December is a month filled with momentous occasions. Its celebrations include Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, and, for denizens of a particular portion of American popular culture, Festivus. It begins with the mourning and activism of World AIDS Day and ends in the celebratory chaos of New Year’s Eve. Here at Salem, it is marked by Moravian stars and by other memories that I have been privileged to hear from alumnae at recent (virtual) events—memories of snow falls, of magically appearing wreaths, and of brass bands outside windows while exams were undertaken.
In many interpretations, December’s celebrations mark the changes of light associated with a particular moment in the Western Hemisphere, the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night: The Winter Solstice. After December 21, we gradually see the nights grow shorter and the days grow longer. The play of light and shadow changes, beginning—once again—at the Solstice. At Salem, the incredible significance of light is marked in our lighting of beeswax candles. So too the play of light and shadow appears in Salem’s alma mater:
Strong are thy walls, oh Salem
Thy virgin trees stand tall.
And far athwart the sunlit hills,
Their stately shadows fall.
In our singing and in our candle lighting—this year together apart—we remind ourselves that beginnings and endings are never entirely distinct, but rather deeply, persistently, and repeatedly entangled. Endings and beginnings repeat, once again, in December.
The repetition itself reminds us of the mundane reality of over and over again and brings with it the paradoxical joy of recognition and acknowledgement. Hope lies in knowing we have been here before. As alumnae, you know that so very well.
In some senses, the echoes of this Solstice are exactly like they were last year and for many, many, many years before. In other ways, these moments in this December are particular. They are our moments, part of this time in our lives. Part of a year we have repeatedly described as unprecedented. And so, we reach nostalgically backwards and optimistically forward. We read the words and light the candles each and every year—they resonate across time while simultaneously defining our time and this moment. We know the layering of words and actions expands their meaning and reminds us that the play of light and shadow changes—and the inexorable movement of time carries us also toward hope.
A teacher of mine, Mircea Eliade, used the phrase “in illo tempore” to refer to a sacred time to which we return—repeatedly—to make and remake our world and ourselves, to make and remake our Salem. Reverberating in some tales as “at that time” and in others as “once upon a time,” December too can stand in for that time for—in its Solstice and its many moments—December reminds us, as Leonard Cohen has over the years—that “there is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.” December reminds us to live in the both/and not the either/or.
I hope you will find this video as moving a harbinger of all that December 2020 can mean as I do.
May your December be filled with light—and where it is not, may the cracks truly allow the light in.
With gratitude,
Susan Henking
Interim President
As one of the most unusual semesters in Salem’s storied history comes to a close, I hope we will all take a moment to celebrate what the Salem community has accomplished during these unprecedented times.
A year ago, the novel coronavirus was spreading around the world. We had no idea what was about to happen, from the unexpected disruption to our daily routines to the strain on our communities and the tragic loss of life. This global crisis has called on all of us to respond with innovation, flexibility, creativity, and compassion.
The core values that have sustained Salem for centuries—dedication to scholarship, service, and community—are, I believe, what made it possible for us to successfully complete an entire semester remotely despite the many challenges our students, staff, and faculty have faced.
I am deeply proud of every member of the Salem community for what we have collectively accomplished this semester. We know that there will be new challenges to face in the weeks and months ahead. We also know, based on our experience since campus was forced to close last March, that we will be ready to face them with courage, grace, and resiliency.
Stay safe, stay well, and stay strong.
Daniel Prosterman
Interim Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Dean of the College
Kris Porazzi Sorrells, who was recently named Head of School at Salem Academy (after serving as Acting Head of School since June 2020), has deep ties to both Salem College and Salem Academy. She received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Salem College in 1996. After earning a master’s degree in mathematics from Wake Forest University in 1998, Sorrells returned to Salem in 1998 to teach math at Salem Academy.
During her time at Salem Academy, Sorrells has taught Algebra 2, Advanced Functions and Modeling, Pre-calculus, Calculus AB (Calculus 1), and Calculus BC (Calculus 2). She also created the Academy’s award-winning robotics teams. In addition to her role as Head of School, Sorrells will continue to teach math as well as remain an advisor to the robotics teams. She also is the proud mother of a Salem Academy alumna from the Class of 2018.
To read a news story about Sorrells being named Head of School, please click here: Winston-Salem Journal. We also hope you’ll take a moment to watch this video message from Kris Sorrells as she reflects on this news and her optimism for the Academy’s future.
Kris Porazzi Sorrells, who was recently named Head of School at Salem Academy (after serving as Acting Head of School since June 2020), has deep ties to both Salem College and Salem Academy. She received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Salem College in 1996. After earning a master’s degree in mathematics from Wake Forest University in 1998, Sorrells returned to Salem in 1998 to teach math at Salem Academy.
During her time at Salem Academy, Sorrells has taught Algebra 2, Advanced Functions and Modeling, Pre-calculus, Calculus AB (Calculus 1), and Calculus BC (Calculus 2). She also created the Academy’s award-winning robotics teams. In addition to her role as Head of School, Sorrells will continue to teach math as well as remain an advisor to the robotics teams. She also is the proud mother of a Salem Academy alumna from the Class of 2018.
To read a news story about Sorrells being named Head of School, please click here: Winston-Salem Journal. We also hope you’ll take a moment to watch this video message from Kris Sorrells as she reflects on this news and her optimism for the Academy’s future.
Collette (CoCo) Vladimery is a member of the Class of 2021, and she is looking forward to graduating in the spring. She commented that her decision to attend Salem College was not a difficult one: “I chose Salem because I needed a small school with a good pre-med program and a lacrosse program. When I came to visit the campus, it felt like this was where I was supposed to be for the next four years.”
Vladimery has really enjoyed her years at Salem, in particular getting to know new people from all over. She grew up in a small town and has loved how Salem College has broadened her world view. She also thanks Salem for helping her get comfortable with the uncomfortable. “I’ve gotten to push myself in the ways I interact and learn, with and about other people,” she said. “Salem has helped me grow as a person.” To learn a little more about how Salem helped Vladimery embrace being uncomfortable, please read her essay at Student-Athlete Insights with CoCo.
Vladimery’s future plans include applying to graduate school or to a post-baccalaureate program with the ultimate goal of attending medical school.
We did it! Thanks to over 330 alumnae, parents, and friends, we raised $127,954 for the Academy and College Funds in addition to $100,000 from our matching donor. Thank you for supporting Salem on Giving Tuesday!
If you have not had a chance to make your gift to Salem, it’s not too late! Your gift will make a difference—by alleviating pressure on institutional resources so that Salem can continue to provide an exceptional experience for our students.
Make your gift today:
Thank you for your support!
Salem is about to have a BIG birthday!
We want this celebration to be unforgettable and could really use your input. What will make this celebration most meaningful? Tell us here.
Join the fun and put your love for Salem into action! Volunteer to help with the 250th celebration here.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced that 191 teams and clubs earned the 2020 AVCA Community Voting Award. The Salem volleyball team and head coach Bouaketh Chanthavisouk were the lone unit from the USA South Conference to receive the honor.
This new award was started to encourage eligible coaches and student-athletes to exercise their civic duty through participation in the democratic process. In order to win the AVCA Community Voting Award, 100 percent of eligible student-athletes and staff had to vote in the 2020 November election.
Read the full article on the Salem Spirits website.
Salem is committed to celebrating the classes ending in ’1s, ’6s, and the Class of 2020 and also the classes ending in ’0s, ’5s and the class of 2019 whose Reunion in 2020 was postponed. We hope to see you safely in person, but we know that there is a chance that due to COVID-19 this may not be possible, so we are planning a virtual Reunion as well. Whether we are on campus or your screen, we hope that you will feel like you have never been away. We promise that it will be a Reunion to remember.
Please stay tuned! We hope to make a final call as to whether Reunion will be on campus or virtual by early February.
Like so many events in 2020, we were not able to hold our Christmas Candlelight Service in person this year. However, we presented a virtual service on December 3. If you missed it, this moving celebration of the holiday season is still available for viewing on our website.