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Dustin Luca
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SALEM, MASS. – Salem State University has named the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as the recipient of its 2025 Community Partner Award, a celebration of a collaboration that has reshaped university programs, expanded environmental stewardship opportunities for students, and transformed the physical landscape of campus.
The award was presented to DCR officials at the university’s annual Community Partner Breakfast, held last Tuesday, Nov. 18. Now in its second year, the award highlights external partners of the university whose work strengthens Salem State’s civic mission and demonstrates the power of reciprocal, equity-minded collaboration between public institutions.
DCR has played a central role in Salem State’s sustainability work, partnering with the university on extensive tree-planting initiatives that have added more than 100 trees to campus through grants, planning support, and direct involvement of DCR staff. The agency has also twice supported Salem State’s First Year Day of Service, introducing new students to local stewardship practices from their first days on campus.
Through the Conservation and Recreation Leadership Fellowship, DCR has also hired several Salem State students over the past three summers and invested significantly in their training and mentorship. Fellows have worked across DCR divisions—from forestry and wildlife conservation to watershed management—and gained experience while operating at the center of the state’s environmental stewardship work.
“We are thrilled to recognize DCR this year with the Community Partner Award. They have been an incredible partner to the institute in a multitude of capacities and are such strong collaborators,” said Katelyn Adams, associate director of the Center for Civic Engagement. “I am grateful for their deep commitment to protecting and enhancing our state’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources while inspiring the next generation of leaders to be stewards of the land and protect our local ecosystems. The resources and opportunities they have provided to our campus community are incredible. We are grateful to be a part of the role they play in the health and wellness of our environment and the people of the Commonwealth.”
Tara Gallagher, Salem State’s former assistant director of sustainability and environmental health and safety, described DCR as “an invaluable partner in helping us transform the Salem State landscape and realize our vision of bringing shade, beauty, and wildlife benefits to campus, all while mitigating climate change impacts and demonstrating the kind of proactive leadership that makes our students proud.”
KC Bloom, a Salem State faculty member who co-directs the Conservation and Recreation Leadership Fellowship with DCR leadership, said it has “allowed for 20 of our students to engage in the work of the DCR throughout the last three summers.”
“The impact of this program has led to graduate school opportunities and jobs within fields related to conservation and recreation for the fellows,” Bloom said. “It has opened their eyes to the impact of work within this field and has allowed their passions to grow while they gain very important experiences. The impact of these programs on the campus communities is priceless.”
DCR, a division of the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees more than 450,000 acres of state parks, forests, beaches, trails, and other public lands across Massachusetts. The organization’s focus on equity, access, and resilience ties well into the Salem State’s civic engagement and sustainability missions—making the two natural partners, and the Community Partner Award an honor that DCR is excited to receive.
“DCR is deeply honored to receive Salem State University’s Community Partner Award. Working with SSU students—whether planting trees across the campus through Greening the Gateway Cities or gaining hands-on experience through our Conservation and Recreation Leadership Fellowship—has been truly inspiring,” said Priscilla Geigis, deputy commissioner for Conservation and Resource Stewardship. “We’re proud of our partnership with SSU and our shared commitment to growing the next generation of environmental stewards who will build healthy communities across Massachusetts. We’re excited to see both the trees and the students continue to bloom through this transformative partnership.”
"Engaging with SSU students through our Greening the Gateway Cities program is just one way that we're promoting good stewardship on campus and has been incredibly rewarding,” added Dave Bresnahan, an urban forester with DCR’s Greening the Gateway Cities program. “We're not just planting trees but providing living treasures that students will grow with and learn from for years to come."
Karen Duffy, a graduate student who took part in the Fellowship as an undergrad in its inaugural year, said the experience was “transformative” for her.
“I was able to apply newly acquired knowledge from my courses with Dr. KC Bloom, while gaining valuable insight into the importance of all the DCR does for the state of Massachusetts,” Duffy said. “The opportunity challenged me personally, professionally, and academically… What more could I have asked for?”