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The Online Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Siena Heights University
“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.
Sister Nadine Foley, OP (left) passed away May 13. She served on Siena’s Board of Trustees in the 1970s and ’80s and served as Siena Heights’ interim President during the winter and spring of 1994. Sister Nadine began her relationship with Siena Heights as a first-year student in 1941, and was a faithful alumna, attending Homecoming dinners and football games in recent years. She also taught philosophy and religious studies as an adjunct faculty member. In 1992, Siena Heights recognized her scholarship and leadership in the Church among women religious by awarding her the Siena Medal. Sister Nadine also served the Adrian Dominican Sisters Congregation as a member of the General Council from 1974-78; as the Vicaress from 1978-82; and as Prioress of the Congregation from 1986-92. She also was president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious from 1988-89 and a U.S. delegate to the International Union of Superiors General from 1989-92. In 1994, she became the Congregation Historian, a position she held until 2016. Sister Nadine published numerous papers and articles, including two volumes of the history of the Adrian Dominican Congregation: “Seeds Scattered and Grown” in 2006, and “To Fields Near and Far” in 2015.
Mikayla FererDont’e Fox
The Siena community mourned the deaths of a current student and a recent graduate. Dont’e Fox passed away Jan. 5 after a brief hospital stay. Fox was a member of the Saints football team, a communications major and a student leader who was scheduled to graduate this May. Members of his family were present on May 7 to receive his bachelor’s degree. Mikayla Ferer, who gradu-
ated in May 2016, was killed in a car accident on Feb. 13. She was a former women’s soccer player who received her degree in nutrition. Members of the Siena community participated in a memorial run to fund a scholarship in her name.
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.
