M E E T T H E 2 0 1
Meet the 2010 FSCA Siena College
AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows
...building a world that is more just, peaceable, and humane.
Thirty-seven million Americans live in
poverty. Through AmeriCorps*VISTA, the
FCSA Siena College AmeriCorps*VISTA
Program works with post-graduate
professionals to combat poverty and
make a tangible difference in the Capital
Region. Using their knowledge and skills,
they help those in disadvantaged
circumstances turn their dreams into
reality.
AmeriCorps*VISTA is a national service
program designed specifically to fight
poverty. Founded as Volunteers in
Service to America in 1965 and
incorporated into the AmeriCorps
network of programs in 1993, VISTA has
been on the front lines in the fight
against poverty for more than 40 years.
Within the Franciscan Center for Service
and Advocacy, the Office of Academic
Community Engagement houses the
Siena College AmeriCorps*VISTA
FCSA Siena College VISTA Fellows Program
0 S I E N A V I S T
Fellows Program (SCVFP) which is a
post-graduate national volunteer service
program. Funded through a partnership
with the Corporation for National and
Community Service, the SCFVP fights
poverty in the Capital Region by
building the capacity of community-
based organizations through sustainable
partnerships with Siena College.
VISTA Fellows commit a year of full-
time service while subsisting on a small
living allowance. Fellows build capacity
by mobilizing resources, recruiting and
training volunteers, and building
community partnerships. In addition to
the specific projects VISTA Fellows
implement in the organization they are
placed within, VISTA Fellows connect
academics to their service projects by
building and strengthening
relationships with Siena faculty
members through Academic Service
Learning and Community-Based
A F E L L O W S
Research projects. Placing Siena students
in partnership with the poor and
marginalized provides a context for the
knowledge they learn at Siena and brings
to life the Franciscan Tradition as the
hallmark of Siena education.
Our 2010 Siena AmeriCorps*VISTA
Fellows consist of 22 highly qualified
young professionals who come from
across the U.S., offering a variety of
skills, interests, and educational
backgrounds. We are looking forward to
a successful year of capacity building.
Please join us in welcoming our 2010
AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows.
- Franciscan Center for Service and Advocacy
Office of Academic Community Engagement
1
 M E E T T H E 2
Meet the VISTA Leaders
Patrick Gruber
Patrick joins the team for a second year of
service after completing a VISTA term as
the Coordinator of Community Based
Research at the Siena College Research
Institute (SRI).  While at SRI, he
developed and distributed a national
survey to 3,000 undergraduate college
students, examining their habits and
feelings toward community service in
higher education. This year he will be a
VISTA Leader with a focus on Corporate
and Community Connections &
Technology Initiatives. Patrick is
originally from West Virginia and
graduated in 2006 from West Virginia
Wesleyan College with a bachelor’s
degree in Economics.
Meet the VISTA Fellows
Christy Allen
Christy is serving with the Siena
Research Institute as the Coordinator of
Community Based Research. The Siena
Research Institute conducts surveys that
focus on civic engagement and
community-based research. Christy is
originally from Halfmoon, New York and
graduated from State University of New
York, Geneso with a bachelor’s degree in
Sociology and Psychology.
2
0 1 0 S I E N A V I
Nefisah Sallim
Nefisah is returning for a second VISTA
term after serving off-campus at the Boys
& Girls Club of Albany in 2008.
Nefisah’s primary focus was developing
programs and marketing tools for the
enhancement of the club. This year she
will be a VISTA Leader with a focus on
improving and expanding the Siena
College VISTA Fellows Academic
Enrichment Program & Professional
Development Opportunities. Nefisah is
originally from the Bronx, New York and
graduated from State University of New
York, Albany in 2008 with a bachelor’s
degree in Sociology and a minor in
Public Health.
Justin Adams
Justin is serving with the Siena Bonner
Service Leaders Program as the
Coordinator of Training and
Enrichment. The Bonner Program works
with students to enhance their academics
and community engagement through
service. Justin is from Rochester, NY and
graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania in 2009 in Economics.
S T A F E L L O W S
Jennifer Simek
Jennifer returns for a second VISTA term
after completing her first term as
Development and Volunteer
Coordinator at Grand Street Community
Arts, Inc. She played a pivotal role in
helping the organization build structure
through an Academic Service Learning
Course with a Siena College Faculty
member in the School of Business. This
year she will be a VISTA Leader and
Coordinator of A.C.E. Public Relations.
Jennifer is originally from Gig Harbor,
Washington and graduated in 2007 from
the University of Washington, Seattle
where she received her bachelor’s degree
in Law, Societies, and Justice with an
emphasis in Human Rights.
Hannah Boehm
Hannah is serving with the North
Albany Academy. She is helping them
establish strong connections with the
community and local organizations as the
Coordinator of North Albany Academy
Initiatives. Hannah is from Lee’s
Summit, MO and graduated from
Missouri State University with a
bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
FCSA Siena College VISTA Fellows Program
 M E E T T H
Kaitlyn Calaluca
Kaitlyn is serving with FOCUS Churches
of Albany as the Coordinator of Program
Development. FOCUS Churches is a
group of several denominations that help
serve the Albany area fight hunger and
poverty. Kaitlyn is originally from
Newburgh, New York and graduated
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in
2010 with a bachelor’s degree in
Materials Science and Engineering.
Meghan Dunn ’07
Meghan returned for a second year of
service after completing her first term as
the Coordinator of Mental Health/Social
Work Initiative in the Social Work
Department. She worked on several
projects that concerned Mental Health,
including Kendra’s Law Collection,
suicide prevention, loss due to suicide,
and the Latina Female Initiative at Troy
High School. This year she is serving at
the North Albany YMCA as the
Coordinator of the North Albany
Project. Meghan is from Colonie, NY and
graduated in 2007 from Siena College
with a bachelor’s degree in English and
received her master’s degree at Queen
Mary, University of London in 2009.
FCSA Siena College VISTA Fellows Program
E 2 0 1 0 S I E N A V I
Tanya Henderson
Tanya is serving with Fr. Peter Young
Housing, Industries, and Treatment
(PYHIT) as the Coordinator of the Fr.
Peter Young Re-Entry Mentoring
Program. The PYHIT organization
reaches out to individuals who are poor,
homeless, and addicted to drugs or
alcohol. Tanya is originally from Roslyn
Heights, New York and graduated in 2010
from State University of New York,
Oneonta and received her bachelor’s
degree in Sociology and Family Studies.
Victoria Malaney
Victoria is serving with Catholic
Charities and The Roarke Center in Troy,
New York as Volunteer and Resource
Development Coordinator to help
develop a mentoring program for women
coming out of Rensselaer County Jail. She
will also research fundraising
opportunities for the Roarke Center, a
drop-in center and soup kitchen tailored
to the needs of those expressed by the
community. Victoria is originally from
Port Saint, Florida and graduated in 2010
from Skidmore College with a bachelor’s
degree in English and minor in Spanish
and Dance and Latin Studies.
S T A F E L L O W S
Nezia Munezero
Nezia is serving at the Unity House of
Troy, Inc., as the Coordinator of
Volunteers, Mentoring, and Training.
Unity House is a Rensselaer County-
based human service agency that
provides a wide range of services to meet
the otherwise unmet needs of people in
the community who are hurting and
struggling. Nezia is originally from
Burundi. She received her BA in Political
Science and French at St. Mary’s College
of Maryland and her MA in
International Human Rights Law at the
American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Ariel Palter
Ariel is serving with the Sr. Thea
Bowman Center for Women at Siena
College as the Coordinator of
Community Partnership and
Engagement. The Center for Women
works to create a more active and
informed campus community while
educating and engaging students in low-
income communities. Ariel is originally
from West Hartford, Connecticut and
received her bachelor’s degree in
Anthropology and Political Science with
a minor is Mathematics at Union College
in 2010.
3
 M E E T T H E 2
Michael Parsons
Michael is serving as Coordinator of
Assessment and Development with
Trinity Alliance, an organization in the
Albany dedicated to improving
neighborhoods by assisting in the
development of family and youth and
promoting education and employment.
Michael is originally from Williamsburg,
Virginia and received his bachelor’s
degree in 2010 from James Madison
University in Public Policy and
Administration and Social Work.
Hilary Rainey
Hilary is serving with the Music Mobile
Inc. as Coordinator of Capacity Building
and Marketing. Music Mobile is an
organization that provides innovative
educational programs, learning and
training materials, and original songs to
build peaceful communities. Hilary is
originally from Midland, Michigan and
graduated in 2009 from Columbia
College, Chicago, with her bachelor’s
degree in Performing Arts Management.
4
0 1 0 S I E N A V I
Kathryn Ramsey
Kathryn returned for a second year of
service after completing a VISTA term
working in the Office of Enrollment and
Management at Siena College. During
her first year of service she designed a
dropout prevention program and had a
local school showed interest in
implementing her program. This year, she
is working with North Albany Academy
where she will commence the drop-out
prevention program. Kathryn is
originally from Columbus, Ohio and
graduated from Teacher’s College,
Columbia University in 1989 where she
received her bachelor’s degree in
Educational Administration and Art.
Ryan Rose ’10
Ryan is serving with the Homeless and
Travelers Aid Society (HATAS), a point-
of-entry human services agency that
helps the poor and homeless. As
Coordinator of Development, Ryan will
be coordinating a variety of fundraisers
for HATAS including the Home Sweet
Home Gingerbread House competition.
Ryan is originally from Catskill, New
York and graduated from Siena College
in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in
Accounting and minor in Business
Administration.
S T A F E L L O W S
Ricky Ryan ’10
Ricky is serving with the Capital District
Habitat for Humanity - Habitat ReStore
as the Coordinator ReStore Resource
Development. ReStore sells new and
used home improvement items at an
affordable price. In his role he will be
promoting the store to potential
customers and volunteers. Ricky is
originally from Moravia, New York and
graduated in 2010 from Siena College
with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology
with a minor is Biology.
James Shultis
James is serving as Development and
Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator with
Grand Street Community Arts, an arts
organization aimed at helping the
community through arts-based events
and programs. James is originally from
Brooklyn, NY and received his bachelor’s
degree from Hunter College (CUNY) in
Creative Writing, English Literature, and
Gender Studies and his master’s degree
from Queens College in Creative
Writing, Poetics, and Literary Criticism.
FCSA Siena College VISTA Fellows Program
 M E E T T H E 2 0 1 0 S I E N A V I S T A F E L L O W S

Francheska Soto-Gonzalez Samantha Tymchyn ’09 Amanda Wilson

Francheska will be serving with the
United States Committee for Refugees
and Immigrants, which provides a
multitude of services including case
management and employment
counseling, English classes, and
relationship enhancement classes. As
Volunteer Coordinator, Francheska will
be mobilizing resources to recruit
volunteers to serve at USCRI. Francheska
is originally from Dorado, Puerto Rico
and graduated from George Mason
University in 2010 with a bachelor’s
degree in Global Affairs with a
concentration in Latin America and
minor in Spanish.
Samantha returns for a second year of
service after completing a VISTA term
working with the Center for Law and
Justice where she helped them become
more sustainable and efficient by
reorganizing their operating structures.
This year, Samantha is serving with
Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless.
They provide emergency shelter,
advocate for the homeless, and
successfully reintegrate them back into
their community. Samantha is originally
from Latham, New York and graduated
from Siena College in 2009 with a
bachelor’s degree in Political Science and
a minor in Pre-Law.
Amanda is serving with the Green Tech
Charter High School, an all boys college
preparatory high school in Albany. Green
Tech provides a high quality education in
a safe, small-school setting with extensive
literacy instruction. In her position at
Coordinator of Service Learning she will
be coordinating service opportunities for
the students at Green Tech Charter High
School. Amanda is originally from
Brooklyn, New York and graduated from
Siena College in 2010 with a bachelor’s
degree in History and a minor in French.

By the Numbers VISTA Fellow

Ryan Rose
recruiting
The Siena College VISTA Fellows Program is a transformative
volunteers at
experience for all those who participate in creating positive change to the Franciscan
fight against poverty. Since 2008, the VISTA Fellows Program has grown Center for
into a nationally recognized program. Service and
Advocacy
Volunteer
• 19 VISTA Fellow Positions for ’10-’11 academic year Service Fair

• 3 VISTA Leaders for ’10-’11 academic year

• 20 AmeriCorps/VISTA Summer Service Associates served in the 2010 Follow us on Facebook
Summer of Service program
• More than 50 college faculty members trained in the Problem-Based Get the latest on Twitter
Service Learning Model
• 10 ASL classes taught in the ’09-’10 academic year Check out our YouTube Channel
• Over 800 students connecting academics and service over the last 3
years Visit our ACE Reflections Blog

• Over $1.2 in resources developed by AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows to

View our pictures on Flickr
date.

Franciscan Center For Service and Advocacy

Office of Academic Community Engagement | AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows Program
Siena College | 515 Loudon Road | Hines Hall 104 | Loudonville, NY 12211 | P: (518) 782-6886 | F: (518) 786-5080

FCSA Siena College VISTA Fellows Program 5