SALEM — Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz, also known as “Big Papi,” and international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney are scheduled to visit Salem State University in the spring and fall of this year.
The pair is visiting campus as the Salem State University (SSU) Foundation, Inc., celebrates the 40th anniversary of its speaker series, planning to return to in-person events after switching to a virtual format in early 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ortiz, who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year, is scheduled to visit SSU on May 4 for a conversation about the skills needed to succeed, leadership and giving back.
Clooney will visit SSU on Sept. 20 for a discussion about her work as an international human rights lawyer.
“These speakers exemplify the types of discussions the series has provided over the past 40 years,” said Cheryl Crounse, vice president of advancement and executive director of the Salem State University Foundation, Inc. “They present opportunities for us to learn and grow together as a greater community, which is an extension of our university’s public education mission.”
Both events will be held in SSU’s O’Keefe Complex, with the May 4 series taking place in the Rockett Arena and the Sept. 20 series in the Twohig Gymnasium. Both events begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.
Ortiz’s visit is the final event of the university’s annual day of giving, Viking Warrior Day, which is now in its fifth year.
Proceeds from the series and from Viking Warrior Day will benefit the Salem State Annual Fund, providing unrestricted support to the university.
“The university has a long-standing commitment to meaningful engagement, so we’re leveraging the anniversary of the series as an integral part of Viking Warrior Day — Salem State University’s annual celebration of giving back,” Crounse said. “This is a chance for us to transform lives by building on the opportunities that Salem State University offers.”
Tickets to the spring and fall 2022 Salem State Series can be purchased beginning at 10 a.m. on March 29 at salemstate.edu/series or by calling 978-542-7555.
Tickets for SSU students are $10; premium tickets, which enter you to win a dinner and photo with speaker, are $250 for both events, and $150 for an individual event; reserved seating for both events is $160 total, and $80 for an individual event; general admission in-person is $40, and $25 for virtual.
“The 40th anniversary of the Salem State Series seeks to bring the public closer to the foundation’s mission and to further support our smart, driven and hardworking students that advance the region’s cultural, social and economic development and vitality,” said Crounse.
Launched by the Salem State Foundation in 1982, the Salem State Series has brought leading voices from across the globe to speak with students and residents of the North Shore.
Some of the previous 100 guests include former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford; former Secretary of State Colin Powell; renowned poet and civil-rights activist Maya Angelou; former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto; writer and activist Gloria Steinem; former General Electric Chairman and son of Salem Jack Welch; football legend Tom Brady; award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend; and founder and chief strategist of Partners in Health Paul Farmer.
To read bios about this year’s speakers, visit salemstate.edu/series.
