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Alumni Stars Mark the Start of Homecoming

Last fall’s Homecoming weekend began when the stars came out for the Alumni Awards ceremony Friday afternoon. Meet the 2014 award winners:


Recent Graduate Award

Kyle Leighton ‘13

Nominated by Zachary Orlosky ’10

A professional communications graduate of Siena’s Jackson Center, Kyle credits his Siena Heights education for igniting his success at EverLast Lighting, Inc, an energy-efficient lighting manufacturer in Jackson. As director of public relations for the firm, he has been published in numerous trade magazines and designed and launched a Michigan Energy Awareness Initiative that was adopted throughout the state; and was named an emerging leader in the electrical industry. He was recognized for “carrying the mission and spirit of SHU into a promising career in public relations and professional communication” and for being a role mode as “an advocate of energy efficiency.”

Read more . . .

From Satellite Student to Siena Heights Saint

Why I come to the Adrian campus—and you should, too!

By Jerry Peterson ’01—Lansing Center

A large number of Siena Heights alumni (myself included) completed their studies without ever setting foot on the main campus in Adrian. This is the result of SHU’s success developing a nationally recognized online program as well as a network of remote learning centers where students can attend classes locally.

I can think of three great reasons to make the effort to go the main campus; and I have availed myself of all them. The first of these was to be part of the graduation ceremonies. I had never thought I would obtain a degree; so when I did, I wanted to note that accomplishment with a celebration and not just add another line on my resume.

Secondly, I wanted to feel the pride of attending a collegiate football Homecoming as an alumnus. Although the football program is relatively new, it has all the festivities including the makings of a fun and boisterous tailgate tradition. SHU has additional activities before and after the game to make a day of it.

Read more . . .

Up for a Challenge

Fran Parker ’88 Leaves Retirement to Direct UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust

Fran Parker ’88 doesn’t walk away from a challenge—even one as big as creating and then leading a trust that manages the medical benefits of hundreds of thousands of United Auto Workers retirees.

Parker, after “retiring” in 2008 as president and CEO of the Health Alliance Plan (HAP), soon jumped back into the workforce. She was named executive director of the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, which manages the benefits of approximately 750,000 retirees of the “Big Three” automakers of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.

“(The UAW) came to me to do this because of my background,” said Parker, who has more than 40 years of health care experience. “Taking the membership of three different organizations, Ford, GM and Chrysler, with no infrastructure, you had to create (the trust) from nothing. You knew that come January 1 of 2010, these retirees depended on you.”

When the trust launched in 2010, it became the largest non-governmental purchaser of retiree health care in the U.S. The trust is governed by an 11 person Committee of Directors. All of the retiree health care liabilities were transferred to a new independent Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA). Parker said she is enjoying her latest challenge, and considers it one of her greatest career achievements.

“I kind of divide the day into thirds,” Parker said of her typical day on the job, which usually begins about 7 a.m. and ends around 6 p.m. “A third might be day-to-day running of an organization. Another third (is) trying to keep abreast of regulatory changes. And (then) some time on strategy. I try to interact with staff and others, and I spend time with our insurance carriers and medical providers.”

As a leader, Parker considers herself to be “fact-based” and “data-driven.” However, she said she also values the opinions of others in the decision making process.

Read more . . .