One on One With . . . Trudy McSorley

Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of what we hope will be a regular Reflections series. “One on One With…” starts appropriately with longtime Siena Heights fixture Trudy McSorley, who retired last summer after more than 50 years on campus. She reflects on her time at Siena Heights, as a student, faculty member and administrator.

1. First impressions of Siena Heights?

This can be a very involved question as I first came to Siena in 1961 when I entered the Adrian Dominican congregation. Then it was simply going to class. We were not involved in college life, as our focus was becoming Adrian Dominican Sisters. When I returned in 1973 as a faculty member, I was young (30) and a bit overwhelmed being a part of college and academic life, as I had not known it before. At the time I was privileged to work with my teacher and mentor, Sister Therese Craig. We also lived together in an apartment at Village Green where many other Sisters who were on the faculty and staff were living. There were at least 30 Adrian Dominican Sisters on campus at the time. Looking back it was an amazing time on campus in many ways. We had our first layman (Hugh Thompson) president; men were now a significant part of our student body, and there was a great effort to outreach into the community of Adrian.

2. How did you get involved in teaching, specifically drama and theater?

As I said I was an Adrian Dominican and that was the primary ministry of the Sisters at the time. I think that is one of the reasons I was attracted to the congregation; the Adrian Dominican had been my teachers since I was 6 years old in first grade. One of my teachers in high school (Rosary high school in Detroit, an all girls Adrian Dominican school) was Sister Rose Terrence (Sister Therese Craig after Vatican II). She was an incredible teacher, director and passionate educator. She led the speech and drama department where I found myself at home. When I entered the congregation I was asked what my major was going to be by Sister Bertha Homzina (the registrar at the time). I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to say something like “speech and drama” (considered a bit too frivolous). She never bat-ted an eye (at least I didn’t see it!), and I happily went on my way as a speech and drama major. Sister Therese was my teacher for many of my classes and was more than tough on me, which was great ammunition for me later in life as we became very dear friends. In 1973 I received a phone call from the Siena theater department to interview and work with Sister Therese in the child drama/children’s theater program, as it had grown more than anticipated. They offered, I accepted, and the rest is history.

World Class

Educational Process Does Not Stop Over the Summer for SHU Faculty

King Guest Conducts at World Renowned Juilliard Music School

Wes King was in rare company last July in New York City. King, Siena Heights music instructor and director of Bands, was only one of 10 people worldwide to be selected to conduct at the Juilliard Conducting Workshop for Music Educators.

“I had thought about applying for it for a few years but I didn’t think I would be strong enough to get in,” said King, who is in his second year at SHU. “It was a big surprise for me and my family. It was just a really cool opportunity.”

King had to apply via a DVD audition. Required was a 15-minute performance and 15-minute rehearsal. For the rehearsal part of the audition, King used his work conducting a John Philip Sousa march with the Siena Heights band.

Out of more than 200 applications, only 48 were chosen. And only 10 were allowed to conduct at Juilliard, known as one of the finest schools for the arts in the world. He received another unexpected surprise when his younger brother, Greg, and his mother, helped fund his trip.

“You had people coming in from all over the world,” said King, who joined conductors from Japan, Scotland and South Africa among others. “And I was with people who had doctorates, who were working professionally. There were only a few band directors.”

SHU’s New ‘Crown Jewel’

Take a Guided Tour of the McLaughlin University Center –Through the Eyes of the People Who Use It

By Doug Goodnough

The new “Crown Jewel” of Siena Heights University was sparkling during Homecoming Weekend 2013.

The new $9.1 million McLaughlin University Center was dedicated Oct. 5 as part of the Homecoming celebration on the Adrian campus (picture above).

Major benefactor Mary Spencer and a contingent of more than 30 of her family members joined her to dedicate the facility that was named after her parents, Delbert and Donna McLaughlin. Joining Spencer and SHU President Sister Peg Albert for the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Steve and Sally Hickman of the Hickman Family Foundation, which provided the lead gift for the project.

The McLaughlin Center officially opened its doors on Aug. 1. The 34,000 square-foot student and community facility houses the University’s dining service, which includes a Mongolian-style grill, a snack shop featuring Starbucks coffee and the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore.

SHU Dean for Students Michael Orlando was involved in the early planning of the facility, and he said to see the impact that it has already made has been remarkable.

“This is because students wanted this space on campus,” Orlando said. “It was really refreshing that we were able to modify the design so it did have student input. … Although it’s just a building, it’s an indicator that this is where students are meant to be.”

Since this is a student-and people-centered facility, the staff of Reflections thought it appropriate that the people who use it every day should take readers on a guided “tour” of sorts to show off some of the favorite features.

The Online Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Siena Heights University