Summer officially begins with the Summer Solstice, an “event” that marks both the longest day of sunshine and the beginning of the long, slow, inexorable path toward the shortest day of the year. For me, solstices remind us of the cycles of life and the way forward.

This year, at Solstice, I watched sunset and sunrise at Stonehenge virtually. The moments were slow and yet, the transformation complete. Clouds moved across the sky and the colors shifted across a spectrum that was surprising given that the day was not sunny. Not this year, not on this screen, not now.

The slowness of time made me stop and think.

I remember June as a month of celebrations—running from school into the wonderful world of summer. It makes me think of my father, whose birthday was in June. And, it makes me think of the many ways that a year requires us to pace ourselves.

June is also a month we call Pride Month, focused on LGBTQ rights. This June, we celebrate a Supreme Court decision that says federal law bars discrimination against LGBTQ people in the workplace.

It is a month when SCOTUS also upheld DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).

And, it is a month when we continue to see uprisings and challenges to systemic racism. We see them because we have not come far enough.

These are not disconnected. They come together in the lives of many.

As we think through our future together—as we welcome in this issue our newest Salem siblings, entering in Fall 2020—I am reminded of the wisdom of Audre Lorde, who argued quite strongly that poetry is not a luxury. Nor are the moments we take to celebrate before we step into our futures to bring more change.

We had the taste of victory. And, still we have more to do.

Salem Strong is Salem en route to a better Salem.

Susan Henking
Interim President

Interim Dean of Students Marinda “Mindy” Bliss, who joined Salem in October, will finish her time with us June 30. “I am very grateful for Mindy’s leadership this year, and especially so given the unusual circumstances since March 13. Mindy organized outreach to students to keep them connected during our time away from campus and was an integral part of our COVID-19 response team. All of the Salem community, I’m sure, joins me in wishing her well in whatever comes next for her,” says Dean Richard Vinson.

Betty Telford was recently named dean of the Martha H. Fleer Center for Adult Education after serving as interim dean of the Fleer Center for several years. Dean Telford joined the Salem College staff in 2007 following a career in public education. She has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Western Carolina University as well as an education specialist degree from Appalachian State University.

Teaquoise came to see me over a year ago to share her “new” dream. She was a part-time Fleer student who was steadily progressing toward degree completion while working full time as a paraprofessional. She was bursting with excitement about her new dream and needed help in developing a new plan to make the dream a reality. Her son had just completed his college degree and she was filled with pride and inspiration. Teaquoise and her daughter (also a college student) made a pact—that no matter what came their way, the two of them would both graduate from their respective institutions in 2020. They did not know what they were facing! Teaquoise’s daughter was on track as a traditional age student at another institution, but Teaquoise’s part-time student plan would not work for the targeted 2020 graduation date. She needed a plan and fast. We mapped out a way to reach her goal by combining seated classes with a directed study option and a challenging Jan Term mountain to climb. We met with faculty to seek approval for a rigorous fall term, Jan Term, and spring term course sequence that would be the final piece to the puzzle. There was some apprehension because many Fleer students would not take on such a rigorous plan, but her dream pushed her and, as a team, we guided her through a plan built on a dream, a student commitment, and a desire to do what she did not think she could do. Nothing would get in her way and she did it!

Brad is a single parent raising his teenage son while working full time and maintaining a strong academic record as a Fleer student. He chooses to live near family for a support system that has been there with him every step of the way. In getting to know Brad, I realized he would not stop until his degree was completed. His dream is to open a counseling practice and he knows his undergraduate degree is only his first step. During the spring semester, his father passed away, and we had several conversations about how this could impact the final months of the semester while he navigated his grief. He reached deep within and made it to the finish line, and it was with pride that I wrote his graduate school application reference. He is set! 

These are only three of many, and each Fleer student has a story that drives me each day to provide assistance and guidance in helping students toward degree completion. 

Betty Telford
Dean, Martha H. Fleer Center for Adult Education

I watched a TED Talk this past week that challenged people to spend one month learning something new. It was a great reminder that small investments in self-discovery can pay off in large dividends. Just 30 minutes a day, for 30 days, can yield amazing results, and a much broader and/or deeper understanding of social issues, global realities, or whatever else inspires your learning process. July seems like the perfect time to take on this challenge—with a 31st day thrown in there for good luck!

Summer has always been a wonderful time to take stock of life—to breathe again, to slow down the frenetic pace, and to reevaluate what is important. This summer, in light of all the changes and challenges in our world, seems to be an especially poignant time to take the opportunity to learn something new, something outside the box, something that will hopefully open new doors for future endeavors. I challenge you to join me this month in choosing something that is meaningful for you to learn deeply about—and to share with us your 30-day process. Looking for ideas for how you can spend your 30 minutes each day? Why not:

• Read a new book about your topic
• Take a free online certification course
• Engage in a virtual “field trip” to explore your topic more deeply
• Watch a TED Talk from an expert

Whatever you chose, I am excited to join you this July for a month of self-discovery and educational advancement, and to see where all this learning propels Salem into the future!

Collier Lumpkin
Executive Director – Global Leadership and Career Innovation