Salem State To Name Campus After Late President Nancy Harrington

SALEM, MA — The central campus at Salem State University is set to become the "Nancy D. Harrington Campus" in honor and memory of the first woman, first alumna and first Salem resident to become university president.

Harrington was the school's 12th president and presided over the institution for 17 years. She was a Salem High and Salem State alumna who earned her bachelor's degree in 1960 and her master's degree in 1963.

She died in December at 81 years old.

The school said the naming is a tribute to Harrington's leadership on the transformation of the former industrial site — which was once home to the Sylvania/FTE lightbulb factory — into a hub of campus activity.

"President Harrington's legacy benefits our students daily, and I can think of no better tribute than to make her name as ubiquitous as her impact,” Salem State President John D. Keenan said. "Our students learn, gather, dine, and live in spaces born from President Harrington's leadership, and her vision set the stage for Salem State to achieve university status in 2010.

"Salem State, our students and the region are forever better thanks to the talent and tenacity of one of our most cherished Vikings, President Emerita Nancy Harrington."

The university's new academic buildings Viking, Atlantic and Marsh, the 24/7 Marsh Dining Hall, the Student Navigation Center, the Recital Hall and other event and gathering spaces are on the campus that will be named after the school's president from 1990 to 2007.

The ceremony will be Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m. at the Viking Hall Lawn on Loring Avenue. It is free and open to the public, but attendees must register here, as space is limited.

Speakers will include Board of Trustees Chair Rob T. Lutts; President Keenan, Professor Gwendolyn L. Rosemond; alumna Alex Slazar; alumnus and classmate Henry Dembowski; and family members Brian J. Mulholland ’78 (nephew) and Neil Harrington (cousin).

Harrington came to Salem State in 1956 after graduating from Salem High School. Except for a three-year stint as a teacher in West Peabody, she remained part of the college until her retirement in 2007.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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