At the June 2022 Salzburg Global Seminar 75th anniversary weekend, the Salzburg Cup was awarded to Stephen L. Salyer and Susan D. Moeller
Salzburg Global Seminar is delighted to announce Stephen L. Salyer and Susan D. Moeller have been awarded the Salzburg Cup.
The Salzburg Cup was first given to the Salzburg Seminar by The Honorable John P. Humes, who established it as an honor to be bestowed upon individuals whose service to the Salzburg Seminar merited special recognition.
In 1974, Stephen L. Salyer attended his first Salzburg Seminar as a Fellow, for the session The Social Impact of Mass Communications. The program had a profound impact on the course of his career, from a likely career in law, to 25 years working as a “media entrepreneur” in public television and radio.
Thirty years later, Stephen would be approached to become the first Salzburg Global Fellow to serve as President.
Since Stephen's appointment in 2005, the organization has become synonymous with global problem-solving – as reflected in its change in name in 2006, when it became Salzburg Global Seminar with a revamped mission: “to challenge current and future leaders to solve issues of global concern.” In 2017, this was further refined: “to challenge current and future leaders to shape a better world.”
Building on his prior professional experience in media and philanthropy and an education in law and public administration, Stephen established initiatives to strengthen independent media, optimize institutional philanthropy, and seed a next generation of publicly minded journalists, lawyers and policymakers.
Stephen was not alone in these efforts: throughout his 17-year tenure, he has been supported and championed by his wife and thought-partner, Susan D. Moeller.
This partnership has been best exemplified in their co-founding of the Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change. Launched for the organization's 60th anniversary in 2007, the Academy convenes emerging leaders across media industries to build networks of innovation and leadership in media. Participants collaborate to address social problems and design produced media-based solutions. The faculty network provide mentorship to emerging media leaders, working to design media literacy practices and processes that support the next generation of civic-minded media leaders.
The Academy now counts over 1000 alumni and faculty from 80 countries and 60 universities worldwide. Susan has served on the faculty of the Academy throughout, mentoring the next generation of journalists and leading cutting-edge research.
Stephen and Susan's years of service and unwavering support to the organization make them the perfect recipients of this years' Salzburg Cup.