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The Online Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Siena Heights University
Siena Heights student-athletes earned a 3.09 GPA in the fall 2016 semester. Leading the way was the women’s golf team with a 3.61 GPA, followed by the softball team (3.57). Every women’s team earned a 3.0 or higher, with an aggregate GPA of 3.33 on the women’s side. The men’s teams were led by the men’s soccer team with a 3.42 GPA. The men’s aggregate GPA was a 2.91.
Basketball
Women: The Saints (24-10) fell to No. 11 Morningside (Iowa) 90-73 in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. SHU also dropped a 77-39 decision to No. 7 Davenport in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament championship. Senior April Watson was named a first team NAIA All-American, the first player in program history to earn the honor. The forward/center averaged 19.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and two blocks a game this season. Watson finished eighth all-time in scoring with 1,073 points in just two seasons with the program. She also finished first in scoring average (16.8) and sixth all-time with 661 total rebounds. Watson also holds the single-season rebounding record with 383, set this season. She also completed her career with a SHU record 129 career blocks. Watson was also named to the All-Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference first team and also garnered a spot on the all-defensive team. Senior guard Jaaliyah Arrington earned a spot on the All-WHAC second team, as well as on the all-academic team. Demi Russell was named to the conference’s all-freshman team, with Avery Chezem the team’s Champions of Character recipient. The Saints, who appeared in the national tournament for the fourth time, finished 23rd in the final NAIA Top 25 poll.
Editor’s Note: This is an occasional Reflections series, and this issue features Siena Heights chemistry graduate Dr. Amir Tamiz ’92, who heads the Division of Translational Research for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) in Washington, D.C..
Could you describe your current role and some of the duties and responsibilities you have on a day-to-day basis?
“I work at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which is focused to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. The NINDS is one of 27 institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Within NINDS, I head the Division of Translational Research, which is tasked with accelerating the preclinical discovery and development of new therapeutic interventions for neurological disorders and stroke. We provide funding and resources (approximately $100 million annually) through grants, cooperative agreements and contracts to academic and industry researchers to advance basic research technologies, devices and therapeutic programs to first in human clinical trials and commercialization, with the hope to get therapies for patients who need them. DTR helps academic and industry researchers create a bridge through which discoveries made in the lab lead to new and improved medical treatments and options for patient care. We offer a variety of programs that support the design, implementation, and management of research activities critical to translational challenges in the treatment of neurological disease and stroke.
“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.
Rob Anderson
Graduation year (from SHU): 2010.
Current title/position: Head of Global Talent Acquisition, Barracuda Networks, Campbell, Calif.
What Rob is doing: Since 2013, Rob works for Barracuda Networks, which delivers cloud-connected solutions that protect organizations like schools, hospitals and small businesses against cyber threats and data loss. After helping recruiting for and support BN’s Data Protection division in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2015 he was asked to move to BN’s headquarters in Campbell, Calif., where he currently globally manages all of talent acquisition strategy and execution. His team specifically operates in California, Michigan, Georgia, Massachusetts, UK, Austria, India and China. Most of his time is spent working with Barracuda’s executives on understanding what the business plans are and then preparing a hiring plan of action to support those goals.
My favorite moment/story while a student at Siena Heights was: Besides waking up at 5 a.m. for soccer practice? In all seriousness, playing on the soccer team for four years was one of the best experiences of my life. I grew very close to all my teammates and we remain close to this day. Except now instead of waking up at 5 a.m. to go to the fieldhouse, we’re waking up to go to each other’s weddings and baby showers.
