Reflections Magazine Issue #68 - Fall 2008 | Page 2

Editorial

from the president
Education Is A Marvelous Gift
As I write this column, students are already starting to trickle into the main campus, preparing for
a new academic year.
The excitement is almost palpable at times, as
new students are introduced to Siena Heights
University for the first time, and returning students reacquaint themselves with campus.
For many, those first few days are critical to
adapting to a new environment, and feeling like
this is where they belong.
In my early days as an Adrian Dominican Sister,
I had similar apprehensions. “Is this where I was
supposed to be?”I asked myself. Fortunately, one
of my fellow sisters approached me soon after and
said, “I think this is where you belong.” That was
all I needed to hear. I just needed to be affirmed.
Our responsibility at Siena Heights over the coming days, weeks and months will be to foster a
posture of openness for our students. They need
that same affirmation and acceptance, to know
they are in a welcoming, learning environment
that respects the dignity of all.
This is more important than ever with the increased numbers of international students on
campus. In fact, we expect to double our international student population this academic year, and
I am delighted. Becoming more globally aware is
part of my vision for Siena Heights University.
I believe we can learn from other people and other
cultures, just as much as these visiting students
learn from us. And if we can do that in a peaceful
way, it will create a ripple effect.

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Reflections Fall ’08

Dominican higher education is a critical responsibility for all of us, as well as a generous gift
that we can offer to our world. The search for
truth is a solemn mandate in our Catholic intellectual tradition that compels us to use both faith
and reason in all of our academic disciplines. As
responsible educators, staff and administrators,
we must be keenly aware of how we can engage
ourselves and pursue that which fuels our passion. By doing so, we all do our part by actively
responding to community/world needs.
We at Siena Heights University are here for a
reason. I believe education can change people’s
lives, and I hope you, our alumni and friends,
have experienced that first-hand. Check out the
stories in this issue of Reflections as evidence of
that. If we live the Siena Heights mission and
teach our students to do so as well, we will
influence our world in good and positive ways.
Education is a marvelous gift, and we are so
privileged to be part of this preaching ministry.
It is a gift that most certainly keeps on giving.

Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD
President