Center for Education in the Community at Salem State University

I recently sat down with Wendy Pearson, staff associate at the Salem State University School of Education’s Center for Education in the Community (CEC) to discuss the contributions that CEC makes to professional development for teachers and school administrators. "We are proud that many Salem State School of Education alumni are employed as teachers, principals and administrators in the region’s public school districts and community based educational organizations," Ms. Pearson told me.

Headquartered on the third floor of the Sullivan Building, the CEC program provides professional development, training and consultation to educators. The CEC also collaborates with school districts and community based organizations to apply for and manage grants and funding support for innovative educational initiatives in the region.  

The CEC offers courses and workshops targeted to the professional development needs of educators in schools and community based organizations. The CEC arranges to offer district-based graduate degree, licensure, and advanced certificate programs to meet the needs of schools and educators for high quality continuing education and to respond to the changing academic and other needs of students in PreK – 16 education.  

For example, many schools in the region report recent increases in the number of students whose first language is other than English. This year, School of Education faculty with expertise in teaching English Language Learners (ELLs) are meeting with Salem Public School teachers and staff in a series of seminars and “professional learning communities” (PLCs) to share and discuss effective strategies and teaching methods to support students learning the language skills necessary to progress academically. 

A highlight for educators is the bi-annual Best Practices in Education Conference. The Best Practices in Education Conference was developed in cooperation with and is co-sponsored by the Friends of the School of Education a group that includes many active School of Education alumni. Held now for seven successful years the conference features over 20 workshops instructed by faculty and other experts in the field. The conference is held on a Saturday to facilitate maximum teacher and administrator attendance. 

Planning is already underway for the November 2016 conference. Anticipated topics will include English as a Second Language (ESL) and Special Education. Information regarding the 2016 event will be published before the end of the 2015/16 school year in June. Interested parties may contact Ms. Pearson (wpearson@salemstate.edu, 978.542.7448).

Another upcoming event of note is the Salem State School of Education networking event that is being held Thursday, November 19th at FINZ Restaurant on Derby Street in Salem from 3pm – 5pm. The free event is free. Those wishing to attend are asked to register at the following link:
https://participate.salemstate.edu/SchoolofEducationNetworkingReception

Other programs managed through the center includes help to educators in applying for and managing grants for education. Recent successes include helping schools apply for, obtain and manage:

• Race to the Top -Early Learning Challenge Grants and the Massachusetts Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA), a federal/state funded program focused on improving educator knowledge and skill in the assessment of young children’s development and learning in order to better target instruction to meet their learning needs.
• The Region 3 Partnership, Educator & Provider Support Grant (MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Educator and Provider Support (EPS), currently in its sixth year.  Public and private universities and community colleges in the Northeast and Metro-West region partner to offer college courses and continuing education opportunities to assist the early childhood education workforce (PreK – 3rd grade) to attain bachelor and master degrees i and improve their teaching skills.
• The CEC also partners with several regional colleges and community colleges on the statewide, grant funded Massachusetts College Access Challenge program. In a joint initiative of the MA Department of Higher Education (DHE) and the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the CEC provides information and support on how to access and succeed in college to middle school and high school students and their families and to freshman college students on campus.  The goal of this successful program is to increase the number of underrepresented, low income and first generation students who apply to, are accepted to, and succeed in post-secondary education. 

Students from schools including the Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Lynn, Collins Middle School in Salem, and high school students from Salem and Malden Public Schools have participated in faculty led programming on campus and in the high schools.  Student support continues on campus with first year college students at Salem State and other public and private universities and community colleges.

Through these programs middle and high school students visit college campuses to learn about the college experience and to observe college classes. They learn what high school courses best prepare students for specific career opportunities. They tour libraries, dormitories, meet with financial aid and admissions counselors and get help writing their college entry essays.

This program also funds Transition Support Specialists and programming at Salem State and other colleges and universities.  The specialist/advisors meet regularly with students from under-represented groups, both individually and in small groups, and provide advising and support to assist students with the academic and other challenges of college. The program is concluding its fifth year. Services provided include:

• Career exploration and what educational preparation is required for specific careers
• how to find the college with the “best fit” for careers and individuals;
• how to apply to college; and
• how to find best financial aid for their circumstances.

Salem State University is deeply committed to increasing access to college for low income and first generation students including Latino, Far East, Haitian and other underrepresented groups. As the grant is about to expire, Salem State has demonstrated its commitment to sustaining this support and has integrated the program into campus support services to continue to assist freshman students to succeed in college and prepare for careers.

Other services provided by the CEC include professional development to school districts on:

• Special Education issues;
• English as a Second Language (ESL);
• hosting workshops and Professional Learning Communities (PLC); and
• general support such as providing someone who can come teach the teachers.

The CEC offers off-campus School of Education graduate certificate programs to meet school and teacher needs on topics including Advanced Graduate Study in Autism Spectrum Disorders. This certificate program includes four courses for teachers to better assess and meet the needs of increasing numbers of students on the autism spectrum.

Recognizing that it can be difficult for teachers to make the commute to the Salem State campus, courses are offered at schools in the region. Ms. Pearson said, “We’ll come to the teachers in the district.” She continued, "If there are enough participants in a particular location a financial discount may also be offered."  Programs have been offered to teachers in Revere, Chelsea and Amesbury public schools.

The School Education was granted funding from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education for “Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment” (ICE) to develop career exploration and college programming to help students with disabilities who are unprepared to enter college or the workforce. Programming will serve students 18-22 years old with autism spectrum disorders and/or intellectual disabilities who have completed high school studies, but need further “transition” assistance to succeed in post-secondary education and careers. Interested alumni educators may join the ICE “Lunch and Learn” panel discussion on this developing program at the Ellison Campus Center at Salem State on Friday, November 20th from 11:30am – 1pm.  Additional information is online at http://www.salemstate.edu/academics/schools/28395.php?id=2489

Beginning in fall of 2016, the Salem State School of Education will offer a “4 + 1” degree and licensure program. Integrated Bachelor and Master of Education (MEd) degree programs will be offered to students pursuing Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education teacher licensure in Elementary, Early Childhood and Secondary Education content areas. Instead of the traditional two years on top of four, participants will be able to complete the required coursework and fieldwork in five years with the opportunity to earn a second educator license in another high need content area.

Examples of the second area of concentration include: Special Education, ESL, and Reading Specialist. Salem State is the first Massachusetts state university to offer this innovative, integrated program. The concept of the integrated bachelors/masters degree program is an emerging national trend and was enthusiastically embraced by regional school administrators attending focus groups and interviews, including significant alumni participation.  

The School of Education is also a recipient of a planning grant to offer help to students with disabilities who find themselves unprepared for college or the workforce explore careers. The program will offer an opportunity to earn college credits and learn the skills needed to enter the workforce for 18 to 22 year old students who have completed high school studies and require more transition support to enter post-secondary education and the workforce. Students included may also require help socially or have workforce preparation needs. 

As the above proves, the Center for Education in the Community (CEC) at Salem State University is yet another reason for our Salem State alumni community to look back to our alma mater with pride. For those in our community who are educators, I hope the information above leads you back to resources that may help the students you serve and in your careers. For all our community I hope this serves as yet another reminder of how Salem State continues to be a resource to enrich our alumni lives. 

I invite you to participate in this conversation and watch for the next edition of Viking Voices.

Join in on the conversation: 

• Salem State Alumni Network on LinkedIn;
• Salem State University Alumni Association - Facebook;
• Salem State Alumni (@SalemStateAlum) -  Twitter.

Here are some of the places you may find me on social media:

• Twitter @gclinch
• LinkedIn
• Google +

Viking Voices - Podcast: Lauren Hubacheck, Director of Career Services at Salem State University

In this edition of our conversations we inaugurate the Salem State Viking Voices podcast. This first episode features my talk with Lauren Hubacheck, Director of Career Services at Salem State University. 

By way of introduction Lauren has been the Director of Career Services at Salem State University since August of 2012. Prior to that she served as Associate Director of Employer Relations at Florida International University. 

Since coming to Salem State Lauren's goals have included establishing the vision and directing the priorities for the Career Services Office. She has helped to develop and maintain university partnerships with employers, coordinate an extensive career readiness program across campus for all students, and to collaborate with the Salem State Community to foster an environment of career development and learning that will enhance the career outcomes of our students and graduates. 

Lauren leads a team of Associate Directors, Assistant Directors, and Administrative Assistants in successfully delivering signature career development to Salem State University students and alumni.

Lauren and I talk about the many ways that the Career Services Office benefits students and our alumni community. Looking for your first job? Need help applying for graduate school? Making a mid-career change? Looking for great employees for your business? The Salem State Career Services Office will help. 

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Synopsis:

I asked Lauren to talk about the Career Services Office and how alumni may take advantage. Lauren said that over the past several years the Career Services Office has evolved including, "Building out a whole side of our office that functions as an employer relations team." Lauren commented that the effort has resulted in increased engagement with alumni and employers and is a positive addition to Salem State's already great culture. "The Career Services Office exists to help students and alumni, while students are here on campus and after. We help as they are in the career development process and later transitions in careers," Lauren said.  

For example, first year students can get help with study discipline and study plan. There are processes of career development that benefit students across their time at Salem. These include: opportunities for internships and networking, résumé building, cover letter help, and other elements that relate to career development, job search strategy or graduate school search.

I asked Lauren to talk about about the ways that the Career Services Office engages with alumni. Lauren defined that, "We engage alumni in two ways: We think about those alumni who are in career transition, seeking employment or grad school, and those alumni who are out there in the world of work. We work with alumni who are looking to engage new employees through Salem State for their businesses." 

For Alumni seeking employment or career transition Career Services Online (cso) Offers:

• an online job Posting Board;
• the ability to build a profile which you can share with prospective employers;
• Interview Stream, an online interview practice tool you can use from home using a computer and a web camera;
• a Resource Library including –
• Career-related Articles/Blogs,
• Career Services Fact Book,
• Career Services Handouts,
• On-Campus Recruiting.

There are -

• Career Advice Videos;
• Job Search Tools;
• Résumé Creator Tools;
• Career Event Schedules;
• Access to the Campus Career Coach; and
• Other resources.

Lauren said that alumni can also come into the office, "Where a career coach will meet with you one on one and spend about 45 minutes detailing a plan."

For alums who are looking to hire or increase the talent pipeline for their companies the Career Services Office offers a number of ways to get involved. These include:

• Programming in the academic classroom where faculty will request to have an alumni come into the classroom and speak on -
• a career development topic, or
• a career related to coursework;
• Career panel series examples include -
• Internship panel (students who are on internships and alum who have succeeded though an internship),
• Career focus panels including recent panels on -
• Sustainability,
• Careers with animals,
• Careers in the environment;
• Alumni may host students at your company -
• partnering clubs or organizations,
• partnering with faculty to bring a class,
• Tours,
• Company overviews,
• "What are you hiring for?"

I asked Lauren about opportunities for companies to visit campus. Lauren said, "We have increased the number of fairs we offer. We offer a student employment fair in the first week of school in September."  Lauren continued, "We hosted 59 companies with the focus of talking with students about internships and part time employment for students while on campus."

Along with the Bertolon School of Business Accounting Association and the Alpha Chapter on campus, "We offer a meet the firms nights," said Lauren. Now in its third year this event recently featured 19 companies who where looking for accounting and finance recruitment. This resulted in students who, "Right now have offers on the table for employment after graduation in the spring," said Lauren.

"We do a large comprehensive career fair in March," Lauren continued. "We cap at 139 companies recruiting at the event." Due to the success of the employer relations effort the event has grow to outstretch the capacity for the largest space available on campus.  

Lauren noted that although the primary focus may be on entry level positions often companies have positions for more experienced individuals. "We move those opportunities over to the Salem State LinkedIn groups," said Lauren. 

Because there is such a heavy population of great individuals among Salem State alumni on LinkedIn the Career Services office becomes a conduit for career opportunities for students and alumni in all career phases. Lauren continued, "This can be for those alumni who are actively looking for a change and those perhaps who aren't looking but could be intrigued by a new opportunity that comes along." 

The Salem State LinkedIn groups include:

• Salem State Alumni Network on LinkedIn; and 
• Salem State University Career Services.

Lauren concluded our conversation by pointing out that alumni may not think about coming back to take advantage of Salem State University Career Services but should. Lauren stressed there are many reason why, "One is we are a free service to alums." Lauren said career services can assist alumni whether it is the resources mentioned above or by helping think through how their skills apply. "Their liberal arts education coupled with their experiences can transfer into a new industry or a new opportunity," said Lauren.  

Thanks for checking out this week's Viking Voices. I am looking forward to our next conversation.

You can join in the conversation by following this blog and checking out the many social media outlets available to our Salem State community. A short list of some of these venues are below.

Go Vikings!

Join in on the conversation:

• Salem State Alumni Network on LinkedIn;
• SalemState University Alumni Association - Facebook;
• Salem State Alumni (@SalemStateAlum) -  Twitter.

Here are some of the places you may find me on social media:

• @gclinch
• GuyClinch on LinkedIn
• Guy Clinch on Google+

Viking Voices - Salem State Collaborative Project for Professional Development

In our ongoing series of conversations about how Salem State transcends our academic careers and continues to add value for our alumni lives we've talked about: Career Services Online, the Enterprise Center, the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, the  School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and alumni participation in the Major / Minors Fair. This week I'd like to kick off discussions of particular interest to those alumni who are teachers. Regardless of where life has taken alumni as educators, other careers and in other life circumstances you will find that the Salem State Collaborative Project for Professional Development (CPPD) is an ongoing enterprise for which we can point back to Salem State with pride. 

The Collaborative Project was started by Salem State professor Frank Sullivan and several public school science department heads from the North Shore in 1983. The original focus was on professional development for teachers in math and sciences teaching kindergarten through grade 12. It was then called the Collaborative Project for Math, Science and Interdisciplinary Education (CPMSIE). 

Today the Collaborative Project is an alliance of member schools and school districts serving a student population of over 62,000. In the past ten years the project has grown in scope from a focus on math and sciences to encompass professional development for teachers in all curriculum areas.

Professor Sullivan was taught biology and education at Salem State College.  He had also spent teaching time in England and noticed that the UK elementary and secondary teachers were offered professional development throughout the year in science in math.  He sought to emulate the successful practice back home in Massachusetts. 

Today the Collaborative Project is led by Executive Director Jim Kearns (SSC Class of 73/74), who is a retired Math Department Head of Lynnfield High School. Kearns partners with Jim Terlizzi, who retired as the Science Department Head at Peabody High School and serves as Finance Coordinator for the project. 

As technology increasingly transforms education The Collaborative Project has kept pace. The Collaborative Project became the leading SmartBoard training organization on the North Shore. When iPads became a ubiquitous teaching tool, the Collaborative Project became a leading iPad training group for teachers on the North Shore. They now lead the way in the implementation of Google in the Classroom.

Although 95 percent of the Collaborative’s work is geared toward teacher professional development there are additional notable successes. One is organization of the annual Women in Science and Engineering (W.I.S.E.) Career Day. Coordinated for many years by Jim Terlizzi, Daryl Mazzaglia and Salem State professor Gwen Scottgale. According to The Connectory, "The W.I.S.E. Career day initiative specifically targets young women at an impressionable age and exposes them to today's technologically oriented careers in mathematics and science." 

The W.I.S.E. Program has expanded throughout the years to over 500 participants (girls in grade 6 through 8). The program has become so successful that a major challenge is now fitting all of the students into the limited spaces of the available venues. 

Over 20 professional women in the science and engineering fields present workshops to the girls. W.I.S.E. events have featured guest speakers including WBZ meteorologist Danielle Niles who has returned for several years of engaging presentations. This year's speakers included a computer analyst and field agent for the FBI who is a role model for the students combining Computer Sciences with Law Enforcement and showing how women can succeed in these traditionally male dominated fields.

Another highlight of the Collaborative Project is organization of Advanced Placement Practice Exams in Science (Biology and Chemistry) and Mathematics (Calculus and Statistics). These events take place over two successive Saturdays in March and April. Jim Kearns told me, "We average 500 students in math and 3-400 in science. By the time the teacher accompanying her students leaves for the day all their scores are tabulated and the teachers know what questions to concentrate on helping their student to prepare for the exams." Jim said that the results include that the grades go up on average of one point. 

On Mondays throughout 2015 the Collaborative Project will offer ten or more two-hour sharing workshops on technology in the classroom and Common Core. On Saturday mornings a new program of workshops is also taking place SEEM Collaborative Office in Stoneham, MA. Click here to see the current schedule of programs (some sessions have an online component).

Jim Kearns said, "We try to adapt to address the changing needs of the teachers. The program used to only run after school with an occasional school day during the school years. Now we teach on Saturdays and host 20 programs during the summer. We’ve become a full year program." Jim continued, "This year we will add a new initiative being coordinated with the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston to do training for the parochial students from about ten schools north of Boston and helping them out as best we can."

Jim perhaps is most proud of how lean the Collaborative Project runs. He said, "We’ve worked out the overhead very well. We pay our presenters well but keep all other costs down." Membership in the Collaborative Project is consistently over 50 public school systems, parochial and private schools. Operating at a budget of less than $50,000 and at a cost to the participants of about $5 per contact hour the Collaborative Project is a bargain for all involved. 

Jim said that a big part of the success of the project is the support provided by Salem State. The University provides office space and helps manage the organization's financial transactions with members and vendors.  

I hope you share the pride I feel about this program headed by one of our great alumni and facilitated by Salem State University. I hope that you will continue to participate in this conversation and watch for the next edition of Viking Voices.

Join in on the conversation: 

• Salem State Alumni Network on LinkedIn;
• Salem State University Alumni Association - Facebook;
• Salem State Alumni (@SalemStateAlum) -  Twitter.

Here are some of the places you may find me on social media:

• Twitter @gclinch
• LinkedIn
• Google +

Viking Voices - The Enterprise Center at Salem State University: part of Your Alumni Benefits

Welcome to the latest in a series of my blog posts written to highlight the resources available to our Salem State Alumni community. This week I had the chance to visit the Enterprise Center at Salem State and attend Start-up Stories: Survival By Design, one of the many valuable sessions hosted by Enterprise Center.

On this day a capacity crowd engaged with Jennifer Adler who is a graphic designer, communications consultant, writer and entrepreneur. Jennifer talked about her business, Survival By Design Cards, and shared her professional advice.  Jennifer told the engrossed audience about her successes and her learnings. 

The audience asked probing questions to which Jennifer responded with the humor, wit and business wisdom illustrative of the Survival By Design Cards company brand. The interchanges combined to create a powerful learning experience that benefitted the audience members and Jennifer benefitted from advice shared back.

Start-up Stories is part of the Enterprise Center’s ongoing series of seminars and events - many that are free, some for a fee - that are available to members of our alumni community and to the public. Another free session that took place last week was, Two Hours to a Better Sales Strategy. Dave Johnson, Managing Director at Sandler Training engaged another robust group of attendees in how to, “‘Reboot’ your sales strategy and establish a game plan for success!”

While I visited the Enterprise Center I also met Abby Grant, Senior Program Manager of the Enterprise Center. Abby recently joined Salem State from the Boston Business Journal where she was Audience Development Manager. Addressing attendees Abby spoke of the upcoming series of events and resources available to the business community.  

I am extremely impressed with Abby. Her optimism, enthusiasm and sense of mission is kinetic. In a short period of time she has energized the Enterprise Center program. 

Abby is part of a new entrepreneurial spirit embracing Salem State. Guided by the leadership of University President, Patricia “Pat” Maguire Meservey, Abby is a symbol of the dynamic energy exuding across the university campus.  Abby’s outreach to the local business community, electronic communications and social media skills are radiating the mission of the institution beyond the four walls of the Enterprise Center providing a beacon illuminating the value that Salem State generates for the community. 

In the upcoming weeks the Enterprise Center will host more programs of value to our alumni and the regional business communities. Below is a short list of upcoming events.

If you in the area, take my advice and put a couple of hours aside to attend an event or more. Based upon my experiences this past week, it will be time well spent. I’ll be there to take in one or more and I hope to see you.

Upcoming events highlights (full calendar):

• Thursday, October 1, 2015,
• 8:00 am - 10:00 am Google Adwords 2.0 (Fee: $35),
• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Practical Project Management Certificate (Fee: $ $525);
• Monday, October 5, 2015,
• 11:15 am - 12:45 pm A Goal Setting Strategy That Works (Fee: free);
• Tuesday, October 6, 2015,
• 8:00 am - 10:00 am Marketing B2B: Best Practices (Fee: free);
• Thursday, October 8, 2015,
• 8:00 am - 10:00 am, Twitter: Twitter: a Powerful, Easy-to-Use Marketing Tool (Fee: free);
• Wednesday, October 14, 2015,
• 7:00 am - 9:00 am, Million Dollar Women – Breakfast and Brainstorming (Louise Leduc Kennedy).

Check out the full calendar for other events including, Start-Up Stories – Diabetic Dabs (October 19), Starting A Business – What You Need to Know, (October 20) Get Ready to Enter the North of Boston Business Plan Competition (October 21), and other valuable events in October and beyond.

In my next post I will profile the Salem State Small Business Development Center and I will let you know what I learn about those resources available to our Salem State Alumni community. I am looking forward to our next conversation.

You can join in the conversation by following this blog and checking out the many social media outlets available to our Salem State community. A short list of some of these venues are below.

Go Vikings!

Join in on the conversation:

• Salem State Alumni Network on LinkedIn;
• SalemState University Alumni Association - Facebook;
• Salem State Alumni (@SalemStateAlum) -  Twitter.

Here are some of the places you may find me on social media:

• @gclinch
• GuyClinch on LinkedIn
• Guy Clinch on Google+

My Salem State Story: What is Yours?

Salem State University's impact on my life has recently come into focus. This revelation is as my son enjoys his first year at the school. Over time the impact of graduation in 1989 blended into the fuzzy background noise of busy life. Jobs, family and community; the layers of life’s responsibilities dulled my cognition of what Salem State has made possible. Visiting the campus, participating in the parent’s council, seeing how the university is growing has caused me to reflect.

Graduating from Salem State opened doors for me that most likely would have remained barred. After high school like much of the country in the late 1970s I was on a wayward trajectory. My future as the economy seemed bleak. Jobs were increasingly scarce. Inflation was bad and accelerating. In the decade previous we had seen our military retreat, a president leave office in disgrace and the moral fabric of the country seem to unwind. When we looked for leadership, we heard words including “malaise” permeate the language of those who should have provided inspiration.

I had attended Salem full time for several semesters after high school. Recovering from an accident caused me to put my education on hold. I fell into a series of short lived jobs including pumping gasoline, working in retail, working in food services, and auto repair. Satisfying employment remained elusive.

One day I was contacted about a possible job by a friend with whom I had worked a summer during high school. Out of his favor I landed a full time position with a well-known regional company. The job was entry level. I spent my days stocking shelves in a warehouse. It was a great place to work. The job gave me solid wages and comprehensive benefits. The benefits included tuition assistance.

Here is where my path led back to Salem State. The warehouse was on Jefferson Avenue in Salem; figuratively and literally on the other side of the tracks from my future. A day came when I met the women who would later become my wife. Michelle was then finishing her associate degree at North Shore Community College. She planned to matriculate to Salem. It is said that behind every great man is a great woman. In my case I will say that behind great motivation there is a great woman.

With a future with Michelle as incentive and with the financial help of the company I went back to campus and resumed studies. Nights, weekends, summers passed as I attended classes while upholding my work responsibilities. Working full time and studying part time stretched out my enrollment. Nearly ten years passed from the time that I had first studied at Salem State until that day when I proudly strode across that stage in the Rockett Arena to claim my diploma.

It was time to pay back the company for the money invested in my tuition assistance with effort and achievement. Things moved fast from that day. I moved from wearing warehouse coveralls to wearing a dress shirt and tie. The computer science skills I had obtained at Salem State served me well as I was given responsibility for the management of a region wide computer network.  My days as a supplies attendant were behind me. Other skills from my business administration major at Salem would soon take me further.

In the years since passed I have had many great adventures. I went on to study and graduate from an Ivy League university. I have had the opportunity to meet a president of the United States, celebrities and thought leaders. I have led teams paving the way to new uses of innovative technologies. I have testified before congressional committees and the Federal Communication Commission panel investigating the response to Hurricane Katrina. I have served on executive boards and joined with colleagues and friends to help people less fortunate.

Becoming reacquainted with the institution of Salem State University has caused me to wonder how many of these milestones may have been possible if not for the foundation laid at the school. Where would I be if not for Salem State?

My story is far from unique. For many Salem State alums the experiences, skills and knowledge attained have contributed to corresponding upward mobility and civic contributions. Curious about how big our impact may be I did some recent research on the professional social network, LinkedIn.

Among the nearly twenty thousand Salem State students and alumni who have LinkedIn profiles there is a spectrum of success stories. In the many thousands we Salem State Alumni list ourselves in the fields of education, entrepreneurship, government, healthcare, operations, sales and many other categories.

We are valuable economic contributors who span the country branching out from New England to every corner of the United States and internationally. We are professionals, civil servants, executives and leaders. We are in fields including finance, information technology, human resources, marketing, consulting, art, media and communications. We lead companies. We are members of congress. We serve in the military and in public safety. We shepherd agencies, bureaus and ministries.

Impressive as is the information from LinkedIn, it represents only a segment of the positive impact that Salem State contributes to our communities and our economy. Salem State has educated people for than one hundred and fifty-seven years. We are among over fifty thousand living Salem State graduates. The school serves over ten thousand undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students annually.

There are Salem State students who follow the traditional path from high school graduation to a Salem State degree. There are many like me who follow the less traditional path working full time while studying at Salem seeking to improve life for themselves and those who depend upon them. There are students who take advantage of Salem to pursue graduate degrees, to pursue their intellectual interests and to maintain their professional standing.

What has your Salem State experience meant to your life? Because of Salem State, how have you contributed to the world? Take a few minutes to tell your Salem State success story.

Ways to use social media to connect with Salem State and fellow alumni:

• State Alumni Association
• LinkedIn Salem State University Alumni Network
• Salem State Alumni on Twitter @SalemStateAlum
• Salem State on Google+