SALEM - Salem State College recently honored Dr. John Mack, a resident of North Street in Georgetown, for his 31 years of service to the college.

At a retirement luncheon Wednesday, May 7, Salem State College president Nancy Harrington praised Dr. Mack's "adaptability" since he was hired in September of 1972 as an associate professor in the education department.

In addition to becoming director of student teaching and Chair of the Education Department, Mack emerged as a leader in education reform, serving as a member of the Secretary of Educational Affairs task force.

According to Harrington, when the Education Department experienced a "downsizing period," in 1982, Mack became, "Mr. Versatility."

" He retrained at Riviera College and transferred to the School of Business where he taught management courses for the past 20 years," Harrington said. "In the School of Business, he once again demonstrated his adaptability by serving as the department chair and as acting dean in the late 1980s."

Harrington also pointed out that Mack started the Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsiveness, "to instill within our students and alumni an awareness of ethical responsibility to society."

In addition to his service at Salem State College, Mack volunteered for the Peace Corp in 1963 and 1964 where he worked on the East Africa Teacher Education Project. He was also an officer in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve.