Summer Project Incubator (SPIn)

As a part of the RCC team, you will deploy a needs assessment to gain greater insights regarding needs in the Rotterdam community. You will advertise the study, canvass at community events to get participants for the survey, participate in data collection, conduct preliminary data analyses, conduct a windshield assessment, and design and execute focus group conversations. Given this, the RCC project will help you to develop both quantitative and qualitative research skills. We are hiring 3 Siena students to work on this project at 20 hours per week who will work on a hybrid schedule, which will start the week of May 28th and end on July 19th.
Project Faculty and Community Mentors:

Mairead Carr, MA, Center for Academic Community Engagement

Rev. Joe Paparone, Rotterdam Community Center

This summer, you will develop and deliver an herbarium workshop curriculum to build community knowledge around a deep connection with the earth, human health, and well-being. You will spend time planting and tending gardens with your team, allowing for development of strong relationships and honoring the diverse knowledge and backgrounds each of us bring to the experience. You will interview community members as well as previous student volunteers and participants to understand their motivations for participating in these workshops. We are recruiting 3 students who will work 20 hours per week on a hybrid schedule. The project will start the week of May 28th and conclude July 26th.
Project Faculty Mentors:

Dr. Daniel White, Nursing/Health Studies/ School of Science

Dr. Donnean Thrall, Nursing/School of Science

As a member of the Radix Ecological Center team, you will address questions such as how class and race, access, equity, and fairness apply to both the biophysical dimensions of urban ecosystems such as soils, watersheds, biodiversity, waste cycles and climate? You will also examine whether it is possible to meet the material needs of city residents while simultaneously regenerating urban socio-ecological health and consider whether urban ecosystem benefits can be distributed equally. There are 2 positions available for this project at 20 hours per week and all work will be done in person, with start dates the week of June 10th and end August 2nd.
Project Faculty Mentors:

Dr. Scott Kellogg, Environmental Education, Bard College

Dr. Stacy Pettigrew, Environmental Health Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy

Healthcare hotspotting (now called complex care) teams bridge gaps in our “sick care” system for community members with multiple comorbidities. Interprofessional teams are the norm in healthcare today, but most students are trained in siloed programs. This summer, you will serve on an interprofessional team, which will prepare you for careers while supporting clients with a broader range of skills and competencies. You will research complex care initiatives, build curriculum, and deliver a formal presentation. We are hiring 2 students at 20 hours per week. The project starts the week of June 24th and ends on August 2nd (six weeks total) and is mainly in-person at Unity House and Siena College. 
Project Faculty Mentors:

Dr. Daniel White, Nursing/Health Studies/School of Science 

Dr. Jenna Thate, Nursing/School of Science

The Capital Region Summer Meals (SMC) Collaborative was originally conceived as an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to come together around a common cause (summer meals) and enhance their collective impact. This summer, you will work on teams to conduct qualitative in-depth interviews, pre- and post-test evaluations, and develop and incorporate a portfolio of activities across sites aimed at countering summer learning loss at summer meals sites. We are hiring 3 Siena students to work on this project at 20 hours per week who will work mostly in-person with about 5 hours a week remotely. The project will start the week of June 24th through August 16th.
Project Faculty and Community Mentors:

Dr. Sonya Hauser, Nutrition, Russell Sage College

Laura McClure, MS, Nutrition/Public Health, Russell Sage College

Heather Senecal, MPA, United Way of the Greater Capital Region