Salem State University announced that it has named its College of Health and Human Services the Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services, honoring outgoing president Patricia Maguire Meservey. In doing so, the university raised $1 million in recognition of President Meservey’s legacy, to be used for Salem State’s unrestricted endowment, which supports its overall needs.
“While Salem State’s success under president Meservey’s leadership is a legacy in itself, this naming is a fitting way to commemorate and recognize the growth in student success, state-of-the-art facilities and fundraising that has taken place over the past decade, in addition to Pat’s professional passion in the health sciences,” said Paul Mattera, chair of the Salem State University Board of Trustees.
The naming was recently approved by Salem State’s Board of Trustees and officially announced at a May 23 retirement celebration for president Meservey, who plans to retire before the start of the next academic year. The goal to raise $1 million in President Meservey’s honor, in conjunction with this naming, was reached in just 11 weeks.
“Pat is passionate about increasing funding for the needs of our students and the university as a whole,” said Cynthia McGurren, vice president of institutional advancement at Salem State University. “There’s been tremendous excitement around the opportunity to support Salem State’s unrestricted endowment in honor of Pat’s hard work and lasting impact. We’re incredibly grateful for the response we’ve received.”
“President Meservey leaves behind an even stronger university and stronger Salem State University Foundation,” said James Muse, class of 1983 and chair of the Salem State University Foundation. “You don’t have to look far to see the relationships she has built in Salem, on the North Shore and throughout the Commonwealth, from partnering with schools and businesses to serving on many volunteer boards. President Meservey’s impact can be seen on campus and far beyond.”
In president Meservey’s decade of leadership at Salem State, the university has seen a 15-percentage point increase in its graduation rate for first-time freshmen, raised over $26 million in its first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign, achieved university status, and added state-of-the-art academic and student life spaces, with nearly 760,000 square feet of new construction and renovations completed or underway.
“Given president Meservey’s career-long commitment to healthcare and healthcare education, it is especially rewarding to name our College of Health and Human Services in honor of her contributions to this university,” said David Silva, provost and academic vice president at Salem State.
The Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services includes the schools of nursing and social work, and the departments of criminal justice, occupational therapy, and health care studies. The nursing program is the highest demand program at Salem State and the social work program was recognized this year by U.S. News & World Report with a national rank of 91 (of 233 ranked).
President Meservey joined Salem State in 2007 after serving as Suffolk University’s first provost and academic vice president. Prior to that, she held a number of administrative leadership roles at Northeastern University and served as a faculty member in its School of Nursing in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences. While at Northeastern and as the executive director of the Center for Community Health, Education, Research, & Service, she provided leadership in the transformation of nursing and medical education by introducing students into the fields of community health and primary care. In partnership with the neighborhood health centers of Boston, president Meservey and her colleagues provided learning opportunities for students and improved health care options for community members.
President Meservey
“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this recognition, particularly in the area of health care education,” said president Meservey. “I am further honored, and incredibly thankful, that so many in our extended Salem State community have committed financial support for the benefit of our students.”
President Meservey holds a PhD in higher education administration from Boston College, an MS in parent-child health nursing and a BS in nursing, both from Boston University, and a diploma in nursing from Faulkner Hospital. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.