Dear Salem Friends,
In January of 2019, I took a chance and came to Salem alongside two other candidates to interview for the position of Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. I knew little about the College—and less about the Academy. Who knew that I would eventually be exiting as Interim President of Salem Academy and College so many months—now years—later? Who knew what a chance you would take on this interim?
I am glad we took a chance on each other.
Together, we have faced challenges and turned them into hope. The environment of both independent schools and colleges is a difficult one. It has been for some time. Salem’s leadership saw that and knew change was an absolute necessity. They knew—as you know—that hope requires vision and action. That was true before a global pandemic, before renewed tensions around racial injustice, and before economic crisis faced us. It remains true.
The environment of both independent schools and colleges is both local and global, both high touch and high tech, and more. To be both/and is critical and as Academy and College, you taught me that in new ways.
Education, in my view, is a public good. And so, the work of Academy and College ought to, directly or indirectly, change the world for the better. And those of us with a vocation in education must do so in two ways—both by changing individual lives as yours were changed during your time at Salem and by leading as an institution. Salem certainly led across its nearly 250 years—beginning with the risky choice to educate women. Salem continues to lead by embracing rather than fearing change, recognizing rather than avoiding Salem’s historic role in injustice, and working diligently and ferociously toward a better Salem.
As a favorite poet of mine (Jane Hirshfield) has said, “Zen pretty much comes down to three things—everything changes; everything is connected; pay attention.” The same, in my experience, might be said of education at its best.
It has been a privilege to join you for a bit of your journey. I wish for each of you—and for Salem—a delightful 250th—and a future that makes you proud.
Susan Henking
Interim President
Salem Academy and College is pleased to announce the appointment of Summer Johnson McGee, Ph.D., CPH as our new president. Dr. McGee is currently the Founding Dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut and will assume her new role at Salem starting July 1, 2021. You can read more about Dr. McGee on our website. In addition, you can watch a recording of the full announcement of her appointment that took place on Thursday, June 10 in front of Main Hall and another shorter video about her appointment and recent visit to campus.
Many of you have probably seen the bench, either in person or as a photo, located on the Salem College campus that says: Make a Difference. “‘Make A Difference’ has been my life-long motto,” said Jennifer (Jenny) Eury C’78, who donated the bench in 2013. Jenny has been a strong advocate for Salem in many, many ways since she graduated. “I support Salem to give back to the institution that made me what I am today, and I commissioned the bench in order to leave a lasting legacy on campus that would inspire others.”
The top of the bench includes the following inspirational message: Memories make what we are. Dreams make what we will be. “I firmly believe that giving to Salem really makes a difference as it provides current and future students a better opportunity to achieve their dreams,” Jenny stated.
Jenny graduated from Salem College in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and then earned a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University (NCSU) in 1980. After graduating from NCSU, she worked at IBM for 33 years in Information Technology. She has been very involved in Salem’s Triangle Alumnae Club (currently serving as Secretary) as well as President of her class. She is also an active volunteer in her community including with the Leadership Council of the Women’s Giving Network of Wake County, Komen Race for the Cure, Pancreatic Cancer Network, Carolina Ballet, Make-A-Wish, and Habitat for Humanity.
Calling all classes ending in 1s and 6s, and the Class of 2020! Every year Reunion gifts are critical to Salem meeting our College Fund goal. The Reunion giving deadline has been extended to June 30. Give today at salem.edu/give, by phone at 336-721-2607, or mail a check to Salem College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 601 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Thank you for supporting Salem with your Reunion gift!
On October 2, 1766, a party of 19 Moravians set out from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to travel 500 miles to Bethabara, North Carolina. The travelers included 12 young girls (ages 13 to 17), four Single Sisters, one married woman whose husband was already in Bethabara, and a married couple. Fortunately, one of the young girls, Salome Meurer, kept a diary during the journey (PDF). From this remarkable written record, we are able to discern much about the Moravians, colonial-era travel, and the determination of these early settlers to establish themselves in North Carolina.
Ultimately, this journey led to the establishment of Salem Academy and College, since several members of this 1766 group, including Elisabeth Oesterlein and Salome Meurer, moved to the newly formed town of Salem and became teachers at the institution that was founded six years later.
The 250th anniversary of Salem Academy and College will include a retracing of the girls’ journey from Bethlehem to Bethabara and on to Salem Square, starting September 28 and ending October 26, 2021. While the 1766 party had nine horses, the horses were primarily used for pulling the large wagon with their tents, food, and other supplies for the journey. The 2021 reenactment will have no horses, but there will be a “wagon” (i.e., a van) to assist the walkers and carry luggage. Unlike our intrepid 1766 group, we will not be camping or seeking shelter in barns, nor will we be following old Indian trading paths. Our walk will be along primary and secondary roads through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, and we will stay in hotels each night.
As we pay homage to this group by retracing their route, we will be providing daily updates via social media and the Salem Academy and College websites, highlighting entries in Salome Meurer’s journal, the individuals who were in the 1766 party, and the social, historical, and geographical context of the journey.
We hope you will join us by walking one day, three days, or twenty-nine days—whatever your schedule will allow. More information about the walk is here, and you can register for the walk via this walk registration link. We also encourage you to consider participating virtually by walking in your own hometown or on local trails. And we hope to have a large crowd in Salem Square on October 26, 2021, to welcome the walkers “home.”
Virginia S. Hart A’75, former Academy Alumnae Director
Registration for the Journey from Bethlehem to Salem, which will take place from September 28–October 26, 2021, is now open. Find out more and register for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
You won’t want to miss “Honor the Past. Ignite the Future. An Evening for Salem” on Saturday, September 25, 2021. This event kicks off our 250 Celebration year and will include a concert with the Winston-Salem Symphony at 6 p.m., a Champagne Toast, and Dinner and Dancing, all on the campus of Salem Academy and College. Tickets will go on sale in mid-July. Get more information about Honor the Past. Ignite the Future. from our website. If you can’t make it to the Salem campus, don’t worry, the concert will be live streamed. Host a dinner party and enjoy the concert in the comfort of your own home!