STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY

In May, the SU community gathered and celebrated the official installation of its new leader. Only the 10th time in the University’s nearly 100-year history, we welcomed a new president. Guests filled The Square in the heart of campus, and visitors from colleges and universities across Maryland and the nation gathered in their regalia. 

During her inaugural address, the President spoke about SU’s past, its present and a future that is just beginning. For almost 100 years, she said, SU has represented what great learning is: Challenge. Progress. Life-changing outcomes. 

“Higher education has never been more important than it is right now,” she shared. “I believe, deep down in my soul, that higher education is the path to helping solve the world’s biggest problems, and that each of us is called on to do what we can to pave the way for the next generation of learners. Starting today, we turn our collective power, grit, dedication and energy to moving forward with excellence.”

During the ceremony, Dr. Lepre was officially charged as President by University System of Maryland Chancellor Jay Perman and was presented a ceremonial medallion by Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden. There to support her were past SU Presidents Janet Dudley-Eshbach (2000-18) and Charles Wight (2018-22). Among the ceremony’s other speakers were Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Jake Day, City of Salisbury Mayor Jack Heath and Board of Regents Member Robert Rauch, who led the search committee that selected Dr. Lepre.

As Dr. Lepre articulated in her remarks, her primary goals for SU are to “achieve excellence by investing in our people; strengthening our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging; and delivering a rigorous, student-focused academic program taught by world-class educators, defining what distinction means for a regional comprehensive institution. … We will continue to serve the needs of the Eastern Shore, Maryland and the nation, and most importantly, do so by remaining firmly committed to placing our students at the heart of everything we do.”

SU’s unique identity as Sea Gulls is what makes SU such a special place. That identity was on full display as school spirit ran rampant throughout Alumni Homecoming and Spirit Week last fall. 

Sea Gulls flocked home for a weekend of festivities – building up to the showdown between SU Football and Rowan University. SU’s triumph over Rowan was highlighted alongside the 50-year reunion of the Class of 1972 and the annual Athletics Hall of Fame dinner. Prior to the game, a festive flock party and carnival was hosted on Wayne Street in front of Sea Gull Stadium. Free family and student-friendly activities filled the streets along with food and beverage trucks.

All week leading up to Homecoming Weekend, SU hosted a variety of Spirit Week events and activities for the campus community to enjoy. A new addition was Spirit in The Square – featuring free treats from the University Dining Services food truck for students, faculty and staff each day in The Square. Students and employees alike also got to show off their creativity with school spirit, with office and residence hall door decorating contests throughout the week, while a Sammy the Sea Gull scavenger hunt invited campus to engage in a little friendly competition. 

Dozens of other events and activities took place all across campus during Spirit Week and Homecoming Weekend. These events are reminders of the important identity we all share as Sea Gulls. 

Summer break came late for several of our student-athletes, as Sea Gull baseball, softball and men’s lacrosse all traveled around the country competing in the NCAA Division III championships.

Second ranked baseball made their third straight World Series appearance. They finished with a 36-8 record and third straight Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference championship.

Top-seeded softball’s magical run came to an end in the final game of the tournament, ending the 2023 season as national runners-up. They had a 49-6 overall record this season, clinching their 21st conference championship in program history. In recognition for their accomplishments, Head Coach Lacey Lord and the SU softball staff were named the 2023 National Fastpitch Coaches Association ATEC Region V Coaching Staff of the Year.Men’s lacrosse lifted the national trophy high for the 13th time – they now tie the Division III record for most national titles. Salisbury captured the title with a 17-12 win over Tufts 

University, ending a run of 20 straight wins leading into the tournament. They wrapped up the season with a 23-1 record; the 23 wins matches the Division III record held by SU’s 2007 and 2012 teams. The program collected eight U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-Americans. Head Coach Jim Berkman also reached a major career milestone, becoming the first men’s lacrosse coach to surpass the 600-career win mark in NCAA history. 

Capping off this amazing season, the men’s lacrosse team was invited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to celebrate College Athlete Day at the White House South Lawn in June. National championship teams and programs from all three NCAA divisions took part in the event. SU championship team member Thomas Ballard was among the student-athletes who joined Vice President Harris and NCAA President Charlie Baker on stage during the event. Other representatives from SU including Ballard’s teammates, SU President Carolyn Lepre and Berkman looked on from the White House South Lawn.