“Rising Stars” is a new feature in Reflections. It profiles Siena Heights University alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years and who excel in their careers, occupations or community service accomplishments. To be considered for the “Rising Stars” piece in an upcoming issue of Reflections Magazine, please fill out the online form at www.sienaheights.edu/risingstars. Those who are selected to be included in an upcoming issue of the magazine will be contacted by the Reflections staff.

---

Amy Francoeur

Graduation year: 2009

Current title/position: Hospice Regional Director, Great Lakes Caring.

What Amy is doing: A Registered Nurse, she received an offer to join Great Lakes Caring’s sales/marketing team in 2007. As a Patient Care Coordinator for its Adrian branch location, she worked with the community, physicians and healthcare facilities to educate and coordinate medical home health care services. In January 2013, she was promoted to Sales Training Team Leader, and was given the opportunity to facilitate the training and onboarding of new and current sales team members. In August 2013 she was again was promoted to Manager of Business Development for GLC’s Jackson and Adrian sales teams. During her time working in Lenawee County, she has had the privilege of working with older adult population, their families and health care providers. She has been active member of the Lenawee Department on Aging’s Older Adult Coalition, chairing the Selma Larson Caregiver Conference since 2008. She also is a member of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee, a Board Member of Daybreak Adult Day Services, volunteer at numerous Lenawee County Senior Center activities and is an active member of the Adrian Chamber of Commerce. In April 2014, she received another promotion to her current position for HLC’s Ohio operations. She said “it is truly an honor and a privilege to be part of such a quality, innovative and caring company.”

Favorite moment/story while a student at SHU was: The flexibility of Distance Learning allowed me to “attend” my classes anywhere, even while on vacation in Las Vegas!

Favorite person at SHU was: Former Director of Academic Advising, Rene Teater.

Ultimate goal in life: To educate everyone on what the Hospice benefit is and how it helps patients and their loved ones at the end of life so that the word is no longer feared by those who hear it, but rather embraced.

Best advice for SHU students is: Never pass up an opportunity to learn. Set goals and work hard to achieve them. You can do anything you set your mind to!

---

Lance Reed

Graduation year: 2009

Current title/position: Early Childhood Education Specialist, Detroit.

What Lance is doing: He provides Head Start and Early Head Start services to children and families in Detroit. He helps deliver high-quality early childhood education services embedded within the community and creates proven ingre-
dients of positive school readiness outcomes; including training highly-skilled teachers; implementing age-appropriate, research-validated curricula; educating parents and community on early childhood best-practices and insuring programs meets/exceeds federal and state guidelines and regulations. He also is an Early Childhood Education adjunct professor at Baker College in Clinton Township and is a HighScope research-based curriculum Trainer, including a classroom assessment scoring system (CLASS) and has opened several child care centers in Detroit.

Favorite moment/story while a student at SHU was: Being an athlete for the men’s basketball and track and field teams, winning two indoor track and field championships and being named the 2008 WHAC Indoor Performer of the Year.

Favorite person at SHU was: Tim Bauer.

Ultimate goal in life: To receive my doctorate degree in Curriculum Research Design.

Best advice for SHU students is: HELP IS AVAILABLE! Remember there is an abundance of resources available to you on campus. An important form of assistance that students fail to use is the professor’s office hours. It’s a chance to interact one-on-one with your professor, who is likely the expert in that content area.

---

Kameron Morris

Graduation year: 2013

Current title/position: Branch Manager, United Federal Credit Union, Stevensville, Mich.

What Kameron is doing: In May 2014 he was promoted to Branch Manager for United Federal Credit Union in Stevensville, Mich. Five months prior, he was also promoted to Assistant Branch Manager for UFCU in Berrien Springs. Previously he was a loan officer in the Member Solution Center for UFCU.

Favorite moment/story while a student at SHU was: Speaking with Southwest Michigan Regional Director, LeAnn Krokker. It was the moment I realized that I could see the finish line, and LeAnn was providing a means and a plan to get there. You can tell that LeAnn truly cares about the students she deals with, and makes sure you have the tools you need to succeed.

Favorite person at SHU was: LeAnn Krokker.

Ultimate goal in life: Make a positive impact on those I serve.

Best advice for SHU students is: Do your absolute best throughout your academic career. Truly engage and immerse yourself in your studies because details are key when it comes to applying what you have learned to real-world situations.

---

Joy Ackroyd

Graduation year: 2005

Current title/position: Assistant Director, Transfer Admissions, Eastern Michigan University.

What Joy is doing: Her career in college admissions started in Siena’s admissions office during her junior year…She was a tour guide who ended up becoming an intern in the office her senior year. After graduation, she eventually landed a full-time admissions representative position. She then went on to the University of Toledo, where she served in many roles, including recruiting, awarding scholarships, supervising students, supervising full-time recruiters and office management. In her current role at Eastern Michigan, she oversees all transfer student recruitment and all publications/communications for admissions. She said, “Who would have known that the same office where I sat crying as a 17-year-old girl about to start college is where I would start my career?”

Favorite moment/story while a student at SHU was: There is no way I could pick just one favorite memory of Siena. So to name a few: Alternative Spring Break trip to Jacksonville, Fla., Glenmary Farm mission trip, Phi Sigma Sigma.

Favorite person at SHU was: Former Nurse, Norma Baldwin.

Ultimate goal in life: Be happy and healthy!

Best advice for SHU students is: Everyone will say, “Be involved,” so I will go a different route. I would encourage SHU students to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. What I mean by this is explore all college has to offer, including learning about yourself and others, even if that causes you to be uncomfortable.