Sam Lim (they/them/theirs) is the inaugural LGBTQIA+ Coordinator in the Center for Justice and Liberation at Salem State University. Lim arrived to Salem State in fall 2020 as a graduate student in the M.Ed. Higher Education in Student Affairs (HESA) program, advised by Dr. Vijay Kanagala. During their graduate studies, they were elected founding President of the Student Affairs Graduate Association (SAGA), inducted into the Civic Engagement Hall of Fame (2021), and received the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award.
While Lim is planning to graduate this coming May, they were hired to their current position as a Salem State University administrator in January of 2022. Since that time, they have expanded Salem State's campus-wide LGBTQIA+ programs and services, facilitated faculty and staff DEI training, and lead the transition of the former L.E.A.D. Office to the now Center for Justice and Liberation.
Lim was elected to the Board of Directors of North Shore Pride in November of 2021, and, in April of 2022, was elected by its Executive Committee as the inaugural Chair for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, serving as the Organization's Chief Diversity Officer. Their civic engagement with the Salem community extends beyond their work with North Shore Pride. Lim was appointed by Mayor Kim Driscoll to the City of Salem's Cultural Council (June 2020-), Human Rights Coalition (September 2020-), for which they now serve as Co-Chair, and Scholarship & Education Committee (August 2021-).
Prior to moving to Salem, Lim taught high school social studies and forensic science in the Atlanta, Georgia Public Schools and was elected Vice Chair of their Local School Governance Board. Following their time in the classroom, they worked as a DEI Facilitator/Instructional Coach for Teach For America. Lim is the former inaugural Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on the Atlanta Pride Board of Directors and founding Board Chair of Teach For America's PRISM Metro Atlanta Coalition.
Congratulations on your election to North Shore Pride, Sam! All of Salem State University appreciates your hard work and everything you do to help make Salem State a more inclusive and equitable institution for students, faculty, and staff!