LOUDONVLLE, N.Y. — A $1.5 million gift from the friars to endow Siena College’s new Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (CURCA) has been announced in Siena magazine.
“Since Siena was founded 75 years ago, Holy Name Province has been the school’s largest benefactor,” said Kevin Mullen, OFM, the college’s president, in the summer 2012 publication.
Kevin announced in December to Siena’s board of trustees that the friars of Holy Name Province had pledged the money to endow the new center. The mission of CURCA, according to the magazine, is to enhance opportunities for students to partner with faculty in their scholarly pursuits.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, was quoted in the article saying, “With this gift, we hope to help Siena produce scholars, scientists and artists who will take their research lessons and the message of St. Francis, and magnify them as they make their way in the world.”
The summer issue also announced other campus advancements, including the following:
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A $1.2 million grant received from the National Science Foundation that will enable faculty members from Siena’s schools of liberal arts and science to lead a project aimed at training science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors to become teachers.
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The launch of the Institute for Leadership Development, which will operate under the aegis of the School of Business to provide a collaborative partnership with area organizations.
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The groundbreaking in June of Richard and Joan Rosetti Hall, which is bringing together three significant departments in the school of Liberal Arts — sociology, social work and education, according to Kevin, who appears in a photo taken at the spring groundbreaking.
Other news in the magazine, distributed early this month, includes:
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The opening of Thompson Trail, a story that includes a photo of Brian Belanger, OFM, director of the Siena International Relations Office
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A story about the death and life of Matthew Conlin, OFM, Siena’s president from 1970 to 1976
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The lecture delivered by the very Rev. Howard Hubbard, bishop of Albany, for the college’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series
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Recent alumni events attended by Kevin, who has been delivering a message that looks back at Siena’s 75 years of history
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A year-long celebration of Siena’s milestone anniversary that began with Reunion 2012 in June. Siena College officially opened on Sept. 22, 1937
— Jocelyn Thomas is director of communications for Holy Name Province.