Reflections Magazine Issue #70 - Fall 2009 | Page 17

Anniversary Feature 55 58 61 Karen Johnson Terri Grierson Gertrude “Trudy” McSorley Karen Johnson ’04 always had a special connection to Siena Heights – her great aunt was the legendary Sister Ann Joachim. However, Johnson, who visited the Adrian campus quite often in her childhood days, decided to complete her degree at SHU’s metropolitan Detroit site. She completed her degree in 2004 and remains active with the university, including serving as a member of the Siena Heights Alumni Association board. Terri Grierson, a current student in SHU’s Saginaw Theological Studies program, is director of the Office of Christian Service for the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. Her office is responsible for public discipleship, grief recovery, legislative advocacy and outreach to parish Christian service commissions. She also works with economically disadvantaged women in the community and serves on the local Child Abuse & Neglect Council. She represents the diocese on the Michigan Catholic Rural Life Coalition and is a community leader in social justice issues. Gertrude “Trudy” McSorley ’70 has been a fixture on the Siena Heights campus for five decades, first through the theater department. For 31 years McSorley guided the ultra-successful child drama program, which is currently called Creative Stages. She helped established Siena’s theater program as one of the top in the area until taking over as Dean for Students in 2005. She currently serves in that capacity and is known for her loyalty to Siena Heights and is a staunch defender of the institution’s Dominican and Catholic tradition and heritage. 59 62 56 Sister Miriam Stimson Sister Miriam Michael Stimson, OP ’36 was the legendary professor of chemistry who distinguished herself in the area of research. After establishing a research lab at Siena Heights in 1939, she conducted research for more than 30 years, including funded cancer research. Known at Siena as “M2”, she introduced micro methods and undergraduate research to the classroom. In 1953, she became the first woman since Marie Curie to lecture in science at the Sorbonne in Paris. Sister Miriam also was director of Siena’s graduate programs from 1978-91, starting an addiction counseling program. 57 Sister Sharon Weber Sister Sharon Weber, OP ’69 joined the chemistry faculty in 1974, teaching for 12 years before leaving Siena Heights to serve on the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She rejo