Siena has long hosted business students from Brazil through a global network of Franciscan universities. This summer brought a new twist to the program.
Rashmi Assudani, Ph.D., dean of the School of Business, and Br. Brain Belanger, O.F.M. Ph.D., who coordinates the partnership between Siena and FAE Centro Universitário in Curitiba, started meeting in fall 2024 to brainstorm ideas to build upon the long-standing Siena-FAE relationship.
“What is the vision and strategy to advance the 20 years of relationship between the two institutions? What does a new distinctive Siena experience look like? How should we curate an extraordinary and well-integrated business-focused academic and socio-cultural experience for FAE students at Siena?” asks Assudani.
FAE, which is roughly the same size as Siena and is dedicated to the same Franciscan mission, requires international immersion study for one of their business programs. Two groups of about 50 students each from FAE spent a week at Siena in June with School of Business faculty to engage with a range of business topics, work on a group project, and enjoy field trips.
The new summer program is part of Siena’s efforts to strategically develop more global learning opportunities with current and potential new institutions. In addition to the students, three senior academic administrators from FAE also traveled to Siena. The academic administrators engaged with Assudani and her leadership team to discuss additional academic partnerships.
The summer immersion program was developed in consultation with FAE and in discussions with School of Business faculty and the Center for International Programs. Topics like data analytics and AI, international entrepreneurship, leadership, US economy and business landscape, and business etiquette and skills were included.
In between academic sessions, group projects and poster presentations, the groups headed off campus to learn about American culture. The highlight was a day trip to New York City, which featured a tour of the Financial District, where they snapped photos at the iconic bronze Charging Bull statue – something these future business leaders wanted to be sure they saw while in Manhattan. They got to see Times Square and take ride on the Staten Island Ferry. They met up with a group of Siena alumni for dinner to hear about business career options and life after college. Closer to campus, they spent an afternoon at Thacher Park, and took in an Alive at Five concert in downtown Albany.
Siena faculty, staff and administrators who were instrumental in helping conduct the on-ground academic and socio-cultural program included Arindam Mandal, Jessica Salmon, Necip Doganaksoy, Scott Trees, Dan Robeson, Angie Tario Corchado, Susan Ambrose, and Alicia Pepe.
Siena’s partnership with FAE has seen more than 100 Brazilians come to upstate New York to complete either a dual degree, master’s or another one of the several special programs offered. An interesting note: Brazil hosts the only active international Siena alumni chapter in the world.
Siena’s Center for International Programs organizes the many logistics involved with bringing students to campus, whether for one week or a year or more.
“We’re thrilled to welcome FAE back to campus for an engaging and eventful summer program,” said Abi Cavazos, Ed.D., the center’s director. “This kind of experience has a profound impact on students’ views of themselves and of the world. It helps them gain professional experience and promotes cultural understanding. We look forward to continuing and growing our relationship with FAE for many years to come!”
