Meet the President
By: Jessica Walters
In early August, Salem State University welcomed our new president, John Keenan. Earlier this month, I had to chance to sit down with President Keenan, ask him a few questions, and get to know him better and discover what his dreams were for SSU.
President Keenan was born and raised in Salem, and still calls Salem his home today. Similar to many students at SSU, he is also his family’s first-generation to attend college. Because of this, Mr. Keenan knows how it feels to be in our shoes, and can easily relate to many SSU students. When discussing this, the President shared with me that he knows and understands the challenges of being a college student, especially during the first year. It felt wonderful to be able to relate to our President, and know that he understands the struggles of adjusting and succeeding in college.
Prior to joining SSU in September of 2014 as Vice President, and General Counsel, President Keenan served as a State Representative for the City of Salem from 2005 to 2014.. During his time at the State House, he was one of the driving forces behind gaining university status for SSU. As this may appear as just a name change at the surface, this major gain befitted both students and faculty on several levels. Currently, Salem State is the only university on the North Shore.
Within our community, Mr. Keenan has done great work to make Salem a better place for all residents. He has lead several public development projects, and made dramatic positive changes regarding social justice and sexual assault. These efforts have made Salem a more desirable place to live, and improved campus climate across Salem State. When speaking with the President, his passion for improving our city and our campus life was vividly clear. As Salem’s State Representative, he was instrumental in in securing funding for the Frederick Berry Library and Learning Commons,
President Keenan is driven by student success. He explained to me that we are all in this together, and that we can learn from being connected with one another. As a student, it is comforting to know that our success and accomplishments are so important to him. He said that his goal for the future of SSU is “to become as inclusive as we are diverse.” I look forward to seeing the wonderful work he envisions for our community and campus in the future.
Next time you see our new president in the hallway, be sure to give him a smile and a wave! I’m sure he’ll wave right back.