Dear Siena community,
It truly is a great day to be a Saint! Coming off a thrilling victory over Fairfield in the semifinals last night in Atlantic City, our men’s basketball team has officially punched their ticket to Tuesday’s MAAC Championship game against top-seed Merrimack. The spirit and energy showed on the court last night perfectly mirror the dedication I see across our entire campus every day.
The depth of talent in this community is truly inspiring and something I never take for granted. That’s why it is with gratitude and immense appreciation that in this regularly scheduled monthly update I am proudly able to announce that effective June 1, Dr. Chris Farnan '93 will assume the role of Interim Provost and Dr. Joshua Alexander will step into the position of Interim Dean of the School of Liberal Arts.
As Siena’s first Provost, Dr. Maggie Madden left an indelible mark on our University, and through her countless enhancements to the academic dimensions of the student experience, she underscored the immense value of the position. I’m certain Chris will bring the same spirit of innovation and passion to the role.
A graduate of Siena, Chris has been teaching in the School of Liberal Arts since 1996, and in 2016, she was honored with the Jerome Walton Excellence in teaching award. Her extensive 30-years of service to our University includes stints as Chair of the English Department and Chair of the General Faculty Committee. Since 2021 she’s served as Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. In her tenure, Chris led the development of the Criminal Justice Studies major and played a leading role in the expansion of our graduate education portfolio. She also redefined the Associate Dean role to strengthen school leadership and advise departmental program reviews.
That leads me to Josh. He joined the Siena community in 2008, was promoted to professor of philosophy in 2019, and for nearly a decade served as Chair of the Philosophy Department. For the past year, he’s excelled as Associate Dean, supporting department chairs and program directors with curricular development and faculty management, to mention only a couple of the many ways the School of Liberal Arts has benefited through his leadership.
I have the utmost confidence in both Chris and Josh, and I look forward to working with them in their new positions, effective one month before Maggie’s retirement date. Those four weeks of overlap in June will ensure a seamless transition and uninterrupted momentum. Meanwhile, as noted in my message to the community on February 17, we will hold a national search for Siena’s next Provost. Once the search firm is identified, I’ll form an internal committee with representation from both faculty and administration. More details to come.
Briefly, I’d like to acknowledge the work already underway by our Strategic Planning Committee. Just two months into their charge, the committee, chaired by Dr. Eric Eddy, is poring over data and higher education trends to initially ground their work in the current climate. Five sub-committees have been tasked with analyzing: enrollment and demographics; workforce, outcomes, and ROI; public trust, politics, and the higher education narrative; technology and AI transformation; and student success and institutional design. Their collective findings, along with input from every Siena stakeholder group, will inform the pillars and key priorities that will ultimately define our next plan.
The Strategic Planning Committee will hold two community conversations for faculty, staff, and administrators in April on the 16th and 17th. Please fill out this form and indicate which event you’re able to attend. A strategic planning website has also been created. You can view the committee’s membership, track their timeline, and review their progress. You must be logged in with your Siena credentials to access the site.
Speaking of websites, Siena In Focus is regularly refreshed with key community updates. Also, please note, Allison Turcio '06 will provide a look at enrollment and marketing priorities during the next Community Conversation on Thursday, March 19, at 9:00 A.M. in the Norm.
Over the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of traveling to Florida to meet with alumni and friends of Siena, and I also met with high school seniors and their families at accepted student events in Long Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley. The momentum we talk about on campus is reverberating outward, and it’s felt by Saints and future Saints everywhere. There’s an energy and an optimism right now about where we’re headed, and it’s palpable and inspiring.
As we begin the second half of the spring semester, I look forward to the special moments and the many celebrations that mark this time of the year. Savor the days ahead. There’s something magical about springtime at Siena.
Finally, a reminder, you can expect an email from me on the second Monday of each month throughout the academic year. The emails are archived on the Siena in Focus website in the ‘From the President’ section. My open office hours are listed there as well. Have a wonderful week.
Peace and all good,
Chuck