the holiday season at “A Reason to Be Merry” on December 6, 2016. The evening also honored retiring Associate Vice President Eileen O’Brien ’01, ’09G (pictured right).

Top right: current and past alumni association board of directors’ presidents with retiring associate director Eileen O’Brien. Pictured lef t to right: Joseph Wamness ’00G; Erik Champy ’89, ’94G; Eileen O’Brien ’01, ’09G; Anthony Guerriero ’92; Pamela Doherty ’92; and Deirdre Sartorelli ’83.

Bottom right, at the Northeast Regional Educators Hall of Fame. Pictured lef t to right: Kathy Gallo ’82; Michael Berry ’07; Mary-Lou Breitborde; Erik Champy ’89, ’94G; and Robert Murphy ’90.

52

S A L E M S TAT E M E N T I S P R I N G 2 0 17

CLASS NOTES

Join us for the 17th Annual Youth at Risk Conference being held for the first time on the Salem State University campus.

Featuring more than 30 workshops, program exhibitions and networking opportunities, this event is a must attend for all those working with youth at risk.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: KENNETH V. HARDY, PHD

Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD, is Professor of Family Therapy at Drexel University in Philadelphia and Director of the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships in New York, where he maintains a private practice working with at-risk children and their families. He has appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” ABC’s “20/20,” “Dateline” NBC and PBS. He was the featured therapist in “Living Room Wars,” a Discovery Health Channel program devoted to providing family therapy to traumatized youth and their families. A prolific published writer, he is co-author of several books, including Minorities and Family Therapy and Teens Who Hurt: Clinical Interventions for Breaking the Cycle of Violence. His video “The Psychological Residuals of Slavery” serves to promote conversations about the intersections of race, oppression and trauma.

salemstate.edu/yar Registration opens in April.

Artwork created by Koryssa Chaisson, Merrimack Academy Topsfield of the Crest Collaborative

17TH YAR CONFERENCE // JUNE 9, 2017 // 8 am – 4 pm

NEW ALUMNI BENEFITS When you graduate from Salem State, you automatically become a member of the Salem State University Alumni Association, and membership has its privileges! We are proud to announce five new insurance opportunities available to Salem State alumni.

•

Vision Insurance through VSP

•

Dental Insurance through Altus Dental

•

Pet Veterinary Discount Plan through Pet Assure

•

Identity Theft Insurance through Legal Shield

•

Legal Insurance through Legal Shield

VISIT SALEMSTATE.EDU/ALUMNI/BENEFITS TO LEARN MORE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE AND MANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES! S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

53

CLASS NOTES

’89

CLASS NOTES

continued from page 49

DR . ERIK CHAMPY ’8 9 was inducted

into Salem State University’s Northeast Regional Educators Hall of Fame on November 4, 2016, and he received the Salem State Alumni Award.

DINOR AH MENDEZ ’8 9 was one

of the first Latinas to graduate from Salem State College. This upcoming May her daughter Massiel Garcia will also be graduating from Salem State University. Congratulations, Dinorah and Massiel!

MICHELE LE AVIT T ’8 9 recently published a memoir called “Walk Away,” where she talks about overcoming homelessness and other serious setbacks to become successful. For more information about her book, visit michelejleavitt.com. Congratulations on your new book, Michele!

’90

MICHAEL FR ANC IS ’9 0 has been

promoted to Director for Commercial Enrollment and Premium Billing at Tufts Health Plan.

Congratulations, Michael!

ROBERT M. MURPHY ’9 0 was

inducted into Salem State University’s Northeast Regional Educators Hall of Fame on November 4, 2016, and he received the Northeast Regional Educators Award.

’93

’95

DR . STEVE COMINS ’9 5 is an

Assistant Professor of business at the American University of Iraq Sulaimani (AUIS), teaching courses that focus on management, business law and MBA writing. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Steve also serves on the AUIS Accreditation Committee.

’02

LYNDSEY HAIGHT ’02 is the Executive Director of “Our Neighbors’ Table,” a nonprofit that helps fight hunger. Since the donation of their new facility, there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of people who go to “Our Neighbors’ Table.”

Congratulations, Lyndsey!

’03

MARK BEDROSIAN ’03 is

beginning his second year as Principal at St. Raphael Parish School in Medford, Mass. Mark also serves on the executive board of the Salem State University Collaborative for Professional Development.

’04

KEVIN C ROWLEY ’0 4 graduated in

JOE SARC IA ’93 was inducted into

the Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame this past September for the sport of baseball.

Sarcia finished with 54

a .360 batting average, including hitting .423 his senior season, and is just one of five players in Salem State history to top the 20-home run mark for a career with 26.

S A L E M S TAT E M E N T I S P R I N G 2 0 17

2004 with a BFA in Acting from Salem State. He has lived in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, appearing in numerous theatre and film projects.

While living in Chicago, Kevin earned his MFA in Acting and married his

wife, Leslie Frame-Crowley, another actress. This year, he has moved back to Salem to begin a new job as the theatre and music teacher at The Academy at Penguin Hall, a new all girls’ high school in Wenham.

’06 ERNIE ’0 6 AND TAMMY AIGUIER ’07 welcomed their second

son Nolan in September 2016. Ernie is the recent owner of two Cross Fit gyms, Cross Fit East Coast, in both Rockland and Braintree, Mass. In addition to owning and running the gym, he is also a Cross Fit Coach.

ANDRE A W ILSON ’0 6 AND MICHAEL MARGAREC I ’16

married in August 2016. They currently reside in Lynn, Mass.

Andrea is now a forensic scientist for the Massachusetts State Police, and Michael is a Business Development Executive for Alpha Software. Congratulations, Andrea and Michael!

’07

MAT THEW BAR AN ’07 was

inducted into the Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame this past September for the sport of golf.

He was a three-time Division III Ping All-American during his time at Salem State.

MICHAEL BER RY ’07 was

inducted into Salem State University’s Northeast Regional Educators Hall of Fame on November 4, 2016, and he received the Rising Star Award.

continued on page 59

ALUMNI

UPCOMING EVENTS Save the date and plan to join us at these upcoming events! To learn more and to register, visit salemstate.edu/alumni/events

VETERAN STOLE CEREMONY MAY 10, 2017

THANK YOU, EVENT SPONSORS! Sponsoring an event with Salem State University is the perfect opportunity for your company to make an impression on one of the largest Greater Boston alumni and friend networks—more than 70,000 strong. We offer several special events for you to network at and advertise your products and services to Salem State community of alumni, faculty, staff, donors and friends. Event sponsorship packages for 2017 range from $500 to $25,000. We can also customize a package at any level to include multiple events of your choosing. Contact Taylor Dunn at 978.542.7560 or tdunn@salemstate.edu for more information.

MOVING FORWARD, GIVING BACK

HOMECOMING

ALUMNI WEEKEND 2017 • 50TH REUNION SOCIETY EVENT Thursday, June 1, 2017 • 50TH REUNION FOR THE CLASS OF 1967 Friday, June 2, 2017 • GLOBAL DAY OF SERVICE Saturday, June 3, 2017 • PARTY ON MCKEOWN PLAZA Saturday, June 3, 2017

SALEM STATE SERIES 2016 FEATURING ED DAVIS AND RICHARD DESLAURIERS

PRESIDENTIAL SPONSORS

A Personal Approach to Private Wealth Management 216 Essex Street | Salem, MA 01970 | (800) 888-MGMT | www.eCabot.com

• ALUMNI JAZZ BRUNCH Sunday, June 4, 2017 • YOUTH AT RISK CONFERENCE June 10, 2017

NORTH SHORE PRIDE PARADE June 2017

BENEFACTORS

FRIENDS

BANE CARE MANAGEMENT

Bridgewell Camelot Special Events & Tents

CORNERSTONE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

Gorton’s Seafood Marblehead Bank

SALEM STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

SALEM STATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT

June 26-July 2, 2017

ST. JEAN’S CREDIT UNION

Peabody Essex Museum Salem Witch Museum Solomon Metals Staples Advantage Winter Street Architects

S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

55

REASON

YOU’RE THE REASON!

1012

Winston Bennett ’13 Communications/ Public Relations “I came to Salem State to learn how to help people because my hometown has suffered from a lot of crime. With my degree I hope to be able to give back, maybe open a community center for local kids and seniors. My professors here taught me how communications and PR are global skills that I can apply to anything.”

56

S A L E M S TAT E M E N T I S P R I N G 2 0 17

ALUMNI

A PROUD PARTNERSHIP Salem State University Alumni Association is proud to partner with the USGA and Salem Country Club for the 38th Annual U.S Senior Open from June 26-July 2, 2017. Just as Salem State University has a long history on the North Shore, so does Salem Country Club. The Club opened in 1895 and moved to its present location in 1925. This year, the club celebrates the 91st anniversary of its Donald Ross designed golf course. During that time, they have hosted five national championships, and this year marks the sixth. According to general chairman of the 2017 championship, William Sheehan, “The members feel they have a duty to share their golf course with the golf world.”

The U.S. Senior Open will be broadcast on Fox and FS1 to more than 140 countries and will host 125,000

spectators. Over 2300 volunteers, both locally and from all over the world, will bring the program together and make it all happen. Both American and international players over the age of 50 can compete in the championship. Among those who have qualified are top golfers Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Steve Stricker and Tom Watson, to name a few.

“The USGA and Salem Country Club are excited about our partnership with Salem State University. The ability for the U.S. Senior Open to reach the Salem State community is a valuable benefit,” said Sheehan.

Tickets are on sale now, and all children under 17 are admitted complimentary with an adult ticket. For tickets, volunteer opportunities and more information about the 2017 U.S. Senior Open, please visit 2017ussenioropen.com.

S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

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P OM P 17

Party on McKeown Plaza

Saturday, June 3, 2017 North Campus McKeown Plaza 6-9 pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars! Mingle and experience reunion tents, lawn games, local food, beer and wine while enjoying live entertainment.

Tickets are $30 ($20 for under 21) and available at salemstate.edu/pomp.

Admission includes food, drink and entertainment.

Families and public welcome.

Participating Food and Beverages Stations

!�

58

S A L E M S TAT E M E N T I S P R I N G 2 0 17

Thank you to our POMP sponsors!

ALUMNI

’09

continued from page 54

JESSICA ( HER RICK) TOMLINSON ’0 9 was married on September 23,

2016 to Michael Tomlinson.

Congratulations, Jessica!

K ASEY MACDONALD ’0 9 graduated

in the class of 2016 from the Atlantic Acting School’s year-long Professional Conservatory. Congratulations, Kasey!

YUTA K IZ AK I ’0 9 was inducted

into the Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame this past September for the sport of men’s soccer. He was a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a junior and senior.

Kizaki was also the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

’10

JEFF SANTOR A ’10 was inducted

into the Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame this past September for the sport of golf.

He was a two-time all-region golfer and he was named an All-American by the NCAA and the Golf Coaches Association of America in 2009.

L AUREN ’10 AND DOMINIC DONADIO ’9 9 recently welcomed

their second child Luna. Congratulations!

’11 JAMES L ACOUR ’11 has been hired as

the new Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach at Johnson & Wales

University. Prior to his appointment, LaCour worked as an assistant coach within the NCAA Division I and II ranks. Congratulations and good luck coaching the Wildcats, James!

’12 DANIELLE JENK INS - HER MAN ’12

was inducted into the Salem State Athletic Hall of Fame this past September for the sport of women’s basketball. She was the school’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,664 points, and is one of only four players in Vikings’ history to amass more than 1,600 career points during her time at Salem State.

2016-2017 SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Joseph Wamness ’00G, president Debra Lee Surface ’05, vice president of administration Christopher Corrente ’10, ’12G, vice president of outreach Mikki Wilson ’09, secretary Alyce Davis ’75, alumni trustee Pamela Doherty ’92, immediate past president MEMBERS AT LARGE Mary Bertrand ’13 Robert Callahan ’72 Guy Clinch ’89

’13/’15

Grazia Crivello ’09 Stephen Daly ’84

K YLE GREGORY ’13 AND

Kathryn D’Amour ’63, ’67G, ’81G

DAN CAR ROLL ’15 both alumni

Carol DiMento Esq., ’65, ’67G

of the theatre department, have created and self-published a children’s book called “Nimbly Wimbly and the Great Dry Drought.”

Kyle wrote the story, while Dan illustrated. This charming story is about a little Cumulonimbus cloud that must learn how to rain, with the help of his friend Percephanie, before a drought destroys the earth. The books are for sale for $15.00, and a portion of the proceeds goes to a charity in Fall River under the name of Gnome Create that helps to support Fall River youth.

TONY A . W YMAN ’13 recently

promoted to Director of Human Resources for the Swampscott Public Schools. Tony also welcomed the birth of his son Sebastian on March 7, 2016.

Congratulations, Tony!

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 S P R I N G 2 0 17 I S A L E M S TAT E M E N T

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ITALY ROME October 3-9, 2017 $1699 with credit card $1669 with cash/check Visit salemstate.edu/travel to see the full itinerary for this fabulous vacation destination!

60

S A L E M S TAT E M E N T I S P R I N G 2 0 17

Y

ALUMNI T R AV E L PROGRAM salemstate.edu/travel

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY 352 Lafayette Street Salem, Massachusetts 01970-5353

THANK YOU YOU’RE THE REASON!