Siena News Summer 2009 by Siena College

Siena SIENA NEWS • A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS • SUMMER 2009

READY, SET, GO! INSIDE: Commencement

| Reunion ‘09

from the president “I have done what is mine to do, may Christ teach you what is yours to do.” These are the words Saint Francis used to prepare the friars for life after his death, which followed not long after he said them. They are his instructions for living life: Follow your heart. Seek truth. Serve each other. Always be open to learning. When our seniors graduate, they are always saying that they don’t want to leave Siena. As I told them at this year’s Commencement ceremony: This is just the beginning! Siena’s liberal arts education will always serve as a guide for our alumni. When they share their lives with others, serve in the community advocate for the poor and marginalized, Siena’s Franciscan mission is alive and thriving. Siena and its Francsican tradition are woven through the very fabric of our alumni’s lives. When a Siena alum looks back on his or her life, he or she is able to say “I have done what is mine to do.”

Message from the Editors Thank you to everyone who sent in e-mails about the last issue of Siena News. There is nothing we love more than feedback! One alumnus told us that this was the first time he has ever read the magazine cover to cover. We were ecstatic—this was the goal when we decided to redesign Siena News last fall. We will continue to improve the magazine based on the response we receive from all of you. As always, tell us what you thought of this issue by e-mailing communications@siena.edu.

Want to stay in touch with Siena between issues? Here’s how: • Become a fan of Siena on Facebook at

facebook.com/sienacollege. • Follow us on Twitter at

twitter.com/sienacollege. • Subscribe to the campus calendar’s RSS feed at

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flickr.com/sienacollege. • Get news updates via e-mail at

www.siena.edu/pages/180.asp. Enjoy the issue, and don’t forget to nominate someone for the Ultimate Siena College Fan contest (see page 35). Jim Eaton and Allison Maloney ’06

Fraternally,

Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D.

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contents

2009 - 2010 Board of Trustees

4 Ready, Set, Go!

9 Around The World

Ronald E. Bjorklund ’85 Bradley Bodmer, Esq. ’82 J. David Brown Michael Bucci ’73 Robert F. Campbell ’66 Robert M. Curley Robert T. Cushing ’77 Susan Law Dake Virginia L. Darrow ’83 John J. Dawson, Esq. ’68 Scott C. Donnelly Howard S. Foote ’74 Robert L. Guido ’68 Douglas T. Hickey ’77 Rev. Kenneth R. Himes ’71, O.F.M., Ph.D. Edward J. Johnson ’63 Walter T. Kicinski ’62 Rev. Jerome J. Massimino, O.F.M. Pamela McCarthy Robert J. McCormick ’87 Rev. Dominic V. Monti, O.F.M., Ph.D. James J. Morrell ’66 Very Rev. Kevin J. Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. John F. Murray ’79 John J. Nigro Very Rev. John F. O’Connor, O.F.M. Walter A. Osterman ’87 Joseph M. Pastore, Jr., Ph.D. Kenneth M. Raymond, Jr. Mark S. Rose ’65 Rev. Peter A. Schneible, O.F.M., Ph.D. David M. Stack ’73 Christine L. Standish Br. Daniel P. Sulmasy, O.F.M., M.D., Ph.D. *Nimmi M. Trapasso ’98, M.D. Dennis L. Winger ’69 *New Trustee Siena News - Summer 2009 Published by Siena College 515 Loudon Road Loudonville, NY 12211-1462 E-mail: communications@siena.edu

21 Reunion ‘09

• Publisher: Delcy Fox • Editors: Jim Eaton, Allison Maloney ’06 • Contributing Editors: Mark Adam, Jodi Ackerman Frank, Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D., Michelle Pickering ’09, Lynn Ryan and Jack Sise ’75 • Director of Art and Design: Sergio Sericolo • Alumni Class Notes Design: Jean Higgs • Alumni Class Notes Editor: Janice Goca and Victoria Abdulla ’07 • Photography: Athletics Office, Dave Boswell ’12, Lisa Heimerle, Sergio Sericolo, Syracuse Athletic Communications • Printer: The Lane Press, Burlington,Vt.

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COVER STORY

READY, SET, GO! Siena College held its 69th commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17 at the Times Union Center in Albany. Eight hundred and ninteen graduates received bachelor’s degrees in business, liberal arts and science. It was the first time Siena’s Commencement has been celebrated in downtown Albany. Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. welcomed the class using the words of Saint Francis, “I have done what is mine to do. May God teach what is yours.” If you share your life with others, serve your communities and help the less fortunate, he said, you will be able to look back on your life and say, “I have done what was mine to do.” Kelly Burke, class of 2009 president, reflected on shared memories, beginning with the summer before Siena, when she was assigned summer reading of The Kite Runner for the freshman Foundations course. Burke re-read the book during her final week at Siena, and said that its themes of love, respect and compassion are the same marks of the four years spent at Siena. She said that their time here had come full circle. Burke also reminded the class that together they had stormed the very court they were

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seated on for not one, but two men’s basketball championships. Two honorary degrees were conferred to The Honorable Victoria Graffeo and Dr. Robert Paeglow. Graffeo has served New York State in all three branches of government and quoted President Abraham Lincoln, who once compared a tree to the individual and its shadow to the person’s reputation. “There is no easy way to build a solid reputation, and there are no shortcuts,” Graffeo said, “You build it a little each day in how you treat others.” Dr. Paeglow founded the Koinonia Primary Care/Mental Health Practice, which provides care to the poor in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood. He was the first in his family to graduate from college and provided the class of 2009 with his conclusions on life: “It is all about joy,” he said. Sam Ogden, senior commencement speaker,

Teaching Excellence

Charles Trainor, Ph.D., Rachel Stern-Marr, Ph.D. and Joshua Diamond, Ph.D.

The Jerome Walton Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Charles Trainor, Ph.D., professor of English. Rachel SternMarr, Ph.D., professor of biology and Joshua Diamond, Ph.D., professor of physics received the Raymond Kennedy Excellence in Scholarship Award and Fr. Matthew T. Conlin, O.F.M. Distinguished Service Award, respectively. Major Chambers, professor of ROTC, was acknowledged for being named the national ROTC instructor of the year.

Javid Afzali ’09 was born in Afghanistan and emmigrated to the United States when he was five years old. His father passed away when he was in high school, and he dropped out of school to support his family. Afzali earned his GED and later completed an associate’s degree to become a mechanic. He and his wife saved money so that he could someday earn a bachelor’s degree. Afzali has received a significant scholarship to attend Albany Law School this fall. The 32 year-old is married and has four children ranging in age from 10 to 3.

impressively rhymed his entire speech and focused on the fact that being a member of the Siena community will always be the graduates’ link to one another. Closing up the ceremony was Robert Cushing ’77, chair of the board of trustees, and Very Rev. Howard Hubbard, bishop of the Albany diocese. Cushing had all the graduates stand and repeat: “We did it!” Then, he had everyone else—professors, families and staff alike—stand and say, “Thank God they did it!” “Share your gifts and talents generously with others and you will mark an indelible path for the world,” said Bishop Howard Hubbard, “Godspeed always.”

Ready, Set, Go!

Commencement Poem An Excerpt By: Sam Ogden ’09, Commencement Speaker

Speeches. Speeches everywhere. You hear them every day. So, I will try to speak to you in quite a different way. Speeches, Speeches here and there, you hear them all the time. So I have tried to put Siena College into rhyme. Now, I’m no Dr. Seuss, I never claimed to be. But within the last few months this little poem just came to me. Siena came so suddenly, and suddenly it’s gone. But there are many memories made from moving right along: The times we didn’t study hard, the times we did our best. The time we went to take our finals, but there weren’t any tests. Most of us, our first few months, just couldn’t get enough Of friends and weekends of all kinds the “all-important” stuff. Some became the victors in the field or on the court. Others tried to make a mark of a—male pageant sort. Many wanted friendships that they wouldn’t have to fake. Some have found the other person on the wedding cake. What is it that we’re taking now from everything we’ve read? And how have we reacted to the things inside our head? We’ve been angry at the world, I hope the same for all of you; For it’s in seeing all its flaws that we know what to do. We’ve been happy that we won a game or with the change of season. To grab a blanket like the rest, sunbathe for no good reason. Many have been near that place where sadness would control them, But someone special from this place would be there to console them. Siena helped a lot of us in life to find our way. And those of us still searching had a friend along the way. I didn’t know four years ago that by the very end The guy across the room from you could be your greatest friend. No matter where you go from here to do things great and small Keep in mind from time to time just where you got it all.

And if you ever find yourself in need of company, Fr. Bill is always waiting in the yearbook on page 3. Siena’s growing older, just as each of you and I. And it’s an honor… to be named among its alumni. Even when you find that you yourself are growing old. Do yourself a favor – stay in touch with green and gold. Farewell to all the homework, and to the winter snow. Farewell to all the things from here, except what we now know. At times I thought that one big speech would change the world forever. But that’s a task that I and each of you must do together. I came to school so long ago hoping not to change. And looking back it’s hard to know how I could be so strange. I wanted more than anything to make a difference here, And there were opportunities in every single year. But it took me quite a while in fact to look around and see, That what the world had needed was a certain change in me. We went to school not long ago hoping not to sway, And looking back we wouldn’t have it any other way. So thank you all for coming here, to watch us cross the stage; To see us in our caps and gowns, perhaps to act our age. Thank you to the parents, spending so much time and dime. Thank you younger siblings, we can’t wait to see you shine. Thank you to the teachers, for all that you have taught. And thank you to the friars, for acting as you ought. Thank you to the staff for keeping everything so smooth. And thank you fellow classmatesI will really miss you.

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Around the World Around the Wil ’09oarersooln tod Siena graduates Paul Notar ’07 and Leah Ant regions: become experts on two of the most important world The Middle East and Russia.

Antil was selected as one of 70 students from among 30,000 applicants to study this summer at the Astrakhan State University in Russia. Notar, who has been studying Arabic since last May, has been accepted to Michigan State University, which has one of the top five Arabic programs in the United States. Leah, writing from Astrakhan, Russia, tells Siena News about her experiences in Russia so far this year. Why Russia? Russia, to me, is like one of those art nouveau modern paintings — the ones with about six different squares and only three colors. You stare at it, and you like it. You don’t know why you like it, but there is an attraction. Maybe that painting is not for everyone, but it’s for me.

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Tell us about Astrakhan. So far, Astrakhan is quite an exciting place. I studied abroad in St. Petersburg, but Astrakhan is a more diverse area. Although the language is primarily Russian, there are several ethnicities living together peacefully: Russian, Iranian and Tatar. Some parts of Astrakhan, including the Kremlin and the River Volga, are so beautiful my breath catches in my throat when I see them. These images are juxtaposed with trashstrewn streets, hot weather and dusty roads. It’s quite the contrast. What’s it like to be living in Russia, immersed in a new language and culture? I have taken a strict Russian-only pledge when I am speaking with professors, my host family and American

classmates. I attend classes Monday through Friday for six hours in Russian grammar, conversation and phonetics, so it is getting easier. After my two-months-and-10day experience, I theoretically will have advanced an entire level in the Russian language. Where and what are you headed for next? After this scholarship, I will be pursuing a master’s degree at the School of International Training World Learning Institute in Brattleboro, Vt. I am entering a two-year intercultural service, leadership and management program. I will be taking two academic semesters at the Institute and then, hopefully, I will work in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, for a year-long practicum.

Paul Notar writes from Ramallah, the Palestinian city on the West Bank. How did you get involved in Middle Eastern and language studies? I’ve slowly acquired my interest in the Middle East in an unorthodox way: through traveling, asking a lot of questions and meeting people who live in the Middle East. Most of the students and scholars I’ve met when traveling acquired their interest in the Middle East through rigorous training in history and anthropology. I’ve actually never taken a class on the Middle East. But, I did begin learning Arabic with Fareed Munir, associate professor of religious studies, and studied abroad in Morocco during my Siena years. What’s it like living in the West Bank? Ramallah has become the de facto capital of a yet-to-becompleted Palestinian state. I am spending my time studying Arabic with a private tutor and learning about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Everyone in this city has an interest in creating a new country. Palestinians, though living under constant threat of military and economic suppression, are active in this endeavor.

You also went to Syria this year. Tell us about that. My time in Syria led me to take a personal interest in Syrian politics and the plight of Kurds in that country. My best friend, Kawa, a Syrian-Kurd living in Damascus, is confronted with flagrant racism that has hampered his attempts to find suitable work and live peacefully among SyrianArabs. Acts of racism have intensified because of various uprisings occurring in northern SyrianKurdish cities over the past few years as a rebuke to government policies that curtail their rights (a recently proclaimed law restricts their right to own land). What was the application process like for such a competitive field of study? Easier than it would have been — thanks to Siena. When I learned that I was one of four students invited to Princeton University to compete for one open master’s degree spot, my former professors went into action. Vera Eccarius-Kelly, associate professor of political science, and I had a long strategy session. I also received a crash course in the academic world from Jim Booker, professor of economics. I was not ultimately admitted to Princeton, but I did get full funding from the University of Michigan. What will you do with the master’s degree? My master’s degree will prepare me for doctoral programs, as well as for a variety of professional fields that require an advanced understanding of the Middle East. I am seriously considering a career in teaching, either at the secondary or university levels. I can’t imagine a more rewarding career.

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From the Front Lines to the Front Lawn Siena held its first-ever history reenactment, which spanned 230 years of U.S. history, on the College’s front lawn on April 18, 2009. Re-enactors representing the Revolutionary War and the Civil War joined current members of Siena’s ROTC program, as well as members of the U.S. National Guard for a day of demonstrations that celebrated bringing history to life. The idea for “A Day of Living History” was student-generated: The History Club, led by Tara Heffernan ’09, organized the entire event from conception to execution. The students were supported by the Center for Revolutionary Era Studies, the History Department, Academic Affairs Admissions and ROTC. “We were proud to offer this program not only for Siena students but for anyone interested from the Capital Region,” said Heffernan. “Each group brought to life their respective eras and allowed spectators to see and hear what camp life was like for our early Americans, as well as to see the improvements that have been made for modern soldiers.” Siena students and faculty also presented projects on topics including literature of the Revolutionary Era and the effect soldiers and war have on communities. Sign up for information about next year’s event and other Center for Revolutionary Era Studies programs at www.siena.edu/cres.

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FAKE FAKE the Revolutionary Era and the effect soldiers and war have on communities. Sign up for information about next year’s

Hope for a Cure By Jennifer Raska ’10

Siena Fueled by Francis in GHI Workforce Team Challenge By Michelle Pickering ’09

Sixty-two determined Siena College employees and friends ran or walked through Albany as part of the GHI Workforce Team Challenge, the largest annual road race between Utica and New York City. For the second consecutive year, Siena was awarded a plaque for being the third largest educational agency to participate. Overall, 7,186 people participated and 393 teams ran alongside the Siena Saints, who were “fueled by Francis,” as was proclaimed on the back of their team t-shirts. For Siena, the event brought community members from numerous departments together at the end of the academic year to enjoy each other’s company. Members of the Strategic Communications and Integrated Marketing Office recruited this year’s team, designed and ordered the team t-shirts and organized the post-race celebration at the Recovery Room Sports Grill in Albany. This year’s squad sported hi-vis gold t-shirts, with the words “Siena” in green on the front. On the back was a custom graphic of St. Francis, upon whose values the college is based. The event was made possible thanks to the generosity of Troy’s Landscape Supply Company and Paul Stec ’79, vice president for finance and administration.

“Someone has to be the first to be cured, and it’s going to be Hannah.” These were the words spoken by the father of then four-yearold Hannah Sames of Clifton Park, N.Y. In March 2008, Hannah was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called giant axonal neuropathy (GAN). The disease slowly deteriorates and inhibits the function of the nervous system and interferes with the communicating signals sent from the brain to the body. After Hannah’s diagnosis, her family was informed that the disorder was fatal and treatment options did not exist. GAN is so rare that it is only found in one out of every 200,000 individuals. Unfortunately, hope can’t be put into treatment and therapies for those diagnosed with this neurological genetic disorder. Instead, parents are sent home to watch their children deteriorate to the point of becoming a quadriplegic, dependent on a feeding tube and ventilator. Individuals with GAN often die in their teens or early twenties. Hannah Sames’ family and friends are determined to change this. Hannah’s Hope Fund will need to raise $500,000 a year over the next four years to pay for gene therapy research and a clinical trial in hopes of saving the precious lives being destroyed by GAN. Hannah’s family is devoted to finding a cure because, as her mother has stated, “There is really little else in life that matters when your child is dying from a malicious genetic disorder, especially when the disease could be treatable someday.” This year’s co-chairpersons of Charity Week Jillian Duarte ’11 and Jennifer Raska ’10 have chosen Hannah’s Hope Fund to be the recipient of Siena’s Charity Week’s fundraising efforts. Events will take place Nov. 2 -7. All alumni, faculty, students and friends are encouraged to visit charityweek09.weebly.com, as well as the direct Website for Hannah’s Hope Fund, www. hannahshopefund.org, for more information.

Honors Topics Span from Nerds and Geeks to Wrestling with Cosmetics This year’s honors fellows have officially completed their theses. Here is a list of the fellows, along with their topics: • Paul Acosta ’09, “Going Beyond Brand Community — Brand Cult” • Catherine Cagino ’09, “Alzheimer’s Disease: Focusing Future Research” • Renee Clavette ’09, “Graduation Rates and Academic Success of Student Athletes Versus All Students: A Case Study of One Athletic Conference” • Ashley Davison ’09, “A Look at Employee Theft and Internal Control: Impacts on Small Business Considering the Implications of Evolving Technologies” • Michelle Diehl ’09, “Brand Personality and Gen Y: A Study of the Relevance of Aaker’s Five Point Brand Personality Scale to a New Generation” • Jennifer Dinnel ’09, “How Christians Should Use Hermeneutics: Moving Away from Literalism in the Context of Homosexuality and Evolution” • Kelly Donnelly ’09, “Gaining Power: The Postcolonial Adolescent Struggle in the Bluest Eye and Life of Pi” • Erin Guldenstern ’09, “Nerds and Geeks: The impact of the Portrayal of Mathematicians in Movies and Television” • Gary Gustin, Jr. ’09, “Ancient Greek Homoeroticism: Diversity and Difference” • April London ’09, “The Impact of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation on Job Choice in Generation Y” • Emily McHugh ’09, “Sharing a Confidence: Full Immersion with the ‘Distorted’ Outlook” • Roshni R. Naik ’09, “Attitudes of Albany Medical College (AMC) Students Toward the Willingness of Pursuing Geriatrics as Career” • Samuel J. Ogden ’09, “Beyond Church and State: Thoughts on Religious Participation in Democratic Dialogue” • Shaina Reardon ’09, “Food For Thought: 1960s Countercultures Influence on Today’s Natural Foods Movement” • Elizabeth Rees ’09, “Humanitarian Health Care: Exploring the Humanitarian Missions of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders” • Philip Sidoti ’09, “Credit Cards and College Students: Status and Implications for Marketing Strategy”

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• Brett Tracy ’09, “A Comparative Analysis of Stigma Manifestation: Obstetric Fistulas, Treacher Collins Syndrome and HIV/AIDS” • Samantha Tymchyn ’09, “Rebuilding Our Victimized Communities: Integrating Restorative Justice Principles and Practices into Community-Based Alternative Sentencing Initiatives to Bring About Change” • Kimberly Vassilatos ’09, “When Conflict Resolution Is Not Enough: Incorporating Conflict Transformation, Human Security and Restorative Justice into Peacebuilding” • Larissa Walker ’09, “Sustainability, Democracy and Problems with the U.S. Farm Bill: A Critical Analysis of Policy, Power and Paradigms” • Alexander Walthers ’09, “Exploring Attitudes Towards Counterfeit Products” • Jason Weiss ’09, “Wrestling with Cosmetics: Creator or Enhancer of Beauty?” • Kari Weiterschan ’09, “Speak and Sold: Trauma as a Contradiction in Adolecent Literature”

Academic Celebration Showcases Student Projects

Siena Hosted 22nd Annual

Siena’s annual Academic Celebration Day in May showcased 200 student projects from all three schools. These projects included independent studies, as well as class work. Many of the student projects proved timely, including those from the Globalization Issues Across the U.S. Border course taught by Jean Stern, Ph.D., professor of political science. Students studied the U.S. Border Patrol, the North American Free Trade Agreement, illegal immigration, drug cartels and more. This class also traveled to the U.S.-Mexican border in January to experience the topics first hand. Students studying sociology research methods featured an array of topics including service learning, Siena’s recycling program, effects of cancer on loved ones and Facebook. The latter study by Kristen Henry ’10 found that Facebook is the top form of Internet communication for Siena students, followed by instant messaging and then e-mail. Text messaging was a popular topic for marketing and management research methods students, with themes ranging from texting on company time and the effects it has on GPA to college students using texting to connect with peers. From the School of Science, biology major Laura Connor ’09 investigated RNA and its implications for future treatment of heart disease. Chemistry major Lukasz Gauza ’10 compared conventional to microwave heating in the production of biodiesel from vegetable oil. Computer science major Daniel Rotondo ’11 developed an application for Apple’s iPhone platform. Service and activism also were themes that wove through this year’s event. Allyson Sweeney ’09, Amy McCarthy ’09 and Elizabeth Murphy ’09 worked to raise awareness of organ donation and transplantation, while a group of students supervised by Shannon O’Neill, Ph.D., director of the Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women’s, initiated a sweatshop-free campaign.

Below: Jean Stern, Ph.D., professor of political science, with students who traveled to the U.S. – Mexican border in January to study illegal immigration at this year’s Academic Celebration. Above: Student projects this year included Facebook findings, text messaging, service and activism, Siena’s recycling program and effects of cancer on loved ones.

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ON THE MOVE Br. Linh Hoang Ordained

Siena Welcomes New Campus Chaplain Fr. Gregory Jakubowicz, O.F.M. has been selected to become the Campus Chaplain. He had been assigned by the Province of the Holy Name to work in campus ministry. He succeeds Fr. Bill Beaudin, O.F.M. who stepped down as Chaplain to pursue his Ph.D. at Boston College this fall. Fr. Gregory has served for the last two years as the Chief Operating Officer at Washington Theological Union. Prior to that, he was Vocation Director for the Holy Name Province and Assistant Professor of Business Law at St. Bonaventure University where he taught business law. From 1992-1997, he was Lawyer-Editor at the Michie Company, which is now LexisNexis. He brings to the position of Chaplain a rich blend of business, collegiate and pastoral experience. “I am humbled and excited to be joining the Siena family, especially the Campus Ministry team and the friary” said Fr. Gregory. “I look forward to continuing the work of Fr. Bill, and collaborating with the campus to enhance the College’s Franciscan and Catholic mission.” SIENA 14

Jones Promoted to Vice President for Enrollment Management Edward J. “Ned” Jones has been named Vice President for Enrollment Management after a national search. Jones joined Siena in 1987 and has progressively moved up within the Enrollment Management office holding the positions of Assistant Director of Admissions, Director of Admissions, Assistant Vice President for Admissions, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and, most recently, Acting Director of Enrollment Management. “Under Ned’s leadership this past year the College was able to exceed our enrollment goals despite the troubling economy,” Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D., president said. Jones has been a member of The College Board and President of the New York Counseling Associations (NYCA) and the Capital District Counseling Association (CDCA). He was also a Delegate for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). In his new role, Jones will be responsible for leading the Admissions and Financial Aid departments at Siena.

On May 16, Br. Linh Hoang, O.F.M., assistant professor of religious studies, was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood at St. Francis Church in New York City. Four days later, on May 20, Fr. Linh celebrated his first Mass on campus. Linh moved to the United States as a child from Saigon, Vietnam. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, master’s degrees in theology and divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a doctorate in theology from Fordham University in the Bronx. On the Holy Name Province Website, Linh is quoted as saying he joined the Franciscans while a graduate student at Fordham because “I was attracted to the spirit of St. Francis and the theologies of the early Franciscan scholars. I felt that the contemporary Franciscans were seriously trying to live out that tradition.”

Siena College Administrator Elected Chair of Board Maryellen Gilroy, Ed.D., vice president for student affairs, was recently elected chair of the Board of Directors for the Association for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities. She will begin her three-year term at the association’s annual conference in July. This year’s conference is being held on Siena’s campus and marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Association and 800th anniversary of the birth of the Franciscan order.

Business Team Places Second in Innovative Challenge A team of three Siena School of Business students placed second in Price Chopper’s Ultimate Innovation Challenge, conducted by Golub/Price Chopper Supermarkets. Winners were selected based on innovative ideas that focus on four supermarket-related industry categories: retail operations, supply chain/distribution management, merchandising/marketing and human resources. Will Allison ’09, Beena Panicker ’09 and Stefan Putyera ’09 examined Price Chopper’s Website and created a new site to meet the consumer’s needs better. Of the 30 entries, seven teams were selected to pitch their ideas to Price Chopper senior management. Winning second place, Siena earned a $5,000 cash prize. “The judges were very impressed with our team and implemented some of the ideas to Website immediately,” said Paul Thurston, assistant professor of marketing and management. Thurston mentored the students during the fall semester as part of the Strategic Management senior capstone course, which allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom and implement business strategies for realworld scenarios.

Siena Summer Hours Designed to Conserve Energy Siena College has moved to a summer schedule in an effort to save on energy. The College’s regular business hours during the summer months had been 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday–Friday. The new schedule is 8 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. on Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-noon on Friday. This will allow the College to shut down the cooling systems for most campus buildings at the end of the business day on Thursday until Monday morning, when employees return to work. “We expect that this change will contribute significantly to our energy savings program, and we will communicate the results at the end of the summer,” said Paul Stec ’79, vice president for administration, in an e-mail to campus. Siena already closes between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day as part of its energy conservation program.

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Sabbatical Projects Range from Philosophy and Food to Teaching English in the Ukraine The following faculty members were on sabbatical during part of all of the 2008 – 2009 academic year. Their sabbaticals were used to engage in intensive study so they can become more effective teachers and scholars at Siena College.

Raymond Boisvert, Ph.D., professor of philosophy Philosophy and Food – study in France James Booker, Ph.D., professor of economics Economically Sustainable Resource Use and Management Eric A. Breimer, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science Paperless Labs: Integrating Video Podcasts and Electronic Documents for Computer-based Lab Activities Pamela Clements, Ph.D., professor of English Creative Writing

Leonard M. Cutler, Ph.D., professor of political science Legal Issues and Counter-Terrorism Policy Post the Bush Administration Vera Eccarius-Kelly, Ph.D., associate professor of political science Militant Kurds: A Dual Strategy for Freedom

Carolyn Malloy-Madrid, Ph.D., professor of modern languages and classics Latin American Playwrights Duane A. Matcha, Ph.D., professor of sociology Fulbright in Vilnius, Lithuania: National Health Systems

Susan Hurley, Ph.D., professor of mathematics Golden Matrices

Chingyen A. Mayer, Ph.D., associate professor of English In the Land of Hibiscus: Three Women of China

Emelie A. Kenney, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics The Krakow School of Mathematics and Its Role in the Clandestine University

Jennifer McErlean, Ph.D., professor of philosophy Michael Walzer’s Environmental Philosophy

Left to Right- Raymond Boisvert, Ph.D., professor of philosophy Daniel F. Moriarty, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry

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Thomas J. Kopp, Ph. D., associate professor of finance Using Forecasts to Trigger Portfolio Rebalancing: Can Forecasts Reduce the Gaps Between Expected Returns and Actual Returns

Donna McIntosh, professor of social work BSW/MSW State and National Curricular Issues Daniel F. Moriarty, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry Kinetic Stability of Protein Using 2D Electrophoresis on Common Laboratory Systems

Lisa Nevarez,Ph.D., associate professor of English Contemporary Latin American Theatre Donald J. Raux, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting Teaching an Effective Accounting Class in the 21st Century: Using Active Learning Techniques Rachel Sterne-Marr, Ph.D., professor of biology Regulation of Cell Signaling: Mechanism of GRK2 Activation Lydia C. Tarnavsky, Ph.D., professor of modern languages and classics Teaching English in the Ukraine Scott K. Taylor, Ph.D, associate professor of history Addiction in Early Modern Europe Allan T. Weatherwax, professor of physics, associate dean of science The Firefly Satellite Mission: Understanding Earth’s Most Powerful Natural Particle Accelerator Robert Yoder, associate professor of computer science Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges

Two Students Awarded Faculty Memorial Scholarships By Michelle Pickering ’10

Professor Hosts Golf Show on Time Warner Cable Doug Lonnstrom, professor of quantitative business analysis and founder of the Siena Research Institute, is the host of Tee Time, a golf show on Time Warner Cable, channel 3. The show includes segments on the history of golf, highlights local golf courses and provides tips on improving your game. Guests of his show have included Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D, president of Siena College, Fr. Ken Paulli ’82, O.F.M., Ed.D., chief of staff, Dave Wronowski, women’s golf coach and highlights from the Saints Alive Golf Tournament . The show airs in the Albany market and can be found “on demand,” channel 1009. Lonnstrom is the author of two local golf history books and a member of the Golf Writers Association of America. He has made numerous appearances on radio and television shows as an expert on golf and has been featured in the Albany Times Union.

Bianca Pier ’10 and Kelli Huggins ’10 received Faculty Memorial Scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year in the amount of $5,625. Both Pier and Huggins are on the President’s List and hold a 3.98 GPA and 3.97 GPA respectively. “These students represent the best at Siena College and we are proud to acknowledge them,” said Jim Matthews, chair of the faculty committee. Pier, a biology major, is the president of Phi-Sigma Gamma Sigma, a national biology honor society for students who demonstrate excellence in the study of biology. She also is a member of Delta Epsilon Sigma, a national scholastic honor society for students who hold a 3.8 GPA by the end of their junior year. In addition, Pier is a member of the Ambassadors Club and Read for the Stars, a program that promotes literacy in an economically challenged area of Albany. Huggins is a history and American studies major involved in the Siena College-Wide Honors Program, History Club and Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honor society for students who demonstrate excellence in the study of history. She was one of 15 students in the nation selected as a Gilder Lehrman Scholar. As a scholar, she will travel to New York City this summer to participate in a five-week program that combines historical research, seminars with eminent historians and behind-the-scenes tours of historical archives. The scholarships were awarded in memory of Fr. Sennen San Fratello, O.F.M., a former professor in the English Department at Siena who was an active community volunteer in the Albany Veterans Medical Center and AIDS hospice.

Bianca Pier ’10

Kelli Huggins ’10

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Men’s Lacrosse Enjoys Historic Season By Mark Adam The Saints made history in 2009 with their first-ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship and earned one of 16 berths into this year’s NCAA Tournament. The success of Siena’s lacrosse program began five years ago when Brian Brecht was hired as the lacrosse team’s first full-time head coach. The campus’ brand new $2.9 million turf field, the addition of scholarships and alumni support also have contributed to the team’s turnaround. Brecht, a three-time MAAC Coach of the Year, has guided the Saints to three consecutive 10-win seasons. “There was certainly a lot of excitement when I arrived on campus about the potential this program has,” Brecht said. Brecht’s first recruiting class arrived in fall 2006. Nearly four years later, 16 of his student-athletes earned championship rings and their diplomas. Brecht’s first season in 2006 saw the team win four games before a turnaround 10-6 season in 2007 that included Siena’s first appearance in the MAAC’s postseason tournament. “Going 10-6 and getting into the postseason was a valuable experience for our team,” said Chris Viviano ’09. “We were disappointed that we lost, but we also knew the core of the team was young and we had the ability to

do some special things.” With high hopes after the program’s first winning season in 24 years, the Saints responded in 2008 with wins over Harvard University (6-5) and Loyola College (5-4). (Loyola is ranked 17th nationally.) Unfortunately, the Saints stumbled in league play with a 4-4 record and missed the MAAC Tournament. “We were a better team in 2008 than in 2007,” said Brecht. “After the 2008 campaign, we had to decide whether we would allow that to repeat itself in 2009 or learn from it and get better.” The 2009 campaign kicked off on Feb. 20, when Viviano and his classmates took the field at Johns Hopkins, ranked fourth in the country, in a nationally televised

game on ESPNU. The Saints took a 3-2 lead into the second quarter but lost 11-3. This year’s schedule included three nationally ranked opponents that left the Saints with a 2-5 record after seven games. From there they rattled off eight straight wins and finished a perfect 8-0 in the MAAC this year. The Saints continued their dominance through the MAAC Tournament, dispatching Providence 7-1 in the semifinals with some stingy defense. They caused 24 turnovers and pitched a shutout for the first 44 minutes. The Saints followed this up with a convincing 9-5 win over Manhattan in the MAAC Championship – a landmark moment for Siena lacrosse. The Saints led 5-0 until Manhattan scored thei first goal with 35 seconds remaining in the first half. Junior goalie Brent Herbst

earned Most Outstanding Player behind his 3.06 Goals Against Average and 22 saves in the tournament. Siena was rewarded with a trip to the Carrier Dome to face the defending (and eventual) national champion, Syracuse Orange. Siena stayed with Syracuse into the fourth quarter, behind a stellar play by Herbst. The All-America Honorable Mention made five saves in the first quarter and provided highlight reel stops throughout. Syracuse led 6-2, entering the fourth quarter before they pulled away for an 11-4 win. The team returned to campus as MAAC champions, yet Brecht believes this program has just scratched the surface. “We’ve gotten better every year and I think we’ll continue to improve,” he says. The 2010 campaign can’t come soon enough.

A Perfect Season

By Mark Adam Thirty years ago, the Siena men’s lacrosse team completed the program’s only undefeated season. The 1979 Siena Indians team was honored during halftime at this year’s Senior Day win over Mount St. Mary for their perfect 12-0 season. In 1979, the Indians played at the Division I level and defeated regional teams such as Albany, Union, Marist and Colgate. The 1979 Saints team has the program’s top three all-time scorers: Tony Asterino ’81 (304 points), Tom Baldwin ’81 (238) and Steve O’Shea ’79 (199). The 12 wins stand as the team’s record – matched only by the 2009 Saints. Asterino and Brent Herbst ’10 are the only two Siena lacrosse players to earn All-America honors. The 1979 team’s head coach, Russ Ferris, has the most wins in program history, with 111.

No Quit in Finneran

Sophomore defenseman Brendan Finneran has already won his toughest game — off the field. The game had much higher stakes than any other he had played. He battled bone cancer and survived the treatments, including a five-hour surgery that removed one-third of the bone in his right leg and replaced it with a titanium rod. Just two and a half years after the surgery, Finneran made his comeback to lacrosse this season. He practiced regularly with the team this past year and was in uniform for the season opener – a nationally televised game with Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field in Baltimore. Shortly thereafter, Finneran sustained a stress fracture, which ended his season. But it’s not the first time he’s dealt with adversity, and he plans on making another return to the field next season. SIENA 19

Old friends, fun and lots of memories ... reunion weekend was a blast! A record breaking 900 plus alumni, family and friends attended the reunion kickoff event, family picnic, class dinners and other events on June 5-6. Highlights included:

Annual Fund Highlights:

• Joe Varkey ‘64 traveled the farthest to attend as he came from India.

• A check for the Annual Fund in the amount of $1,750,852 was presented to Fr. Kevin Mullen ‘75, O.F.M., Ph.D. by Ginny Darrow ‘83, national chair of the Annual Fund.

• The Class of ‘89 was the largest class to attend Reunion, with 120, alumni returning to campus for the weekend. • The Class of ’89 reunited two student bands (Raisin’ Cain and The Throwbacks) from“back in the day” to play at the family picnic.

• The Class of ’44 had the highest participation (50%) in Annual Fund support. • The classes of ‘59, ‘69, ‘84 and ‘89 established scholarships to celebrate Reunion milestone years.

Planning committees are underway for Reunion 2010. Reunion classes ending in 5’s and 0’s will celebrate June 4 and 5, 2010. Don’t miss out on your chance to participate! Contact Margot Anderson ’82 at manderson@sienaedu or 1-518-782-6868 to get involved. SIENA 20

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Distinguished Award Winners

During Reunion 2009, six alumni were honored for extraordinary career achievement, contributions to the college and dedication to others. Douglas Colbeth ’77 The Professor Joseph A. Buff Award for outstanding career accomplishment and achievements

As the CEO at Spyglass Inc., a leading provider of Internet software technologies, Doug Colbeth has received entrepreneurial awards including the KPMG Peat Marwick Entrepreneur of the Year and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, co-sponsored by USA Today and NASDAQ respectively. Colbeth served as president and CEO of Kinaxis,™ a company that provides software and other services for forecasting, planning, and performance optimization. He also was director of North Central College’s Entrepreneurship Institute in Naperville, Ill. Colbeth and his wife Margaret are pioneer philanthropists of juvenile brain disease; they founded the Colbeth Clinic in 2000 at the University of Illinois Medical Center.

David Crandell ’79 The Professor Egon Plager Award for accomplishments in advancing the welfare of other people SIENA 22

Dave Crandall created the Donna M. Crandell Foundation in honor of his wife to support patients and families affected by cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. The Foundation has raised more than $1 million with the support of friends and family. Funds are used to purchase gift baskets for a family room at Albany Medical Center. The Foundation helps with utility, mortgages, insurance premiums, transportation and other expenses that families incur during difficult times.

Virginia L. Darrow ’83 The Reverend Benjamin Kuhn, O.F.M., Award for specific contributions to improve the Siena Community

Early in her career, Ginny Darrow served as CEO

of Rooftop Mortgages, a wholly owned subsidy of Bear Stearns. She later became a member of Siena’s Board of Trustees and head of servicing for Apollo Management’s European Principal Finance Fund. Since 2006, she has served on the finance, development and investment committees for the Board of Trustees and is the national chair of the College’s Annual Fund. In May 2007, she was the guest speaker at the Honor an Awesome Woman Brunch, sponsored by Siena’s Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women.

Donna Wilson ’01 The Franciscan Spirit Award for demonstrating a commitment to advancing the welfare of other people

Donna Wilson spearheaded a restructuring of a rehabilitation center for youth in Uganda, where she adopted her son, Nessa. She has worked in Nicaragua to provide youth with food, clothing and medical care. Donna also has served in Northern India at a women’s outreach home, working with impoverished families

to provide them with counseling and support.

Francis Martin ’59 The Reverend Benjamin Kuhn, O.F.M., Award for special contributions to the Siena College community

“Frank’s motto is ‘Have phone, will raise money,’ and we at Siena are thankful for his years and years of involvement with the College,” said David Smith ’79, vice president for development and external affairs. Martin, who was 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Finance Corps for two years in the 1960s, retired from IBM in 2002. Recently, he served on the Class of 1959 Reunion Weekend and Class Gift Committee. He is active in the Saratoga Alumni Club and serves on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. He also has served as an alumni representative on the Presidential Search Committee and as a member of the Annual Fund Phone-a-thon Committee.

$1,500,000 Amount donated to Siena College

$1,000,000 –

Fundraising goal for the Spirit of ’79 fund and the 50th reunion

$750,000 – Total giving this year.

Years and counting!

THE CLASS OF ’79 BY THE NUMBERS

“As a class, giving has become contgious. We had a great experience at Siena and value what that has meant for our careers. We have a lot of pride in the College and want to see future generations of Siena students have similar opportunities,” said John Murray ’79, CEO Rose and Kiernan Insurance.

$600,000 –

Endowed scholarship value donated

$25,000 –

Raised to fund the James M. Walsh ’79 Scholarship Fund, in memory their classmate Jim who died in 1979

30 –

Classmates in the Presidents Circle (minimum $1,000 gift) this year

Class of ’79 endowed scholarships

4–

Classmates inducted into the St. Francis Society, which supports Siena through charitable bequests, life-income gifts and trusts. SIENA 23

9th Annual Siena Day at the Races Experience the Saratoga Race Course in Style Friday, August 14, 2009 Included in your pre-ordered ticket is: - Clubhouse admission - Lunch buffet - Post Parade program

Ticket prices: Individual……………………………..…. $125 Complimentary to President’s Circle donors, fiscal year 2008-2009

Corporate Sponsor table (8)…........ $1400 Corporate Sponsor table (10)…...... $1750

For more information please contact Diane Benson at 518-782-6514, benson@siena.edu or register at www.siena.edu/rsvpsaratoga The At the Rail Pavilion opens at 11 a.m. and will be air conditioned. Collared shirts are required. No tee shirts, shorts or jeans.

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Making A Difference Your gift to Siena has a positive impact on students, families and the community, providing access to our excellent liberal arts education, building facilities and improving programs. Whether you touch one life or thousands, Siena is strengthened by your generosity. At this year’s Scholarship Appreciation Dinner, Kim Kamilow Luker ’82 and Katie Luker ’06 announced a newly endowed scholarship and surprised their mother/grandmother, Arlene Pole Kamilow, by naming it in her honor. The nearly 300 donors, guests and scholarship recipients in attendance were treated to a presentation by Kim and Katie that provided glimpses of their lives at Siena at two different time periods. Other speakers – students and donors alike – shared their thoughts on what receiving or donating scholarships means to them.

Student speakers included: • Javid Afzali ’09, Political Science – The Louis Lombardi Scholarship; The Maureen O’Sullivan Cushing Scholarship

Left to Right: Arlene Pole Kamilow, Katie Luker ’06, Fr. Kenneth P. Paulli ’82, O.F.M., Ed.D. and Kim Kamilow Luker ’82.

On the Air and on Your Computer

• Marissa Zumbo ’09, Biology – The Dr. Louis J. and Alice Gazeley De Russo Scholarship

Donor speakers included: • R. Andrew LeBlanc, ’92 – Sarazen recipient and Sarazen donor as well as the donor of the Ronald and Suzanne LeBlanc Scholarship • Michael Hickey, ’83 – The Michael Hickey ’83 Scholarship Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D. ’75 noted: “I have the opportunity to witness the impact of a Siena education on our students. We do not know how long these difficult times will last, but we are determined to do all in our power to provide access and opportunity for our current and future students. Now more than ever, we see how scholarships change lives.” For information on endowed scholarships, please contact Ruth F. Richards, director of stewardship and donor relations, 518-783-2432 or rrichards@siena.edu. See highlights of the dinner at www.youtube.com by searching “Siena scholarship dinner.”

Siena dedicated its Internet radio station, Siena Talk 216 on April 7, 2009, which was made possible through the generous gift of Anne and Robert Higgins. Siena Talk 216 builds the capacity of the Joseph A. and Carol M. Reilly Broadcast Center, which comprises WVCR 88.3 The Saint and SCTV, Siena’s television station. The Reilly Broadcast Center provides hands-on experience for students preparing for careers in broadcast news and journalism. Were you involved in the radio station? WVCR would love to hear from you. E-mail dkibbey@siena.edu to keep in touch.

Giving Back to Those Who Sacrificed So Much Siena College is offering a special gift annuity to help donors to recognize the sacrifice that their parents made for them. The gift annuity allows the donor to make a gift to the College and, in return, the College will pay the donor’s parents a guaranteed fixed income for the rest of their lives. Upon the last parent’s death, the balance of the gift goes to Siena to be used as designated by the donor.

The example below illustrates how this works: Robert ’75 purchases a $20,000 gift annuity, which pays a guaranteed fixed income to his parents, Joseph and Marilyn, for the rest of their lives. Based upon his parents’ age of 80, the annual payment that they will receive from the College is $1,200 (6%). For Joseph and Marilyn, retirement income is supplemented by $1,200, $900 of which is tax-free. Upon their death, the College receives the balance of the gift. In addition to knowing that he has providing a gift to both his parents and Siena College, Robert receives an income tax deduction of $8,800 in the year he purchases the gift annuity. This is a great way to recognize the sacrifice of parents with a single gift. If you would like to discuss a gift annuity,please contact Jack Sise ’75, Esq., director of gift planning, 518-783-2432 or jsise@siena.edu.

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Are You the Ultimate Siena College Fan? We have heard that alumni and friends of the college have painted their houses green and gold, collected every bobblehead the College has produced or have a different Siena outfit for every day of the month. Are these rumors true? The members of our editorial staff want proof! If you think you are the most fanatical Siena College fan, please send a photo of your Siena College collection with you in it. We will publish our favorite photos in the next issue of Siena News. The ultimate fan will win a $50 gift card to the bookstore, where you can add to your Siena College collection. All entries should be e-mailed to communications@siena.edu by September 1.

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Cheer on the Saints as a Lil’ Saint By Michelle Pickering ’10

The Lil’ Saints, a fan club for children 13 and younger, is one of the official spirit groups for Siena College Athletics. This fun and exciting program gives members free admission to four Siena men’s basketball games at the Times Union Center, all Siena women’s basketball games and all other sporting events on campus. Members can earn points for each game they attend during the year and redeem their points to receive prizes that range from pom-poms to signed basketballs. During the 200809 academic year, Liam Keane, age 5, led all Lil’ Saints this year by attending 16 Siena sporting events. Recruiting is underway for our next class of Lil’ Saints, and Bernie the mascot is looking for some more friends to join him next year at Siena’s athletic events. To sign up, visit http://sienasaints.cstv.com/lilsaints or contact Katelyn Dooley at 518-783-2551. The $20 registration fee is good for one year, and members will receive a Lil’ Saints badge and t-shirt to wear to games. Last year, as part of the program, Siena welcomed to campus actors Jasmine Richards and Alyson Stoner, who played in Disney Channel’s Camps Rock Stars movie. Stoner performed a dance routine during halftime at a woman’s basketball home game and members of Lil’ Saints met the stars afterward. The Lil’ Saints program, sponsored by MVP Health Care, is a great opportunity for kids to show their spirit and have fun, too!