Father Figure

Gabriel Fonseca ’99 Is Working to Change the Culture of Fatherhood and Family in Massachusetts Community

Gabriel Fonseca ’99 is a father figure, both at home and at work. As the fatherhood coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Chelsea HealthCare Center in the suburbs of Boston, he helps men become better fathers to their children and develops programs to promote what he calls the “fatherhood movement.”

“My focus is helping fathers care for their kids,” said Fonseca, who received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Siena Heights University. “I didn’t even know there was even professions like
this out in the world.”

After earning his master’s degree from Rhode Island University, he expected to enter the field of gerontology. But then he said he “followed his heart,” taking a parent leadership trainer position in Hartford, Conn. before eventually coming to MGH to continue his work with fathers and families.

From the Alumni Office:

Kate Hamilton ’15/MA<br />Director of Alumni Relations — Kate Hamilton ’15/MA
Director of Alumni Relations

Hello Alumni & Friends

It has been a whirlwind few months for me as I settle in to my new role as Director of Alumni Relations at Siena Heights University. I have been with the University for over six years, spending my first five in Advancement and the last year and a half in campus events. I have been counting my blessings since being selected to this role and know I have big shoes to fill.

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner and recently (2015) walked across the commencement stage with my husband of 25 years as we graduated together from Siena with our master’s degrees in Organizational Leadership. Jim has been coaching football here at SHU since it was added in 2011. We have three children, two of whom are current students here at Siena, so we have a lot of #SaintsPride.

Each day I feel fortunate to speak with alums who reach out to my new office. Sometimes it is just to change their address in the database. Sometimes it is to inquire about a former classmate they hope to contact. Sometimes it is to find out more about the upcoming alumni trip to Italy in 2019. Whatever the call is for, I am happy to pick up and listen. Listening to your stories is probably the best part of my job. I love to hear what Siena
means to you. I know it means a lot to me as well.

From the President:

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”— Romans 3:23

When Paul wrote this, he didn’t make any exceptions (except for Jesus Christ, of course). In fact, before his conversion to Christianity, Paul was one of the biggest offenders, ruthlessly persecuting the followers of Jesus before his conversion on the road to Damascus.

But God found redemptive qualities in Paul, eventually choosing him to tirelessly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles before his eventual death at the hands of the Romans. What a transformation!

I believe God is still transforming people like Paul today. He certainly believes in redemption, and following His example, so do we here at Siena Heights. In fact, it’s embedded in our mission statement to “respect the dignity of all.”

In this issue, we highlight two alumni who were originally on the opposite ends of the criminal justice spectrum, but are now championing efforts to improve the system—and those in it—from the inside out.