Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees Board of Trustees In accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth and regulations enacted by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, the composition, duties and powers of the Salem State University Board of Trustees are articulated within the university's bylaws. The board is charged with the fiduciary management of the institution, including determination of fees, establishment of personnel management policy, staff services, and the general business of the institution. Among its responsibilities, the board elects the president with the approval of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education, adopts an annual plan of financial operation, awards degrees in approved fields, and develops the mission statement for the university consistent with the mission of the Commonwealth's system of public higher education. The board of trustees consists of 11 voting members. Ten members are appointed by the governor, at least two are alumni of the university and one of whom is elected thereto by the university alumni association.  Elected alumni members shall be elected every five years. Members are appointed to serve for five year terms, but no member shall be appointed for more than two consecutive terms. Student members are elected by the student body and serve one year. Regular meetings of the full board are held four times annually and are open to the public with the exception of executive sessions. Committees of the board convene prior to each open meeting and on an as-needed basis. The board currently has five standing committees: executive, academic affairs and student life, risk management and audit, finance and facilities, advancement, marketing and communications. Meetings usually take place on the Salem State University campus. Public Records Requests Visit the public records requests page for contact information and submission guidelines for public records requests. General Overview and Overseer Listing Members of the Board of Trustees Matthew Beckett, Student Trustee A. Thomas Billings ’72, ’75G, EdD Elizabeth Cabral ’17 Alyce Davis ’75, EdD Dino DiPalma Stephen Immerman, EdD Thatcher Kezer ’88 James Lampassi ’81, Vice Chair Claude Lancome Samanda Morales ’98, Chair Trustee Board Meeting Dates and Agendas SSU Trustee Community Open Forum Topics: If you'd like to suggest a question or topic for an upcoming full Board of Trustees meeting, please do so here. Board Meeting Calendar Academic Year 2026 (all meetings are remote unless otherwise noted below) Trustee Committee Meetings—begin at 3 pm unless otherwise noted Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – in person/hybrid – Charlotte Forten (Forten 123) at Harrington Campus next to Starbucks Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – AUDIT Committee – begins at 4 pm (followed by regular board meeting) Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Friday, January 30, 2026 , 10 am - Presidential Review Committee Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Friday, May 1, 2026 - Governance Committee Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Regular Board Meetings—begin at 5 pm unless otherwise noted Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – this meeting follows the Audit Committee meeting Wednesday, February 4, 2026 Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Wednesday, June 3, 2026 – in-person/hybrid – Petrowski Conference Room (Marsh Hall 210) at Harrington Campus, above the dining commons Special Meetings Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - Executive Committee, 5 pm Off-site – December 12, 2025 Other meetings will be announced when scheduled Posting of Meeting Agendas and Meeting Format Except in cases of emergency, final agendas with anticipated discussion topics are posted 48-hours in advance of the meeting. Remote meetings – Please note that Governor Healey has extended provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025. Login information will be provided within the posted agendas. Trustee Board Documents By-laws of the Board of Trustees All BOT minutes are now on the records site , along with university policies and reports. Public record requests should be sent to Rita Colucci, general counsel, at publicrecords@salemstate.edu . Rita Colucci is also the designated records access officer (RAO) for Salem State University. Board of Trustees trustees@salemstate.edu Mailing Address: 352 Lafayette St. Salem, MA 01970