Salem's Shawn Newton Named SSU Dean Of Students

SALEM, MA — A Salem State University alumnus and inaugural Chair of the Salem Race Equity Task Force will become the new Dean of Students at SSU this summer.

Shawn Newton, who has worked in higher education for 25 years, will also be an associate vice president at the school.

"I am honored that Shawn will bring his talent, skills and passion back to our campus,
Salem State President John Keenan said. "I look forward to all that he will achieve as his longtime impact on students and the region grows even further through this leadership role."

Newton, who grew up in Roxbury and attended Wayland Public Schools, moved to Salem 20 years ago. He was the first Chair of the Salem Race Equity Task Force and recently co-founded the Newton Consultancy Group, which provides diversity and inclusion workshops, conflict resolution services and higher education consulting.

He has also previously worked as Dean of Students at Suffolk University and in student affairs at Salem State.

"I'm extremely humbled by the opportunity to serve as the next associate vice president and Dean of Students at Salem State University," Newton said. "I'm most excited about our students and hope that I can contribute to their success both on and off campus.

"They are the hope of our future and the pillars of our society."

Along with his Race Equity Task Force work, Newton serves on boards with the Salem Chamber of Commerce and Plummer Youth Promise as well as being a founding member of the city's city’s No Place for Hate Committee.

"I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues in a partnership of excellence where we practice a student-centered and student-first approach through a lens that's inclusive of every student enrolled at SSU," Newton said. "I'm eager to start this work in July and look forward to being part of Salem State's bright future."

(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.)