Salem Academy and College marked the inauguration of its 23rd president, Dr. Jill Fleuriet, with a series of events centered on women’s leadership and ethics, including a high-profile panel discussion at the Elberson Fine Arts Center. The celebration, which coincided with the institution's Women's Leadership Month, brought together a diverse group of female leaders to discuss how values and authority intersect in modern professional environments, as reported by Salem Academy and College.
This transition of leadership is more than a ceremonial change in administration. For an institution that has been educating women since 1772, the appointment of Dr. Fleuriet—who officially took office on July 1—signals a strategic lean into the intersection of liberal arts and specialized health leadership. According to WXII, Fleuriet’s background as a cultural and medical anthropologist is expected to bolster the school’s specific commitment to preparing women for leadership roles in health and wellness.
A multidisciplinary approach to leadership
The centerpiece of the inauguration festivities was a panel titled “Rooted in Values, Rising to Lead: Women, Ethics, and the Future We Shape.” Dr. Fleuriet personally curated the group, selecting five women from various sectors of her life who represent the breadth of a liberal arts education: the arts, education, science, social sciences, and the humanities.
The panel featured a cross-section of academic and professional authority, including Dr. Juliet García, professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Dr. Milena Melo, assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Pam Oliver, the chief medical officer for Novant Health, Dr. Şerife Tekin, associate professor at State University of New York Upstate Medical University, and Asia Ciaravino, CEO of San Pedro Playhouse. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Diane Lipsett, who leads the Engaging Ethics program at Salem College.
The discussion moved beyond theoretical leadership to the practicalities of operating in male-dominated fields. Asia Ciaravino highlighted the role of compassion in the nonprofit sector, arguing that women are naturally equipped to create inclusive environments. However, she paired this with a stark reminder about the sustainability of leadership: You can’t take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself,
Ciaravino stated, emphasizing that self-care is a prerequisite for effective service.
Breaking the ceiling through visibility
The importance of the conversation was highlighted by the presence of Dr. Juliet García, the first Latina to serve as president of a college or university in the United States. Having received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2022, García spoke directly to the necessity of self-advocacy in professional advancement.
Sometimes you have to raise your own hand and say you’re ready for the next level of leadership. Don’t be shy, and don’t wait for someone else to say it for you.
This directive serves as a practical blueprint for the students at Salem, where the curriculum is designed to encourage women to claim leadership roles without waiting for external permission. The tension here is a known professional friction: the balance between the “compassion” mentioned by Ciaravino and the bravery encouraged by García.
The institutional legacy of mentorship
The event concluded with a shift from public discourse to personal mentorship, as the panelists offered direct advice to Dr. Fleuriet. Dr. Pam Oliver urged the new president to stay bold,
noting that Fleuriet is uniquely positioned for such a time as this.
Reflecting on the exchange, Dr. Fleuriet noted that the strength of the conversation lay in the ability of these women to take their differences seriously while practicing collective care. She characterized the act of supporting other women not as a byproduct of leadership, but as the work of leadership itself.
By weaving together medical anthropology, nonprofit management, and academic administration, the inauguration events mirrored the school’s broader educational goal. The objective is to move women from the periphery of leadership into roles where they are not only occupying seats at the table but are actively opening doors for those following them.
