Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services Fund

Thriving in a 21st Century Economy

We are positioned to make a profound impact on our region’s health and human services landscape considering the convergence of being one of the most diverse state institutions in one of the most racially and ethnically diverse areas.

The Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services (MMCHHS) is home to some of Salem State’s most popular majors: nursing, criminal justice, occupational therapy, and healthcare studies. Because each area of study carefully blends academics with field experience, our graduates are best prepared to join the workforce as skilled practitioners who think creatively, analytically and ethically.

Recognizing the unique interdisciplinary nature of our respective professions, we seek to promote a humanistic, caring environment, which maximizes student potential and instills sensitivity. And we are committed to having our students respond as knowledgeable professionals to changing social realities and concerns in a world of diverse cultures, to work cooperatively within and across disciplines and to seek opportunities which enhance the well-being of the public.

Through the Meet the Moment™ campaign, we are investing in programs and initiatives that will help us recruit the next generation of highly qualified students and prepare them to thrive in a 21st-century economy.

We are positioned to make a profound impact on our region’s health and human services landscape considering the convergence of being one of the most diverse state institutions in one of the most racially and ethnically diverse areas, as well as having a long history of preparing front-line workers who go on to serve the Commonwealth.

makes an immediate and lasting impact, helping us meet the moment today, tomorrow and for generations to come.

Student Success Hub

Under the leadership of Dean Sami Ansari, MMCHHS is developing a student success center to provide relatable and reliable mentorship and advice. It will focus on meeting students where they are, providing proactive advising and coaching; expanded clinical training and internship placements; coordinated faculty and staff professional development; and co-curricular programming to foster students’ sense of belonging.

The student success center offers intentional support to a particularly diverse student body, helping to build students’ emerging identities as college students. It will purposefully and systematically address the development of “the whole student,” taking into account each student’s unique academic journey, especially the 40 percent Latinx students and 35 percent first-generation college students within MMCHHS.

Experiential Learning

The Meet the Moment™ campaign includes support for paid internships and clinicals that will enable more students to take advantage of vital opportunities that align with their ambitions—without jeopardizing their financial stability.

While many of our students are exposed to opportunities in behavioral health, our recent partnership with the Mass General Brigham Workforce Development Fund will build greater awareness around experiential learning placements in behavioral health and provide greater access for students who struggle to participate in unpaid clinical training, fieldwork or internships, addressing existing gaps in services and resulting in career opportunities in the field after graduation.

Center for Interprofessional Collaborative Education

The Maguire Meservey College of Health and Human Services (MMCHHS) is committed to providing interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice opportunities to positively influence patient care, patient outcomes and healthcare professionals’ work experiences. By preparing students to work collaboratively across disciplines, we achieve more successful outcomes by reducing error in healthcare.

Through the Meet the Moment™ campaign and the establishment of the Center for Interprofessional Collaborative Education, students from different backgrounds and with different areas of expertise will collaborate and allow them to:

Adopt interprofessional values and ethics as the foundation of practice,
Understand a variety of healthcare team members’ roles and responsibilities,
Demonstrate effective interprofessional communication skills, and
Develop abilities to work effectively as members of the healthcare team.

Providing support for such interprofessional education will position us to maintain a rigorous, collaborative learning environment where high-performing students develop their skills, raise the university’s academic profile and ensure our students achieve their full potential.

Charting the path to success

Mercy Bashir '08 PHD, Associate Professor

"A cornerstone of my classes are simulation exercises, so that students have the chance to practice caring for patients in a realistic environment."

Kelsey Payne '23

"I hope to become a nurse that makes a difference in the lives of my patients and inspires them to keep fighting and to stay strong throughout their time in the hospital."

Marioli Rodriguez wearing a black Salem State tshirt

Marioli Rodriguez '25

“There is an enormous need for clinicians and administrators in medicine, but the cost of a healthcare degree is a deterrent for many students. Every contribution to Salem State ensures the university can offer this education at a reasonable price — and enable our graduates to become the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.”

Lamont Simmons wearing a dark-colored suit with white dress shirt

Lamont Simmons EdD, assistant professor

“My hope is that students can come here and become engaged in learning experiences that challenge them, and open themselves to new experiences and ideas that allow them to think differently about the world. That’s how we put them on a pathway to success.”

Kristen Chianca picture with red hair and a light-colored top

Kristen Chianca '24

“Things are changing every year in the medical field. Philanthropic contributions enable Salem to keep up with those changes and provide students with the resources they need to thrive.”

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