Welcome back to The Legacy Family Spotlight, a monthly feature that highlights Siena’s proud tradition, where green and gold run through generations. This month, we shine a light on the Jeram family, whose Siena connections span decades. Grounded in the Franciscan values of community, compassion, and lifelong learning, the Jeram family embodies the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and the heart of the Siena experience.
Their Siena story begins with Joseph H. Welch, whose graduation year is unlisted, but his connection to Siena would quietly set the stage for generations. Though his son, Joseph H. Welch Jr., also attended but did not graduate, the torch was passed once again when his daughter, Kimberly (Welch) Jeram ’91, stepped onto the Siena campus. Arriving with her two best friends from high school, Chris (Winn) Tully ’91 and Corey (Cummings) Lattanzi ’91, Kimberly discovered that Siena was a community where meaningful relationships take root and flourish. Those friendships, still strong decades later, reflect the heart of the Siena experience.
Now, Kim is in her 34th year of teaching Special Education and Math at Shaker High School. Kimberly's connection to Siena continues to grow personally and professionally. She witnesses her students take the next step into the Siena Transition Program, a new initiative offering students with disabilities the chance to live and learn on campus. She reflects that it makes her proud to be a part of the Siena community.
Similarly, for David C. Jeram Jr. ’21, Kimberly’s son, friendship and shared ambition quickly turned into mentorship and lifelong connections. Michael Rautter ’21, Mark Rodriguez ’20, Damian Comulada ’22, and Steven Martinez ’21 are among those who have become part of his journey over the last eight years in New York City and across the world, including Japan, some of his best memories were made with this core group of friends, which also included getting his start in the financial field from mentor Eric Beresheim ’17. Mentors like Eric Gerard, Rick Proctor, and Dan Robeson, inside and outside of the classroom, helped build his portfolio and success as a student. His current focus is on Corporate Strategy and Development, FP&A, and direct equity/debt investments within the TMT and Mobility sectors. All of the memories are tied to his Siena experience, but the most important connection is the one made with his fiancée, Grace Conroy ’23 G ’24
Christian J. Jeram ’25, Kimberly’s son, currently working in finance at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments (PKS) in Albany, found his heart and future at Siena, literally. It was on campus that he met his fiancée, Maria Hancox ’25, sharing laughs in the townhouses and making memories across campus. Even David and Kimberly being on campus during Senior Week played a special role. He also credits his Siena 101 mentor, Colin Ingraham ’24, for being a steady and meaningful influence on his Siena journey.
Today, they continue to be a visible presence at Siena, taking the same walks through campus as they did as students, attending events, and staying part of the community. Their journey reminds us that while Siena is renowned for academic excellence, its greatest legacy is the values it instills in the eyes of St. Francis of Assisi: community, service, and humility, and that Siena is forever home.