Welcome back to The Legacy Family Spotlight, a monthly media feature highlighting the proud tradition of attending Siena, where green and gold runs through the generations. The Collard family journey began not with a campus tour or a college fair, but with something as timeless and simple as a postcard. Like the classic image of Siena’s academic quad in the fall or the shining gold dome on top of Siena Hall, the timeless traditions and stories that span generations show how for many alumni this place doesn’t become a distant memory of a campus or time spent, but how Siena becomes a second home where a legacy of learning, connection, and purpose continues to flourish.
Melissa (Gaudette) Collard, class of 1998, didn’t grow up knowing about Siena. In fact, she had never heard of it until a postcard arrived in the mail during high school. Intrigued, she and her father made the drive from New Hampshire to see it for themselves. As soon as they stepped onto campus, the charm of Siena’s academic quad, a park-like centerpiece, sealed the deal. It was more than just a college visit; it was the beginning of something that would shape her future. The postcard that brought her to Loudonville would become a symbol of what Siena offers: discovery, belonging, and a sense of place that feels like it’s always been part of you.
Sharing postcards may feel like a tradition of the past, but like all meaningful traditions, it has staying power—and so does the spirit of Siena. Nearly three decades later, that same spark lit the way for Melissa’s daughter, Lilia Collard, class of 2028. She, too, received a Siena postcard in high school. Melissa gave her space to explore her options, but one visit to campus was all it took. Lilia felt it instantly, the warmth, the welcome, the sense that Siena wasn’t just a school, but a community. In a moment that felt beautifully familiar, she chose to major in biology, just like her mom, and was soon matched with the same advisor Melissa had as a professor as a student.
At the heart of Siena’s timeless appeal are the people who make it special. For Melissa, it was professors like Dr. Ed Larow who made a lasting impression. She recalls a reunion several years ago where Dr. Ed Larow ’59 still remembered her name, where she was from, and even where she lives now. “He was instrumental in starting the Siena-Albany Medical College program,” Melissa shares. “I am eternally grateful.” Siena is a place where professors become mentors for life, and where students are seen, remembered, and celebrated.
As a current OB/GYN at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick, Maine, Melissa continues to carry the values and education she gained at Siena into her professional life. Lilia, now finishing up her freshman year, is just beginning her journey, already immersed in the community that uplifts and flourishes in the same experiences. It’s reassuring for Melissa to see that Siena hasn’t changed. The professors remain approachable, and the Franciscan spirit is alive and well, fostering a sense of belonging that spans generations.
From a mother’s first postcard to a daughter’s shared moment of certainty, their paths remind us that Siena isn’t just a college, it’s a place where roots take hold and generations grow together, grounded in community, inspired by professors, and guided by purpose.