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Corey Cronin
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Salem, Mass. – The fundraising and alumni organizations that support Salem State University are uniting to better serve the campus and greater community. The boards, which have worked in parallel but independently in the past, voted to unify into one leadership organization, the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. (AA&F) to enhance the alumni and donor experience.
This unification stems from months of work identifying the similarities and differences of the boards’ missions, by-laws, committee work, and composition, resulting in the working group’s recommendation to come together as one.
“Board members have been engaged in conversations about this unification for a while,” said Annalisa Di Palma, chair of the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. “We consulted with many former board leaders who offered their valuable guidance and historical knowledge of each organization, helping us move closer to a decision.”
The steps taken during this process were informed by best practice, guidance from the Association of Governing Boards and from other institutions who have explored and adapted this unified model.
The board will retain its status as a 501(c)(3) organization with the objective to advance Salem State’s educational mission by fostering strong connections with the university’s inclusive community and by building bridges between students, alumni and friends. Through partnerships, the AA&F will promote pride in the university and inspire philanthropy to invest in all student success by investing and managing contributions which support priorities not met through public funding.
“Through this unification, we will be able to better serve our community,” said Cheryl Webster Crounse, executive director of the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc., and vice president of advancement. “We have worked in partnership for years and this unification provides opportunities for increased, constructive collaboration and more streamlined board management. We are excited about the future and enhancing our impact.”
On the heels of the launch of Salem State’s $75 million comprehensive campaign Meet the Moment™, the unification further strengthens Salem State’s commitment to student success and the university’s funding priorities: financial assistance, student success, SSU BOLD, and unrestricted support.
“We are proud of what each organization has accomplished throughout their respective histories,” said Debra Lee Surface ’05, ’19G, former president of the alumni association. “Each organization’s legacy will carry forward into the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc., working as one body to further the university’s commitment to student success and equal access to education.”
Learn more about the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc.
About Salem State University
Salem State University, established in 1854, is a comprehensive, public institution of higher learning located approximately 15 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts. One of the largest state universities in the Commonwealth, Salem State enrolls about 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers 32 undergraduate programs and graduate programs that offer degrees in 24 fields. The university also has a continuing education division that offers both credit and non-credit programs. Salem State proudly participates in the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement and has shown a student voting rate above the national average, earning it a Silver Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. In 2020, Salem State received Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. The university is designated a Best for Vets College by Military Times.
About Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc.
The Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. (AA&F) is a 501(c)(3) private, not-for-profit organization. In partnership with Salem State University, the AA&F promotes pride in the university and inspires philanthropy to invest in student success. In so doing, the AA&F provides the opportunity to meet the needs of the Salem State community not met through public funding.