Reflections Magazine Issue #74 - Spring 2011 | Page 29

Column

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from the alumni association
Another highlight was in 2002 when I received
my Educational Specialist degree – the same day
my eldest son Matthew walked across the stage
and earned his bachelor’s degree.
These years were filled with friendships, activities, studies and athletics, too. Much of college
life is still the same today at Siena; yet much is
different. You still find small class sizes, faculty
members who care, quality athletic programs
and many activities on campus, including Mass
on Sunday nights. I remember Sister Carmelia
walking around Ledwidge Hall on Sunday
nights and reminding the students that “Mass
starts in 15 minutes!”

On Holy Ground. . .
On Higher Ground
When I arrived in September of 1970 to begin
my journey on this holy ground of Siena Heights
University (then College), I had no idea what
impact this institution would have on my life—
even 35 years later.
I was a kid from New Jersey who never visited
Siena before that first day on campus when my
mom dropped me off to begin my college career.
I chose Siena because it was affordable and I
wanted a teacher education program. In addition, my grandparents lived two hours away,
so I could visit on weekends if I wanted to go
off campus (home was 12 hours away).
What a difference my time at Siena made for
me! I got involved right away. I was elected to
student government my freshman year and was
involved in student senate all four years. I was excited to receive a graduate assistantship my fifth
year and graduated in 1974 with my bachelor’s
degree and with my master’s degree a year later.

At Siena Heights, several words were used back
in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s to describe this University. They were “family” and “relationships.”
Relationships are so important in life, and the
friendships I made during my undergraduate
years are still important to me today. I met
my husband David here, and many of my best
friends today are alumni. Ask the students attending these days to describe Siena and “family”
is still a word they choose.
Siena prepared me well for a teaching career at
Saint Joseph Academy where I was in the classroom for 18 years, and then principal for 15
more. I was fortunate that three years ago when
I was ready to close the door on my teaching
career, there was an opening at SHU. In my current position as executive assistant to the president and adjunct instructor in the education
program, I am excited to have come home and
continue to walk on this holy ground every day.

I have been part of the Alumni Association
Board of Directors for 10 years and will rotate
off the board this fall. I have watched this organization become a