Category Archives: Student and Faculty Spotlight

12th Annual Mr. Siena

 

 

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Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

This weekend, I was able to attend the 12th annual Mr. Siena show for the first time (even though I’m a senior) and I have to say, this was one of the FUNNIEST and most exciting events that I have been to all year.  For those of you that don’t know, Mr. Siena is a bit like a male beauty pageant, but with a huge comedic element.  Guys sign up to participate at the beginning of September and they practice each week until the day of the show, working on dance numbers, individual talents, and answering questions. There are also three non-student judges at the event who choose the winner and two hosts, one of whom just happened to be Siena’s very own Father Dennis Tamburello! This year’s show showcased eight contestants and the money raised from ticket sales was put towards Siena’s Habitat for Humanity organization, a tradition that has continued throughout these past years.

I first want to say congratulations to every single one of the contestants.  Not only did they work extremely hard over these last months, but you could see the incredible dynamic between the guys as they performed together on stage.  They were genuinely happy for one another and kept high fiving each other after one did something cool or funny.  The turnout from the Siena community was also amazing to see.  Student, faculty, families, so many came out to support the event and every seat was taken inside the MAAC. This is a time during the year where it doesn’t matter what your major is, how old you are, or where you’re from.  This event brings people together to support their fellow Saints and I truly think that’s why I enjoyed Mr. Siena so much.  I came with my friends, but we also met up with other people that we knew and it was so much fun having the opportunity to just talk and laugh with everyone! As a senior, I am SO glad I decided to attend this event and for those of you who haven’t gone, this isn’t an event you should miss!

In addition, a HUGE congratulations to Kenney Alexandre, who was crowned Mr. Siena 2017!!!!

Did you go to Mr. Siena this past weekend? What did you think?

Julia (Student Intern)

Congratulations to Dr. Chingyen Mayer, New Director of the International Studies Minor

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Hi everyone!

For those of you who may not know her, Dr. Chingyen Mayer is a highly respected and valued member of the Siena College English Department and she was recently appointed as the new director of the International Studies minor.  She has taught a variety of different courses here at Siena, including Introduction to International Studies, Literature from Asia, Realistic Movements in American Literature and Asian American Literature, which was one of the best classes I have taken throughout my four years here.  In my Asian American Literature classes, Dr. Mayer not only opened our eyes to incredible novels we had never even heard of before, but also to the treatment and perception of Asian Americans in the United States.  She even brought our entire class on a trip to Chinatown in NYC, where we had the privilege to walk around and visit the Chinese American museum!

In the classes that I took with her, Dr. Mayer also spoke often about her travels around the world and I believe this is one of the many reasons why she will be such a successful director for the International Studies Minor.  She has immersed herself in different countries and culture and has strived to pass on the things she has learned to her students.  Since joining the Siena community in 2002, she has taken over sixty students to present (or to attend) at Montreal’s Concordia University’s Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability and she has even organized the Siena-Concordia conference right here on our own campus.  Her position as the new director for the Siena College International Studies Minor begins May 2017 and I have no doubt that she will succeed exponentially at the tasks ahead.

Enjoy the snow day and stay warm out there!

Julia (Student Intern)