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From the Editor:

Doug Goodnough, Reflections Editor
Doug Goodnough, Reflections Editor

The Networking Missing “Link”

Six thousand, six hundred and fifty-seven.

That’s the number of connections currently displaying on Siena Heights University’s Linked In university page.

Don’t know what Linked In is yet?

According to Wikipedia (if you don’t know what Wikipedia is, I may have lost you), Linked In is a “business-oriented social networking service. Founded in December 2002 and launched on May 5, 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. As of June 2013, LinkedIn reports more than 259 million acquired users in more than 200 countries and territories.”

In other words, there are 6,657 people who claim a Siena Heights connection. That’s a pretty impressive network.

In fact, it’s so impressive that I used it to research some of the subjects who appear in this issue of Reflections. Our Linked In university page displays our connections in a career-related fashion. There are main category breakdowns such as people employed in health care, higher education and marketing. There is even a listing by company or organization, if you want to dig that deep.

As someone who relies on information for much of my work, I found it fascinating. Almost addicting.

Read more . . .

From the Alumni Office:


Can We Talk?

Jennifer Hamlin Church, Associate VP for Advancement & Director of Alumni Relations
Jennifer Hamlin Church, Associate VP for Advancement & Director of Alumni Relations

Yes, in so many different ways!

For almost a year, the Alumni Board of Directors has been discussing networking as a way for alumni to connect with Siena Heights. Early conversation focused on how alumni might assist current students—offering mentoring or job shadowing opportunities, welcoming student interns, or simply sharing the wisdom of experience. In a pilot effort, a few alumni did some wisdom-sharing at Homecoming last year, discussing careers with students over Saturday morning coffee.

The talk since then has gone in many directions: How do we bring students and alumni together? What programs or activities might work? And, at our February Board meeting, this question: What are the benefits of connecting undergrads and graduates? Does it make a difference?

Katie Hatch ’07, vice president of the Alumni Board, recalled the impact of a now-nameless art alumna who spoke in a long ago class in Studio Angelico: “She was a woman who worked, had a husband and children, and did her own art, too,” Katie said (attending this Board meeting by Skype from her snowbound home near Akron). “I thought, ‘Wow. If she can teach, have a family, and also do art—I can, too.’ After that, I was ready to major in art. It was a pivotal moment.”

Read more . . .

From the President:

Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President
Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD, President

The (Adrian) Dominican Tradition is
Alive and Well

It’s been a year to remember at Siena Heights University.

Of course, all eight or so years I have been at Siena Heights have turned out to be memorable in their own way. But this year, there was a special emphasis on strengthening the Dominican tradition on campus.

Last spring, faculty member Sister Pat Walter, OP, delivered an end-of-the-year address to our faculty and staff on our Catholic identity. Her presentation sparked a newfound interest in just what that “identity” was on our campus. In fact, many of our faculty and staff—some of whom are not even Catholic—wanted to know more about this “Catholic, Dominican tradition.”

This spring, we had a series of luncheon discussions exploring aspects of our Catholic identity. These occurred not only on the Adrian campus, but at some of our other campuses around Michigan.

Integrating the Dominican tradition in a more visible way is also happening with many our academic programs, especially in the liberal arts. And our newly designed Leadership program in the Graduate College will have the Dominican tradition as a focus.

Read more . . .