SALEM –Magnolia Contreras has been appointed to the Salem State University Board of Trustees by Gov. Baker.
She has been an advisor to the Board of Trustees of Salem State University since 2013.
Contreras is a graduate of Boston College with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. She is also a graduate of Simmons College Graduate School of Social Work where she received her master’s degree. She also holds master’s degree in business administration
graduate from Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School.
“With her years as an adjunct professor and time as advisor to a committee of the Salem State Board of Trustees, Magnolia is well acquainted with the board and with Salem State,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Paul Mattera in a statement. “We look forward to working with Trustee Contreras as we continue to foster Salem State’s success.”
She has been the community benefits director for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since 2007. She is responsible for managing community prevention and screening programs, including a local community health center’s innovative oncology practice. She is also at the forefront of the efforts towards the multi-year community health needs assessment and implementation plan development.
A member of the board of directors for Health Resources in Action and corporator of Eastern Bank Corp. and the Economic Development and Investment Corp. of Lynn, she also serves as a volunteer at the Lynn Community Health Center.
Contreras spent more than 10 years at Salem State University as an adjunct professor where she used a social justice framework to teach students about private and nonprofit management principles, as well as how to write grants, and develop themes around philanthropy, and community and mental health.
Her awards include the Boston College Father John A. Dineen, SJ, Hispanic Alumni Community Service Award; Simmons College School of Social Work Leadership Award; Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Employee Award. She has also been featured in Boston Business Journal Emerging Leaders; Suffolk Alumni Magazine; Boston College Alumni Magazine, Damage Control.
Contreras has been selected as one of the 100 Most Influential Individuals in the Massachusetts Hispanic Community in 2008, 2009, and 2011. She lives in Lynn with her husband, David.