From the President:

It’s Time for a New Plan

When I arrived on the Adrian campus more than 15 years ago, I had a plan.

At the time, Siena Heights was in a transitional stage, where it didn’t know where it wanted to go, and was struggling to find a new direction. With an inauguration message of “Be Bold. Think Higher,” we set out to change that. We focused on starting new academic and athletic programs, worked on making the Distance Learning Program stronger into a respected academic operation and aggressively hit the fundraising trail to upgrade the University’s facilities and infrastructure.

Fast forward to present, and the fruits of that plan are apparent. Our Adrian campus has undergone a remarkable transformation, with a vibrant residential student experience and first-class academic and athletic facilities at the forefront. And our Online Program is now one of the most respected in the country, and we have the U.S. News and World Report rankings to prove it.

But it’s time for a new plan.

From the President:

Moving Forward in Faith, Fortitude and Conviction!

Over the last few months, there have been so many things that have been put in our path, from the COVID pandemic to racial injustice. As I write this, we are finalizing our plan to open the 2020-21 academic year, and there is still so much uncertainty surrounding us as we at Siena Heights try to move forward.

First, the actions that caused the death of our brother, George Floyd, and many others, are totally unacceptable and an affront to our mission of respecting the dignity of all. As a faith-based university in the Catholic-Dominican traditions, our search for truth is of the utmost importance. And, sometimes, the truth is difficult for us to accept and face. We must take a long, loving look at ourselves and recognize our sinfulness. We must own where we have fallen short by recognizing how we have been a part of oppressing others either consciously or unconsciously. As a result, I have set up an advisory committee that will report to me and will assist the SHU community in dealing with these injustices.

From the President:

The “New Founders” of Siena Heights

As an Adrian Dominican Sister, I am well aware of the legacy the congregation has established at Siena Heights University.

Those women were indeed “valiant” in working to establish a college in Adrian more than a century ago. They had to overcome resistance from many circles, including the community, church leaders—even the farmer who refused to sell the land to the Sisters to establish the college because he was upset that St. Joseph Academy students were stealing apples from his orchard!

But those obstacles were eventually overcome, and today we are reminded of their efforts as we stroll through campus. What a legacy indeed!

To serve as President these past 13 years has been a privilege. I stand on the shoulders of those who preceded me in moving this institution forward. Now, on the eve of celebrating the 100th anniversary of Siena Heights, in many ways we all are the “New Founders” of Siena Heights.

Let me explain.