A New Media Mix

Digital Communications Program To Take Full Advantage of Today’s Technology Innovations

By Doug Goodnough

In the age of user-generated content, a new program at Siena Heights University is tapping into the innovation of its students to drive the curriculum.

The Digital Communications program was approved in fall 2012 and will be offered as a new major and minor beginning in fall 2013. According to program director Dr. Davin Heckman, Digital Communications is a combination of old and new concepts. However, the ultimate outcome is to equip students to discover new approaches to communication in a digital age.

“The program is built around the strength of Siena’s fine arts curriculum,” said Heckman, who is a considered a leader in the emerging field of electronic literature. “There are many digital media programs built around studio arts, but this one is designed to basically draw its strength in the interests, energy and abilities that students bring to the major from their areas of concentration. If there is something uniquely Siena about the program, I’d say that it is built around the tradition of Studio Angel-ico (SHU’s art program) and much of the program is driven by the particular contributions
of the student as an individual.”

Singing in the New Year

SHU Vatican Choir Has Memorable Visit to Italy

Most people consider New York City’s Times Square to be the ultimate place to ring in the new year.

Beth Tibbs may disagree. She and a small group of Siena Heights University students, faculty, staff and alumni and friends spent New Year’s Eve in Italy as part of the Vatican Choir. The group performed before Pope Benedict XVI as well as at several other holy sites during the 11-day trip, which Tibbs called “amazing.”

In fact, she said her group was so excited they often broke into song during the trip.

“We would stop periodically and just start singing,” said Tibbs, associate professor of music and choir director at SHU. “People would jump in front of us and want to get their pictures taken with us.”

This was the second time Tibbs took a choir to perform at the Vatican. In 2010 she led a youth choir from Arizona. During that trip, she befriended the Vatican’s head of music.

“He invited us back whenever I wanted to bring a group,” Tibbs said. “When I got the job at Siena (in August 2011), I thought it would be a perfect fit for us to go to Italy and perform. I thought it would be really important for us to include all the different things that are connected to Siena Heights.”

Class Notes—Spring 2013

From The Sites:

SHU—Battle Creek

Rob Viland ’97 was recently named executive vice president of Business Development for Post Community Credit Union. He has more than 20 years of financial institution experience. He lives
in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Timothy Bourgeois ’98 will represent local law enforcement after being appointed to a four-year term on the 14-member Mental Health Diversion Council by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. The council will operate within the Michigan Department of Community Health. His term will expire Jan. 30, 2017. With more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, he currently is the chief of police for the Charter Township of Kalamazoo.

SHU—Lansing

Tom Cochran ’10 was elected to the Michigan state legislature during the November 2012 elections. He will serve as state representative for the 67th District. He resides in Mason, Mich

Misozi Houston ’12 and her husband, Anthony, announced the birth of a daughter, Lily, who was born July 4, 2012. The family recently relocated to Pennsylvania.

SHU—Southfield

Suzy Manning ’91, ’95/MA is a radio talk show personality on the Military Mom Talk Radio network. She is also the creator of Sizzzl, a motivational counseling program for women, and also the author of “Wise Women-Circle of Wisdom” and “You Were Born Magnificent.” The transitional coach and speaker also has the web site www.sizzzl.com.

Steven Aggas ’95 has carved out an impressive career in the engineering field. He currently owns 22 patents, and designed and built Arizona’s largest, privately owned telescope. He also is founder/director of Apache-Sitgreaves Astrophysics, and astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey named an asteroid after him that is recognized by the International Astronomical Union. The name of the asteroid is 152533 Aggas (2007 AL26). He said completing his Siena Heights degree “made all the difference.” He currently lives in Gold Canyon, Ariz.

Donna Cole ’97 recently received her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Michigan. While attending Michigan she received the Margaret Dow Towsley Scholarship from the Center for the Education of Women. She currently resides in Highland, Mich.