Monique Farrell (C ’01) was born in Trinidad, West Indies and lived there until she was seven when her family moved to Miami. She remained in Miami until August 1997 when Monique, at 18, began her undergraduate education at a remarkable place: Salem College. Monique’s admissions counselor was the driving factor behind her decision to attend Salem College.

“I talked with my admissions counselor (Dianne Conley C ’95), and she assured me that she was positive I belonged at Salem. I am so grateful for her input,” Monique said.

“Coming to Salem was the best decision of my life—as was being an admissions counselor myself so that I could do the same for other young prospectives.”

Fondly recalling her favorite class at Salem, Monique points to College 390, which was the capstone course for what was the Salem Signature Program at that time.

“It prepared us as much as possible for life on our own after graduation. Additionally, we reviewed the papers we wrote in College 100 during our freshman year that outlined what we thought our Salem experience would be. It was such a great full circle moment and cemented that we’d grown and changed so much at Salem.”

“Salem is not for everyone, and that’s okay. But when and if it’s for you, it will be for you forever,” Monique said.

“What’s funny about Salem is that while I do maintain friendships with my classmates, I have also become dear friends with alums from years before me and after me. The bond is not that we were there together, it’s just that we were there.”

She’s also a proponent of Salem College’s health leadership focus. Monique has a special perspective because of her career as director of development at the Baptist Retirement Homes Foundation in Winston-Salem.

“As someone currently in the world of elder care, there is a constant need for new leaders. While my interests at Salem may not have been in the health realm, I can appreciate that Salem is leading the charge in a new, needed direction. It’s what we did in 1772, and it’s what we do now.”

“I think that any program that sets us apart from the pack is important. We must remain relevant and attractive to prospective students,” Monique added.

“Health leadership is a promising path in particular because of the chronic underrepresentation of women in leadership roles in the world of health. Salem alums get things done, and it’s time that we make some drastic changes to the health industry in this country.”

Monique credits Salem College for preparing her for her career.

“Salem prepared me for my role in fundraising in countless ways. The confidence, leadership skills, and professional readiness with which I graduated can’t be taught in a classroom. It’s what happens after four years of small class sizes, personalized relationships with faculty, serving in leadership roles and being motivated and inspired by my peers,” she said.

“Additionally, I can’t speak enough about the network of support at my fingertips as an alumna. This network is what you make of it, but I guarantee if you put in the time to contact the alumnae office or do some LinkedIn sleuthing of your own, you will find a Salem alum willing to connect with you.”

While Salem provided the education that prepared Monique for a successful career, it wasn’t all study all the time while she was at Salem.

“My favorite memories are spring break shenanigans, random dance parties in the hallways, all the terrible dates for dances, concerts at Ziggy’s, every Fall Lawn Party ever, giving tours for Frem on a pretty day, sitting on Clewell Patio playing Uno, spending hours in the Refectory between classes, sitting in the rocking chairs on the Main Hall Back Porch, definitely NOT walking up from parking in the pit, living in the Fogle Flats for the summer, and road trips. I could go on and on.”