Reflections Magazine Issue #84 - Summer 2016 | Page 6

Campus News
Ripper Presents at Research Conference
Assistant Professor of Business Matt Ripper recently presented two scholarly papers at the International Academic Research Conference on behalf of the Center for Scholastic Inquiry ( CSI ). His two papers were entitled , “ Community Benefits Districts : Nonprofit Governance Using Social Capital and Cross-Organizational Collaboration ,” and “ Building an Authentic Workplace Community Through Social Media ,” respectively .
Siena Heights Receives MIS Cares Grant
SHU received a $ 4,000 grant from MIS Cares at the Michigan International Speedway Community Luncheon on Nov . 17 , 2015 ( above ). The funds were used to help the Share the Warmth Project , an Adrian-based initiative that helps house and feed homeless people in the Lenawee community during the winter months . Sister Pat Schnapp and Tom Puszczewicz helped organize the project and led the SHU volunteer effort over the past several years . They both received the Service Above Self Award from the Adrian Morning Rotary Club for their ongoing work with Share the Warmth .
Retirements from SHU
Dr . Mark Schersten
Schersten , who spent his first 27 years at Siena as a philosophy professor , served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2011-16 . He has worked closely with members of the Committee on the Liberal Arts to develop the liberal arts core , and received the Eileen K . Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1989-90 . He chaired the Humanities Division from 1996-2011 , helped establish and regularly contributed to Common Dialogue Day and took on the responsibility of organizing the Chiodini- Fontana Lecture Series on Ethics . He remained a solid supporter of the liberal arts , working with faculty to establish annual themes in keeping with the liberal arts core development .
Bill Blackerby
Blackerby began his teaching career at Siena Heights in 1979 in the management program . He received the Eileen K . Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1994 . He has chaired the Business and Management Division and the business program . For many years he served as faculty athletic representative to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference .
Claudia Blanchard
Blanchard began her teaching career at SHU in 1997 in the marketing program . She created and taught a variety of business courses for the business program , and also took a primary role in the ongoing curricular development . In 2003 , she received the Eileen K . Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching . For 14 years she served as program coordinator of the business and management program .
Sister Pat Schnapp
Schnapp began her teaching career at SHU in 1987 in the English program . In 2000 , she received the Eileen K . Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching . She helped plan and host the annual Shakespeare Birthday Party for many years , and served as English program coordinator from 1990-94 . A noted author and poet , she has been active in the Lenawee community . She helped establish the Share the Warmth program , which provides shelter to the homeless during the winter months . She also taught inmates at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility for many years .
Anthony Scioly
Scioly began teaching at SHU in 1985 in the chemistry program . He was awarded the Eileen K . Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1998-99 . His service to the University includes a 14-year term as chair of the Division of Computing , Mathematics and the Sciences . He also served for 30 years on the Academic Standards Committee , 27 of those as chair .
Annita Aranda
After more than 30 years , Aranda will retire Aug . 31 , 2016 , from the position of the Upward Bound Program director . The federally funded program administered through Siena Heights University serves first-generation , low-income and at-risk high school students , preparing them to attend and complete college successfully . Aranda has been involved with the Upward Bound Program since its first year at Siena Heights in 1973 . She has directed the program since 1987 .
Dr . Patricia Wallace
After 12 years as director of the Ronald E . McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program , Dr . Patricia Wallace retired at the end of the fall 2015 semester . Wallace came to Siena in 2004 to join the McNair Program as program coordinator , and within a few short weeks , she assumed the role of program director . Prior to her arrival at Siena , Pat had a 20-plus-year career in public health , including teaching positions at several colleges and universities . As director of the McNair Program , Dr . Wallace has shepherded numerous students from both Siena and Adrian College through the application process to graduate school .
Fick Elected to MCAHCE Board of Directors
Director of the Graduate Program in Healthcare Leadership Dr . John W . Fick , FACHE , was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives ( MCAHCE ) for 2016 . In addition to his board duties , he will continue to serve as the chair of the Student Activities Committee of MCACHE and , as a result , he will also serve on the MCACHE Executive Committee . Dr . Fick is board certified in health care management and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives ( ACHE ).
Moody Selected for Local Committee
SHU Environmental Science Program Coordinator Heather Moody was elected to serve as professor of environmental science on Adrian ’ s Wellhead Protection Plan Grant Committee .
Raab Co-Edits Volume of the Merton Annual
Volume 28 of The Merton Annual : Studies in Culture , Spirituality and Social Concerns , edited by SHU Professor of Religious Studies Joseph Raab and David Belcastro , was published in May 2016 by Fons Vitae Press . The latest volume includes contributions from SHU ’ s Sister Pat Schnapp , as well as from Pope Francis and Dr . Rowan Williams , the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury .
Barbee Publishes Poem
SHU Associate Professor of English Karin Wraley Barbee had a poem published in an issue of Sugar House Review .
Siena Heights Named a ‘ Top School ’ by MAE & T
Military Advanced Education & Transition ( MAE & T ) has named Siena Heights University a Top School in its 2016 MAE & T Guide to Colleges & Universities . The guide , released in December 2015 , measures best practices in military and veteran education . It presents results of a questionnaire of the military-supportive policies enacted at more than 600 institutions , including private , public , for-profit , not-for-profit , four-year and two-year colleges . MAE & T is the journal of higher education for service members and veterans making the transition from military to the civilian sector .
Online Learning Again Nationally Ranked by U . S . News and World Report
SHU ’ s Online Learning Programs were ranked as the best in Michigan among private institutions for the second consecutive year by the U . S . News and World Report . SHU also was ranked nationally for the third consecutive year , finishing tied for 72nd among all public and private institutions . SHU has offered online bachelor ’ s degree completion programs in selected majors since 2004 . U . S . News and World Report ’ s methodology included student engagement , faculty credentials and training , peer reputation and student services and technology to determine the rankings . Siena Heights was particularly noted for its efforts in student engagement , receiving the second highest ranking of all institutions surveyed ( 98 out of a possible 100 ).
Siena Heights Becomes a Test-Optional Institution
Beginning with the 2016-17 academic year , SHU will no longer require undergraduate applicants to submit SAT or ACT test scores for university admission . With SHU adopting a test-optional admissions process , the focus will be on high school coursework and grades as the most important factors in Siena Heights ’ holistic review process , along with a student ’ s writing skills , recommendations , involvement in school and community and personal qualities and character . Students may be required to submit standardized test scores for admission to specific academic programs , validate athletic eligibility or prove eligibility for some federal or state scholarship programs .
6 | Reflections Summer ’ 16