Rice Award Winner Erin Zerbe Mixes Style with Substance

On campus, she is simply known as “Z.”

And that is just fine with Siena Heights University Assistant Professor of Art Erin Zerbe.

“It’s one of those nicknames that evolved organically and became what it is,” she said. “It’s kind of built a little bit of a persona around it. I like that. It’s fun. It allows me to come in and get right into work mode. When I am at work, I am ‘Z.’”

She may show up to class in a super-
hero costume to co-teach an animation and creative writing course on comic books. Or she may use a wild array of hair color and fashion to make a state-
ment. However, despite establishing her unique persona, her efforts in the class-
room are what endeared her to her students as the recipient of the 2016 Eileen Rice Award for Outstanding Teaching.

From the Alumni Association:

Katie Hatch, President—Alumni Association Board of Directors

Setting the World on Fire at Siena Heights

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

Sister Peg Albert reiterated St. Catherine of Siena’s words at graduation this past spring to a record number of graduates. I have witnessed this statement to be true in so many of our alumni. Through events on campus and off campus, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and witness so many of our community of alumni setting “the world on fire.”

Kelly Burke ‘07 and I were students in Studio Angelico together. At the 2015 Alumni Art Exhibit during Homecoming, I got to witness the evolution of her work since graduation. She is on fire and living her dream! We keep up on Instagram, but to see a gallery of her work and get to congratulate her in person was special. Siena offers this continued community as Studio Angelico has made a tradition of hosting a reception Friday night at Homecoming week (mark your calendars for Oct. 13-15, 2017!).

Front Row Seat

As Senior Editor of The Wolverine Magazine, John Borton Covers All Things Michigan

If you are a serious fan of the University of Michigan athletics, you probably have heard of John Borton ’81.

As senior editor of The Wolverine Magazine, a multimedia publication that covers the University of Michigan athletic program, the Siena Heights graduate has had a front row seat reporting all things Michigan for the past 25 years. From the Bo Schembechler era of Wolverine football to the present-day College World Series appearance by the softball team, Borton has seen—and reported—on it all.

Anyone familiar with Michigan athletics knows some of their most well-known figures. Names like Schembechler, Tom Brady, Charles Woodson, Chris Webber, Michael Phelps and Jim Harbaugh are all people Borton has gotten to know professionally, some even personally. But he said some of his most memorable interviews are also from some lesser-known sources.