President Valerie Smith shared the following message with the campus community on February 5, 2025:

Dear Friends,

With deep sadness, I write to share the news that Megan Salladino, administrative assistant in the Economics Department, died on Saturday, Feb. 1. She was 52.

Megan, who joined the College community in 2016, is remembered as a warm, dedicated, and fiercely loyal colleague with a sharp wit, boundless generosity, and an unwavering love for her family and friends.

Megan is survived by her husband Bob, children Ryan and Caden, mother Madeline Goslee, and siblings Rob, Shanna, Matt, Tim, James, Michael, Danny, and Maryanne and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Megan’s name to Bringing Hope Home or the Providence Animal Center, both of which she supported.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 208 Milmont Ave., in Milmont Park, Pa. Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 9:30-10:45 a.m. at the church.

I invite you to read more below about Megan and her many contributions to our community.

Sincerely,

Val Smith
President

In Honor of College Staff Member Megan Salladino

Megan Salladino, administrative assistant in the Economics Department, died on Saturday, Feb. 1. She was 52.

“We are heartbroken,” says Amanda Bayer, Franklin and Betty Barr Professor and Chair of Economics. “Megan kept our department running efficiently, which is high praise coming from an economist. With her attentiveness, thoughtfulness, and great sense of humor, she created community among faculty, staff, and students.”

“Megan and I started on Kohlberg’s second floor at the same time and bonded immediately,” says Stacey Hogge, administrative assistant in Sociology and Anthropology. “She was a caring and attentive friend. The Economics Department was fortunate to have her; she loved them, and they loved her back.”

“Megan was so genuinely self-deprecating that you wanted to let her know every day that she was treasured. And she truly was,” says Gil and Frank Mustin Professor of Economics Stephen O'Connell. “She stamped our lives with a bit of magic. We feel that we have lost a piece of ourselves.”

Born and raised in Delaware County, Salladino earned a B.S. from Widener University. In 2016, she joined the Swarthmore community as the administrative coordinator for the vice president of Advancement. Previously, she served as a paralegal assistant to the vice president and general counsel of Neumann University. In 2019, her move to Economics coincided with O'Connell’s first term as department chair.

“We spent the first year training each other in our jobs,” O’Connell says. “She was naturally shy, but a wonderful, welcoming presence in our office. She was completely devoted to her job, responding instantaneously to faculty and students alike and singlehandedly managing the department's relations with the largest set of majors at the College.”

“Megan never seemed to get frustrated, impatient, or overwhelmed, even at the busiest times of year,” says Centennial Chair and Professor of Economics Ellen Magenheim. “She always seemed to be alert to ways in which to be helpful. More than anything, Megan brought warmth, kindness, and empathy to all of her relationships. She had a quiet, ironic sense of humor; a true interest in what was going on in our lives; and a wonderful capacity to share in others' joy.”

Just days before she died, Salladino learned that she would receive the College’s Judy Lord Award, and had "met and surpassed" its criteria. The annual award, established in 2004 in memory of a longtime administrative coordinator in Music and Dance, recognizes a current administrative assistant or coordinator in an academic department or interdisciplinary program for their hard work and contribution to the life of the College. Her nomination said, in part: “Megan exudes enthusiasm and community spirit.”

Salladino’s enthusiasm and generous spirit also extended off campus. She was a longtime supporter of Bringing Hope Home, a nonprofit in Malvern, Pa., that assists individuals and families battling cancer, as well as the Providence Animal Center in Media, Pa.

“We talked everyday and never ran out of conversation,” Hogge says. “Her interests were far and wide. Megan was also brutally honest. If she wasn't clearly stating what was on her mind, her face told it all.”

“Megan was a great communicator and teammate,” Bayer says. “More importantly, she made our large, busy department feel like a home.”