“Rising Stars” is a regular feature in Reflections. It profiles Siena Heights alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years and who excel in their careers, occupations or community service accomplishments. To be considered for “Rising Stars” in an upcoming issue of Reflections, 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.

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Heather Goupil

Graduation year (from SHU): 2013, Lansing.

Current title/position: Purchasing Specialist, Capital Area District Libraries, Lansing, Mich.

What Heather is doing: After graduating, she took on a new role as purchasing specialist for the Capital Area District Libraries. She is the public purchasing agent for CADL, a public library district of 13 branches serving Ingham County, Mich. She facilitates the purchase of supplies and equipment, manages contracts, solicits bids and evaluates vendors and suppliers among many other tasks related to public procurement. She has worked in public libraries for 14 years, and her goal is to eventually become a librarian. Immediately after graduation from Siena, she entered the MLIS program at Wayne State University and was awarded a master’s degree in Library and Information Science in 2016..

My favorite moment/story while a student at Siena Heights was: I received so much support from my instructors whenever I mentioned my goal of becoming a librarian. Many shared stories about the importance of the field or the personal impact libraries had on their lives, and this feedback really encouraged me to move right into the master’s program and see it through!.

My favorite person at Siena Heights was: Sharon O’Brien (retired).

Ultimate goal in life: To continue to serve my community by keeping our libraries strong, relevant and accessible to all.

My best piece of advice for SHU students is: Keep going! As a returning student with a full-time career, classwork was sometimes overwhelming and there were times I felt like I wasn’t moving forward. Talk to your instructors and classmates; the encouragement you need is there.

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Chas Frey

Graduation year (from SHU): 2014.

Current title/position: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Athletico Physical Therapy.

What Chas is doing: He currently works as a full-time staff Physical Therapist for Athletico Physical Therapy. Athletico was founded in Chicago in 1991 as an outpatient orthopedic clinic and has grew to more than 400 facilities. He works with all age groups with a variety of orthopedic diagnoses who are trying to get back to their daily activities, work responsibilities or sporting events.

My favorite moment/story while a student at Siena Heights was: I was a Resident Assistant (RA) for three years. I had the honor of working with a lot of great people and definitely can say that holding this type of position helped me grow both professionally and as an individual.

My favorite person at Siena Heights was: The entire Siena Heights University community has been a blessing in my life. For those who know me, taught me, mentored me or coached me: Thank you.

Ultimate goal in life: To continue to advance my skills and knowledge to help my patients in surrounding communities and the world.

My best piece of advice for SHU students is: Do not settle for being average but strive for excellence. Take advantage of opportunities, never stop learning and respect those around you.

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Christian Helser II

Graduation year (from SHU): 2010.

Current title/position: Instructor; Artist-in-Residence, Shangyuan Art Museum, Beijing, China.

What Christian is doing: He is currently an artist and instructor who formerly worked for Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids Michigan as a continuing education instructor. After teaching and working in the Grand Rapids area, he is now pursuing his creative practice in earnest. From April-July 2018, he was an artist-in-residence at the Shangyuan Art Museum in Beijing, China, as well as an artist-in-residence at the Golden Apple residence in Harrington, Maine. He is currently working out of his studio near Maybee, Mich., while exhibiting his work in the northeastern U.S. and China.

My favorite moment/story while a student at Siena Heights was:
My past instructors who worked closely with me. I changed my concentration from ceramics to painting with the help of Tim VanBeke and Christine Reising, which lead me onto my path of painting. I am forever a student of art, but it is thanks to them not backing down and encouraging me to press forward during a VERY trying time in my education that I became the artist I am today. I owe the art faculty of SHU a great thank you.

My favorite person at Siena Heights was: There are too many peers to list, but I would have to say Tim VanBeke, Dr. Peter Barr and Christine Reising. They had no interest in my excuses; they only had an interest in what I could become.

Ultimate goal in life: Travel the world, have a dear friend in every country, and live my life with sincerity.

My best piece of advice for SHU students is: I recommend that a SHU student avoid getting caught up in the nostalgia and daydreaming of possibilities of fame or fortunes. A SHU student should focus on the actual work they sincerely care about. It’s easy to get sucked into a terminal reality where you’re working a 60-hour work week, and side hustles to survive. What makes it all horrible is knowing that you’re working your life away on something that is not your passion. So my advice to any SHU student or alum bluntly is ‘Stop working to make other peoples dreams come true’ when you could be working to make yours a reality. Prioritize truly what makes you happy. Forge real tight-knit relationships and do not forsake them just because you would rather be selfish. If you compromise just once on any of this, then you’re on a slippery slope in this day in age to a very miserable and lonely existence. Stay true to yourself SHU and your convictions. When you’re young, you never chase your dreams because they’ll lead you to great fortune or fame. Fortune and fame are concepts when you’re grinding out a paycheck take a back seat to the day to day operations of being an adult. Yet if you merely keep embracing the passion that you identify with and make it your life, you’ll have very few regrets. Live with the conviction of self determination. Don’t forsake your dreams to make someone else’s come true.

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Barbara Schmidtman, Ph.D.

Graduation year (from SHU): 2011, 2013 MA, Benton Harbor.

Current title/position: Oncology Services Manager, Lakeland Health.

What Barbara is doing: She started off her career in health care in a clinical role nearly 17 years ago and have held a variety of professional roles prior to gaining the privilege of leading the radiation oncology, ambulatory infusion, and a variety of other small teams at Lakeland Health in Oncology Services. After graduating from SHU with a BAS degree in 2011 and then a MA degree in Organizational Leadership, she earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Northcentral University in August 2017. Her dissertation, titled “Employee’s Experiences and Interpretations of Physician Leadership Style in an Acute Care Setting: A Phenomenological Study,” looked at how demonstrated physician leadership style and how either good or bad behaviors affect individuals/teams either positively or negatively. She said because she is incredibly passionate about demonstrated physician leadership styles (good or bad), she opened her own coaching/consulting business late in 2017. She said she hopes to develop physicians to be positive contributors within teams despite all of the stressors they currently face in the current health care environment. Most recently, she was selected as one of Michiana’s Forty Under 40, Class of 2018, by the South Bend (Ind.) Regional Chamber of Commerce. She also was a 2018 nominee for Young Business Leader of the Year, with the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce.

My favorite moment/story while a student at Siena Heights was: I would say graduating as a two-time alumni would be my favorite moment. It really was an amazing four years obtaining my BAS and MA. Also, another favorite was writing my thesis. Preparing a thesis at Siena helped prepare me for my doctoral studies at Northcentral University!

My favorite person at Siena Heights was: I can’t pick just one. … Over the course of the four years I attended, I developed so many friendships with professors and classmates that will last a lifetime!

Ultimate goal in life: Really, my ultimate goal is to live each day to the fullest, be myself and embrace opportunity. I have found that setting these expectations for myself, daily, help me to achieve my goals, daily.

My best piece of advice for SHU students is: Never give up, always try harder, embrace challenges and learn/grow from adversity. Never say you do not have time for your own growth and development; when something really matters to us, we should learn to make the time.