Collaborative Creativity

SHU Nursing Program Teams Up with Social Work, Theater to Earn National Innovation Award

SHU Director of Nursing Dr. Sue Idczak (second from left) as well as SHU nursing faculty member Kelli Kusisto (second from right) and SHU theater faculty member Mark DiPietro (far right) accept the Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award Oct. 26 from American Association of Colleges of Nursing representatives during AACN’s fall meeting in Washington, D.C.

Siena Heights University’s nursing program was the recipient of the Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

SHU earned the honor in the Small Schools category. The awards program recognizes the outstanding work of AACN member schools to re-envision traditional models for nursing education and lead programmatic change. Innovation awards, including monetary prize of $1,000, are given annually in four institutional categories: Small Schools; Academic Health Center (AHC); Private Schools without an AHC; and Public Schools without an AHC.

According to Dr. Sue Idczak, SHU’s director of nursing, the program was honored for a unique series of live training simulations conducted in 2013-14 that involved students from nursing, theater and social work programs. Under the faculty’s guidance and supervision, specific scenarios involving the care of older adults were recreated.

“Inter-professional education is becoming such a big thing,” said Idczak, who credited SHU Assistant Professor of Nursing Kelli Kusisto for the creation and development of the simulations. “It really brought liberal arts into the nursing field.”

Saints Athletics Highlights—Fall 2015

SHU Lacrosse Goes to National Tournament

Led by senior goaltender Ryan Mailloux and junior defenseman Joshua Abruzzo, the Saints made their first trip to the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association Division II national tournament. SHU defeated Missouri Valley 8-7 in the opening round, then fell to eventual national champion the University of Dayton 7-6 in overtime to finish the season 13-3 and ranked sixth in the final MCLA poll.

Mailloux and Abruzzo were each named first team MCLA Division II All-Americans, while Ed Maloney was named MCLA D-II Coach of the Year. Mailloux finished with a 13-3 record, 6.23 goals-against average and 187 saves in roughly 895 minutes of action. Abruzzo was a key cog within SHU’s defense, finishing with a team-leading 54 groundballs. Junior midfielder Tom Kreitzer was recognized as a All-MCLA third team selection and was the Saints’ leading goal-scorer with 34 tallies.

Maloney was also recognized as CCLA and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Coach of the Year while guiding Siena Heights its highest win total and best finish in program history. The Saints were also 4-0 in CCLA Central Division play—good enough for SHU’s first division championship.

From the Alumni Office:

Jennifer Hamlin Church, Associate VP for Advancement & Director of Alumni Relations

“So in the deepest gratitude for years that too
swiftly fly…”

As I write, the glow of Homecoming 2015 still surrounds me and my mind is filled with recollections of rain, sun, snowflakes, fun, inspiration and re-connection:

the powerful testimony of alumni award winners Lois Hueneman Chazaud ’49, Jacqueline Battalora ’88, Michael Donovan ’75 and Honorary Alumna Deb Carter;
the laughter and liveliness of tailgates and tailgate trophies;
the energy of athletes—varsity, alumni, and Hall of Famers;
the inquiring minds of faculty, students and alumni at the Coffee Curriculum;
the creativity of SHU musicians (Acapelicans, Choir, Band), actors (the cast of Urinetown), and artists (Kelly Papcun Burke ’07, Brett Lawrence ’95);
and upholding it all, the Dominican foundation of faith; of competence, purpose and ethics; of respect for the dignity of all—and a Homecoming Mass presided over by Fr. Dan Lannen ’05 and SHU chaplain Fr. John Grace.