Northeastern’s Fine Arts Center has been re-named after former president Dr. Salme Harju Steinberg (1995-2007). The dedication ceremony and reception was held in the Auditorium on April 17.
During her time as president at NEIU, Steinberg created programs like the Performing Arts Series, the Presidential Lecture Series, the Jewel Box Series and Mostly Music. Her tenure as president is labeled by her dedication to and support of the arts.
President Sharon Hahs spoke during the ceremony and informed the audience that it is her pleasure to dedicate the Fine Arts Center to Steinberg.
Hahs went on to speak very highly of Steinberg, and pointed out that Steinberg has been instrumental in attracting hardworking students and quality professors to NEIU. She praised Steinberg for her major construction and renovation projects for classrooms, the Fine Arts Gallery-which shows art exhibitions-and the Auditorium, among other things.
Hahs said of Steinberg, “[She] is an example of how one person can make a difference in many people’s lives.” Hahs also said that Steinberg’s efforts have helped to build strength in the fine arts at NEIU.
After Hahs spoke, Nancy Masterson, who retired last week from the Board of Trustees, stood to speak. She told the audience the story of how the Board of Trustees had been on a mission 12 years ago to find the right president for NEIU. They interviewed Steinberg for about 10 minutes before they asked her to be the president.
Masterson spoke of Steinberg as supportive of academic programming for many of the arts such as theater, communications, media, etc. She informed the audience that Steinberg oversaw the building of the Fine Arts Center and the Recital Hall, and that Steinberg has shown herself to be a true patron of the arts.
Steinberg was then given a plaque for the dedication ceremony and addressed the audience herself. She spoke highly of her husband and said that he never ceases to amaze her. She also thanked her children and grandchildren. During her short speech, she said, “[The] arts are a metaphor and medium for universal learning.”
After Steinberg spoke, there were several performances. David Portillo sang “Jurame,” and “Torna ‘a Surriento,” accompanied by Celeste Rue on piano, which was tremendous. Brian Torosian, an NEIU faculty member, played a guitar performance that silenced the entire audience, until the end when the room roared with applause. Last, the Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater performed a dramatic dance that ended the dedication ceremony on a high note.