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Siena Heights Opens Degree Completion Center in Kalamazoo
Siena Heights University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College formally signed an agreement Sept . 26 , 2016 , ( above ) that will allow KVCC students to complete four-year degrees with SHU . KVCC President Marilyn Schlack and SHU President Sister Peg Albert , OP , PhD , signed the memorandum of understanding that allows SHU to open a campus at KVCC ’ s University Center .
“ We are pleased to be collaborating with Kalamazoo Valley Community College in offering four-year degree completion options on the KVCC campus ,” President Albert said . “ We are excited to be on their campus to be able to offer more educational opportunities to their students as well as to the Kalamazoo area community .” After completing an associate degree , students will be able to seamlessly continue their education in the same buildings with the same services with which they have grown accustomed .
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Students seeking a four-year degree at Siena Heights will be able to choose from a number of programs . Classes are scheduled to begin in 2017 . Including its Adrian campus , Siena Heights now has nine locations throughout Michigan , as well as online .
Mathis Receives Excellence in Leadership Award
SHU Director of Diversity and Inclusion Sharese Shannon Mathis was recently awarded the 2016 American College Personnel Association-Michigan Excellence in Leadership Award for her work at SHU . ACPA is a comprehensive professional development organization for college student educators . Members come from a wide array of student and academic affairs functions , including academic advising , residence life , career
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services , student activities and multicultural services . The Excellence in Leadership Award , is given to a ACPA member who has demonstrated continuous and sustained leadership .
Scientist Draud Named New CAS Dean at SHU
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Siena Heights University named Dr . Matthew Draud as its new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences . His first day at Siena Heights was July 18 .
Before coming to SHU , Draud was the head of the biology department at Armstrong St . University in Savannah , Ga ., for three years . Previous to that , he was chair of the biology department at Long Island ( N . Y .) University Post for 10 years . He earned his bachelor ’ s degree from Thomas More ( Ky .) College , his master ’ s from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and his PhD from Lehigh University , all in biology . He is a broadly trained ecologist with a strong interest in marine systems , especially coral reefs .
Over his career , Dr . Draud has overseen numerous full-time faculty hires and tenure and promotion decisions . He is an avid faculty advocate and mentor , and is well-versed in the role that small private
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universities play in the landscape of higher education .
Dr . Draud worked to bring a brand new genetic counseling graduate program to LIU Post as well as the external funding to support its growth . More recently , working in collaboration with greater Savannah area entrepreneurs and philanthropists , he brought a brand new Aquaponics Research Center to Armstrong St . It is dedicated to the study of technologies and practices to improve the sustainability and profitability of this soilless agriculture method .
“ I am grateful to Siena Heights University for the wonderful opportunity they have given me ,” Dr . Draud said . “ I look forward to personal and professional growth as a scientist and as a leader in higher education . Having the chance to engage with the outstanding faculty , staff and students in the College of Arts and Sciences , and to support our programs and forge new paths is truly exciting .”
He was born in Covington , Ky . His wife , Michelle , is a registered nurse specializing in high risk OB-GYN patients . The couple has two children , Travis , 22 , and Savannah , 18 .
Weinstein Earns National Acclaim for “ Children of the New World ”
SHU faculty member Alexander Weinstein had his debut collection , “ Children of the New World ,” receiving national media acclaim . It named as top pick of the week by The New York Times and was also in Entertainment Weekly . It also received national reviews from The Atlantic and Boston Globe , and was named among The Best Science Fiction Books of September by The Washington Post . Also , an excerpt from the short story , “ Moksha ,” from the collection has been republished by the Buddhist Magazine , Tricycle . The book is available at major book sellers including Amazon . A book signing was held at SHU on September 29 ( below ).
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Siena Heights Only Michigan Institution to Receive $ 300,000 Program Grant
In September 2016 , Siena Heights University received a $ 300,000 federal Campus Program Grant from the Justice Department ’ s Office on Violence Against Women to help students who are victims of sexual assault , domestic violence , dating violence and stalking .
Siena Heights was one of 45 colleges and universities nationwide – and the only institution in Michigan – to receive one of 61 grants totaling $ 25 million .
“ These Department of Justice campus grants are extremely competitive , and the fact that Siena Heights was funded is a real testament to the professional effort that was put forward by all involved ,” said SHU President Sister Peg Albert , OP , PhD . “ These funds will really provide a great resource for Siena Heights and its students . I would like to thank our Dean for Students , Michael Orlando , for leading this effort , as well as the many others who helped make this grant possible .”
According to a release from the
OVW , recipients of these awards will work to deliver effective , comprehensive and coordinated strategies that help survivors heal ; reduce campus sexual and domestic violence ; and improve the institution ’ s response to these crimes . The awards will make possible a range of services , including specialized training for campus law enforcement , healthcare providers , university housing personnel and others who are often first responders .
“ Schools that individualize their response to sexual , dating and domestic violence are better able to meet the unique needs of their student populations , especially underserved groups ,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Bea Hanson , Ph . D ., in a statement . “ Coordinated , comprehensive responses allow college communities to develop sustainable strategies to address these crimes .”
“ We are grateful to have this additional funding that will directly serve our students , help improve Siena Heights ’ readiness and response , as well as work to prevent such incidents from happening on campus ,” President Albert said .
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