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For saxophonist Adam Silvia ’20 a highlight of his Salem State experience was the Boston University Tanglewood Institute: an immersive, two-week musical masterclass that Adam was able to attend during his sophomore year thanks to the generosity of Dr. Bernard M. Gordon ’85H and Mrs. Sophia Gordon. “I was surrounded by leading musicians, including two of the best saxophonists in the state. It was an amazing experience where I was constantly meeting new people, learning new things and making connections that I still draw on today.”  

Salem State Foundation Chair Annalisa Di Palma and Dino Di Palma are hoping to inspire more experiences like Adam’s — hands-on, co-curricular opportunities that help students bring their talents to life in real-world settings. Their campaign gift created the Ouellette-Di Palma Family Internship, in memory of Annalisa’s mother Carol, who was herself a graduate of Salem State in 1960. The pair also provided significant unrestricted support.  

“It’s not enough to just fund internship programs — we also need to create the emotional and social infrastructure to ensure students can take advantage of all the opportunities available to them,” explains Annalisa. “That, to me, is what we mean when we talk about student success.”