Alumni Feature
Siena Heights Announces 2017
Alumni Award Winners
This Year’s Recipients Will Be Honored Oct. 14 During Homecoming Weekend
Sister Ann Joachim Award Saint Dominic Award Outstanding Alumni Award Honorary Alumni Award
Margaret Lawler Michael ‘82, ‘85/MA
South Lyon, Mich. Sister Patricia Dulka, OP ‘68
Darien, Ill. Kyle Griffith ‘92, ‘97/MA, 00/Spec.
Blissfield, Mich. Dr. Mark Schersten
Adrian, Mich.
A Licensed Professional Counselor
and a board certified Professional
Christian Counselor, Michael is
currently the director of Restore
Ministries at Oak Pointe Church
in Novi, Mich. The organization
provides counseling support and
training as part of its ministry.
Recently completing her advanced
certificate in Biblical Counseling,
she he has worked in high schools,
community colleges and universi-
ties as a guidance counselor and
faculty member. She is also actively
involved as a volunteer for several
organizations in the metro Detroit
area. The Sister Ann Joachim Award
recognizes significant contributions
to the University and/or community
through activities that demonstrate
strong leadership and the capacity
to confront issues head on while
maintaining the image and spirit
of Siena Heights University. A longtime educator in Detroit
and Lansing, she spent many of
her summers living and ministering
in the Appalachia region of Kentucky
and Tennessee. After a time as prin-
cipal at Aquinas Dominican High
School in Chicago, she decided to
focus her ministry in social work.
She became a Certified Social
Worker and went on to become
a director and a therapist for Cath-
olic Charities of Lenawee County
for 11 years. Sister Patricia was
elected prioress of the Dominican
Midwest Chapter in 1998. The Saint
Dominic Award recognizes commit-
ment to Christian education in fam-
ily, school or community. Griffith is currently the assistant
superintendent of the Lenawee
Intermediate School District. Dur-
ing his time with the LISD, he has
helped increase dual enrollment
opportunities for Lenawee County
students through the College Now
program. He also has been instru-
mental in the development of sev-
eral new programs and initiatives,
including the robotics program and
science and math career camps.
A former teacher, principal and
superintendent at Morenci (Mich.)
Area Schools, he also was prin-
cipal of the Jackson College/LISD
Academy, a regional middle college
that helped educate underserved
students in Lenawee County. He
earned a Rising Star Award from
the Michigan Association of Schools
Boards and is active in several ser-
vice organizations in the Lenawee
community. The Outstanding Alum-
ni Award recognizes outstanding
professional achievements and/or
volunteer contributions to promote
Siena positively to the community,
demonstrate strong leadership
characteristics and serve as signif-
icant role models for others. Dr. Schersten taught philosophy
at Siena Heights for 27 years and
chaired the Humanities Division
before serving as the dean for the
College of Arts and Sciences until
his retirement in 2016. During his
time at Siena Heights, he partici-
pated on numerous regular and
ad hoc committees, served as facul-
ty ombudsperson, chairperson of
the Teaching Faculty Assembly and
was the coordinator of the annual
Chiodini-Fontana Ethics Lecture
Series. He and his wife, Becky, also
created a student scholarship in
their name. The Honorary Alumni
Award recognizes non-alumni of
Siena Heights who demonstrate
exceptional commitment to and
support for the mission and spirit
of the University.
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