Salem College One of 33 Institutions in the Nation to Receive Prestigious Impact Grant
Winston-Salem, N.C. (July 14, 2025) – As one of 33 institutions across the country, Salem College was awarded a $230,200 Institutional Impact Grant from Wake Forest University’s (WFU) Educating Character Initiative of the Program for Leadership & Character. The grant will continue to support Salem’s project, “Touchstones for Character: Gender, Care, and Justice,” led by Salem College Professor and Program Director of Religious Studies Dr. Diane Lipsett.
Through a partnership between Lilly Endowment Inc. and WFU, the Educating Character Initiative (ECI) provides impact grants to colleges and universities nationwide that are committed to fostering character development among undergraduate students. These grants support institutional leaders, faculty, and staff in integrating character education into academic curricula and student life programs, aligning with each institution’s distinctive mission, vision, and values.
“Salem College is deeply honored to be awarded an Institutional Impact Grant from Wake Forest University as one of 33 remarkable institutions across the nation,” Dr. Lipsett said.
“This investment will significantly strengthen our efforts to explore and elevate the role of character in education through our Engaging Ethics initiative and the RISE Leadership Development Program,” she added.
As a women’s college with a diverse student population, Salem College offers a unique perspective within the growing ECI consortium. Through its participation, Salem plans to contribute meaningful insights on character-centered education and engage in shared learning with peer institutions across the network.
“Salem has long been committed to supporting students in living ethical lives,” said Salem Academy and College Interim President Gary Daynes.
“That commitment has deepened in the past few years through our focus on engaging ethical questions in the curriculum and embedding ethical touchstones in the co-curriculum. The Touchstones for Character: Gender, Care, and Justice project extends those commitments so that they reach even more of our students, staff, and faculty. And it supports Salem’s partnership with other women’s colleges as we work together to strengthen women’s education in the United States. I am grateful to Wake Forest University’s Educating Character Initiative for funding this project, and to all of the faculty, staff, and students involved for their commitment to this essential work,” he added.
Salem College’s Engaging Ethics program encourages students to critically examine ethical questions both within the academic curriculum and across co-curricular experiences. Complementing this initiative, the RISE Leadership Program prepares women to lead with purpose and advance the well-being of their communities. With support from the grant, both programs will be enhanced through new resources and innovative strategies that equip faculty, staff, and student leaders—particularly in areas related to gender, care, and justice.
To learn more about Salem College, visit salem.edu or click here to read more about WFU’s leadership and character program.
About Salem College
Salem College provides women a liberal arts education with a distinctive focus on health and leadership ensuring our graduates understand the power, importance, and complexity of health in our society. Salem College prepares students for a range of career paths to lead in making the world a better, healthier, more equitable place. Salem College is the only national liberal arts college exclusively focused on developing the health leaders of tomorrow.
News media contact
Mallory Forsman
Director of Marketing and Communications
Salem Academy and College
mallory.forsman@salem.edu
704.661.4686