Since becoming president of Salisbury University in 2000, I have enjoyed welcoming many visitors to campus, from national and international leaders to Nobel Prize laureates. One of the comments frequently heard from guests is that the University seems like a private school. When I hear such remarks, I smile and remind them that SU is a proud member of the University System of Maryland.

I do, however, understand such thinking. Salisbury University’s beautiful brick architecture and campus grounds, which have national arboretum status, reflect care, pride and over 80 years of tradition. All four of our academic schools are endowed, a rarity among public institutions nationwide.

We have attracted generous private support, in part, because of our commitment to excellence. For over a decade, U.S. News & World Report has named SU one of the top public universities of its classification in the northern United States. In addition, SU is among The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” and a Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine “Best Value in Public Colleges.”

Salisbury University’s award-winning faculty, who include Fulbright professors and other nationally recognized scholars, have fostered a creative curriculum emphasizing undergraduate research, international study, professional internships and civic engagement. Currently, our students are studying in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia and Africa. We take pride in preparing a talented and diverse student body to lead in a global economy.

If you choose to visit our campus, you will see a changing skyline. A new $65 million Teacher Education and Technology Center opened in fall 2008 and is a showcase in the mid-Atlantic region for teacher education and workforce development.

Thanks to an $8 million donation from the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation plans are underway for the construction of a new home for our Franklin P. Perdue School of Business. This monumental gift will accommodate continued enrollment growth and further enhance the Perdue School, which is now ranking in the top 20 percent of all business schools in the United States. We have purchased additional land adjacent to campus and are improving athletic fields for our exemplary NCAA Division III program that boasts repeat national championships in field hockey and men’s lacrosse.

Cognizant of Salisbury University’s commitment to serving the health needs of our region, the late Lucy Tull of Salisbury made a $5.3 million bequest to support scholarships and other areas in SU’s growing nursing and allied health sciences departments.

SU’s reputation as a competitive yet affordable institution, the beauty of our location on the historic and scenic Eastern Shore, small and interactive learning environments, and our convenient access to metropolitan regions as well as renowned beaches have made us a popular university of first choice.

A Maryland University of National Distinction, I believe Salisbury represents the best in public undergraduate education. I hope you’ll consider visiting us.

Janet Dudley-Eshbach, Ph.D.
President