Located in Salem, Massachusetts, Salem State University is one of the largest public institutions in the state and home to a diverse student population, with students coming from more than 60 countries across the world.

The university was founded in 1854 as the Salem Normal School, becoming the tenth normal school in the country, and reserved exclusively for women. It became coeducational in 1892 and four years later it moved to its current location in the south of the seacoast city of Salem. The university went through several name changes before becoming Salem State University in 2010.

The university grounds are divided into five separate campuses that cover a total of 115 acres. The largest campus is known as North Campus that houses the new Frederick E. Berry Library, complete with more than 325,000 volumes and over 300,000 electronic books, as well as most of the university’s arts and science programs.

The central campus is the second largest and is home to the Classroom Building, a hub for the music department, the school of business and the communications department. Other campuses include the South Campus, the Richard O’Keefe Athletic Center and the Cat Cove Maritime Facility.

The Salem State University Speaker Series was one of the first in the United States and since it began in 1982 students have been able to listen to the stories and advice of celebrities, activists and leaders from all walks of life.

Past speakers include former US President Gerald Ford, TV host Jay Leno, actor Robert Redford and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.