SALEM — Salem State University was awarded a $10 million gift from the Cummings Foundation — the largest cash donation to any state school in Massachusetts.
Salem State will allocate the funds toward numerous projects and programs focused on strengthening efforts to “diversify the educator pipeline for all teacher license areas, such as the cohort-based Educator-Scholars of color initiative” as well as the creation of a professional learning center with the purpose of retaining teachers and school leaders, the university said in a statement. The center would aim to increase retention by “including support for developing anti-racist and equity-focused instructional and leadership practices.”
In a statement, the university’s president, John D. Keenan, thanked the Cummings Foundation for the gift. “This generous contribution is an investment in our students, our campus goals, and the entire region, and I am exceptionally grateful to Cummings Foundation. I could not be more proud of what Cummings Foundation’s support says about the high-quality academic programs Salem State offers,” Kennan said.
Bill Cummings said the foundation was “delighted” to deepen its partnership with the school.
“Salem State is at the heart of ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to advance themselves, their families, and their communities. It is also a major contributor to workforce development in the MetroNorth region,” Cummings said.
Dr. Joseph Cambone, who is the dean of the School of Education, stated that the donation comes at a time where the education system, specifically in the North Shore, is struggling and needs all the help it can get.
“The impact of this historic gift will be significant and far-reaching, paying lasting dividends to the school districts in which our students go on to serve. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely harmed an already fragile educator pipeline on the North Shore. We are exceptionally grateful to Cummings Foundation for this generous commitment at such a crucial time.”
The school will honor the generosity of Cumming’s donation by naming the School of Education after alumnus James. L (Jamie) McKeown ‘77, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 41. McKeown was the former president of Cummings Properties, further strengthening the ties between Salem State and Cummings.
“Jamie would be astonished to know that his school, which he had so many fond memories of, is now named after him. To know that educators, and future educators, will greatly benefit from the Cummings’ generosity is just overwhelming to my family and me,” said Denise McKeown, Jamie’s widow.
Last year, the school received a $6 million cash donation from Salem State Alumna Kim Gassett-Schiller and her husband, Philip Schiller. That donation was the previous record for a cash donation received by a Massachusetts state school until the grant from the Cummings Foundation.
Ryan Vermette can be reached at [email protected].
