SSU Viking Voices Podcast: Interview with University President John D Keenan

Welcome to the latest edition of Salem State University Viking Voices where we highlight many of the great things going on at this exciting institution and among the alumni community.

John D Keenan, JD
14th president of Salem State University

This episode features our special guest the 14th president of Salem State University, John D. Keenan.

Previously, President Keenan served as general counsel and vice president for administration at Salem State University. He was responsible for the university’s day-to-day operations in support of its academic mission, overseeing human resources and equal opportunity, capital planning and facilities, information technology, risk and asset management, and the university police.

Prior to becoming president of the university, Keenan has had a distinguished career in public service that has included representing the Seventh Essex District in the Massachusetts State Legislature from 2005 to 2014. Even then a strong advocate for Salem State, President Keenan was a leading proponent of gaining university status. He also leveraged his expertise to help fund the recently complete the Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts.

A champion of many social causes, President Keenan voted to preserve marriage equality, address schoolyard bullying, and protect transgendered employees in the work place. He is a resident of Salem along with his wife, Kara McLaughlin, and their two children, Aidan and Erin.

During the recording of this special edition of Salem State Viking Voices, the students of Mary Melilli, MFA, Professor, Media and Communication MCO 235 Multimedia Storytelling class documented the recording session. The recording was made in front of a live audience at Viking Hall the newest of the residence halls at Salem State. This state-of-the-art building is LEED Gold certified, for its energy efficiency and other sustainability features.

Here is a multimedia version of the podcast featuring photos and videos recorded by the students:

Click here to view on YouTube

Click here to listen or download to an audio version of our conversation. 

Play Now (See image below on how you can also download from the player page)

You can also subscribe in iTunes or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Links: 

• Salem State Foundation
• Salem State University's Mission and Vision Statements

End notes:

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 Podcast: Alumni Success Stories - Mark Amirault

In this edition of the Salem State University Viking Voices podcast we have a conversation with Mark Amirault a 1984 graduate of Salem State with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.  

Mark Amirault

Mark is a principal at Dart World Incorporated. Founded in 1977 (originally Darts & Parts), Dart World quickly became “the place for players to shop, with people traveling as far as 100 miles away.” Today, “Dart World sells its product domestically and internationally and participates in major sporting goods trade shows. 

The company’s 144 page catalog features a complete line of darts and accessories, poker and game room supplies, and offers the consumer quality product and exceptional service.”

As principal at the firm, Mark oversees the operations of Dart World.  He has 17 employees, of which six are Salem State University graduates and two are current students.

Mark also volunteers with the Service Dog Project as a photographer. A non-profit charity located in Ipswich, Massachusetts the Service Dog Project trains great danes as service animals for people with balance issues and veterans with PTSD.

Listen or download our conversation. 

Play Now (See image below on how you can also download from the player page)

You can also subscribe in iTunes or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Here's a preview of what you will hear:

Links:

• Click here to see some of Mark's photos for the Service Dog Project
• Click here to learn more about the Service Dog Project
• Click here to learn more about Alumni and Friends of Salem State University
• Click here to learn more about the Salem State Foundation

End notes:

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 Students Help Veterans Podcast

In our continuing conversations about the great things that are going on at Salem State University we've been meeting a number of individuals who are making a real difference for the campus community and beyond. A few weeks back I reminded us that President Meservey set out as one of the priorities for the University at her inauguration that, "It is our duty to ensure that students understand the importance of community involvement, and that they are well versed in the privileges and responsibilities that come with citizenship in a democratic republic." 

In the audio podcast that you may listen to using the links below, we hear from a group of students and their faculty advocate who are an exemplar of the ideals that President Meservey is championing. What started as a class project has morphed into a campaign with multiple effective strategies that are helping to change people's perceptions of veterans. 

Robert E. Brown, Ph.D.

Robert E. Brown, Ph.D. who is a professor in the Communications Department at Salem State University, and the project's mentor put the challenge succinctly when he said, "The conversation about veterans has been almost entirely negative, it has been about Veterans Affairs, suicide, PTSD, addiction, all these things that veterans have been challenged with." Although intended to bring light to injustice, Dr. Brown continues, "It has had the unintended consequence of distancing veterans and making them seem less employable, less valuable to the community, in fact worrisome, dangerous even ... This is the last thing that we want."

The student group accepted Professor Brown's encouragement and have entered the Bateman Case Study Competition which is sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America. With the intent of achieving a positive social goal, the Bateman Challenge is the, "premier national case study competition for public relations students," that gives students, "an opportunity to apply classroom education and internship experiences ... to research, plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive public relations campaign."  

For these Salem State University students the results are a set of activities that are changing perspectives, educating the students and their peers, helping veterans, and has caught the attention of media professionals. Professor Brown said that these students are changing the conversation. "As far as I know," Brown remarks, "these students are involved in the only campaign to  raise awareness of veterans accomplishment." 

The students have gained local notoriety from their efforts. They will attend a gala during the Public Relations Society of America Northeast District Conclave in June. Please set aside a few minutes of your time to listen to their story.

The group includes students:   

Mark Casella

Gerald Fallon Jr.

Shannon Gallagher

Kristen Pustizzi

Play Now

or,
 Download

or click below to subscribe in iTunes.

Resources:

•  Communications Department Website

Thanks for checking out this week's Viking Voices. I hope you'll listen to the full audio podcast. 

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+