This article is about the university in Loudonville, New York. For other schools with a similar name, see Siena College (disambiguation) and Siena University.

Siena University
Former names
St. Bernardine of Siena College (1937–1968)[1] Siena College (1968–2025)
Motto The Education for a Lifetime
Type Private
Established 1937
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic (Franciscan)
Academic affiliations
AFCU
CIC
MSA
ACCU
Endowment $175 million (2022)[2][3]
President Charles Seifert
Academic staff
350 (fall 2023)[4]
Students 3,623 (fall 2023)[4]
Undergraduates 3,497 (fall 2023)[4]
Postgraduates 126 (fall 2023)[4]
Location
Loudonville, New York
,
U.S.

42°43′06″N 73°45′13″W / 42.71833°N 73.75361°W / 42.71833; -73.75361
Campus Suburban, 174 acres (70 ha) [5]
Fight song "When the Saints Go Marching In"
Colors      Green and gold[6]
Nickname Saints
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I – MAAC
Mascot Bernie "Saint" Bernard (St. Bernard Dog)
Website www.siena.edu
Map

Siena University, formerly Siena College, is a private Franciscan university in Loudonville, New York, United States. It was founded by the Order of Friars Minor in 1937 and is named after the Franciscan friar Bernardino of Siena. The university enrolls approximately 3,600 students and offers undergraduate and graduate programs through three schools in business, liberal arts, and science. Siena competes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

History

What is now Siena University was established in 1937 by the Order of Friars Minor, a modest institution with a faculty of seven friars and one layperson operating out of the former Garrett estate in Loudonville, New York. Initially named St. Bernardine of Siena College, it received its provisional charter from the University of the State of New York in 1938 and was granted a permanent charter in 1942.[7] The university is named for Bernardino of Siena, a 15th-century Italian Franciscan friar and preacher.[8]

In the late 1930s, Thomas Plassmann, president of St. Bonaventure University in Western New York, sent seven Franciscan friars to New York's Capital Region to found another college.[9]

Siena University carried out initiatives to enhance its academic programs, campus facilities, and student resources.[10]

A Siena College Grotto, along with a new bookstore, opened in 2014.[11] A new rugby pitch was opened in fall 2016.[12] In 2020, the college was listed as a census-designated place (Siena College CDP).[13]

In January 2025, Siena opened a $35 million science building. This includes laboratories and a nursing floor equipped with simulation tools.[14]

In June 2025, the Board of Trustees voted to approve a name change to "Siena University."[15] In July 2025, Siena College officially changed its name to Siena University.[16]

Academics

Siena Hall

Siena University offers more than 40 majors, 80 minors and certificates, and graduate programs in business, education, and other fields.[17] Students attend three schools within the university:

  • School of Business
  • School of Liberal Arts
  • School of Science

The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.[18] The university also holds several program-level accreditations: the School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business,[19] the Baccalaureate Nursing program by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education,[20] the Education program by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation,[21] and the Bachelor of Social Work program by the Council on Social Work Education.[22]

Siena Research Institute

Siena Research Institute, an affiliate of Siena University, conducts expert and public opinion polls, focusing on New York State and the United States, on issues of public policy interest.[23]

Student life

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity[24] Total
White 76%
 
Hispanic 9%
 
Black 4%
 
Asian 4%
 
Other[a] 4%
 
Foreign national 3%
 
Economic diversity
Low-income[b] 24%
 
Affluent[c] 76%
 

Siena is a primarily residential, suburban campus. 71% of undergraduate students live on campus.[25] There are more than 80 student organizations.[26]

The university operates WVCR-FM (88.3 “The Saint”), a noncommercial radio station licensed to Siena by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.[27] Student media also include a student-run campus newspaper and television station.[25]

Siena has various housing options, including residence halls, private rooms, and townhouse units, across eight residential communities.[28] Housing assignments for Siena students who live on campus are based on class year.[28] Additionally, some students opt for off-campus housing at the College Suites or commute from nearby areas.

Approximately 90 student clubs and organizations range from academic and professional groups to cultural and recreational clubs.[28]

Athletics

Main article: Siena Saints
See also: Siena Saints men's basketball and Siena Saints women's basketball
Siena guard Ronald Moore dribbles toward the basket in a game against Loyola in January 2010.[29]

Siena offers 21 NCAA Division I sports, all of which participate in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).[5][30]

A team with recent high achievement is men's baseball. The Saints advanced to the 1999 NCAA Division I baseball tournament and in 2005 saw pitcher John Lannan drafted by the Washington Nationals.[31] Lannan became a regular starter in Washington's rotation until 2012.[32]

The men's lacrosse team qualified for their first MAAC tournament in 2007 and their first NCAA tournament in 2009. That season, the Saints secured an automatic berth in the tournament after winning their first MAAC championship during a ten-game winning streak.[33] Between 2016 and 2019, Siena University undertook a $13.5 million renovation project for the Alumni Recreation Center (ARC) and the Marcelle Athletic Complex (MAC). The multi-phase initiative included the construction of a new basketball practice facility, enhancements to seating capacity, upgrades to strength and conditioning areas, and the addition of sports medicine suites. In early 2025, the university announced plans for a $4.5 million lacrosse complex, named Bice/Clive Field at the Paladini Family Lacrosse Complex. The facility is intended to provide dedicated space for the men's and women's lacrosse teams and to honor the legacy of former players Frank Bice and Colin Clive.[34]

Notable alumni

Arts and entertainment

William J. Kennedy '49 is an American author and journalist who won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel Ironweed.[35] Wendy Moniz is an American television actress known for her roles in Guiding Light, Nash Bridges, The Guardian, House of Cards, and Yellowstone.[36]

Politics and government

Christopher P. Gibson served as U.S. Representative for New York's 19th congressional district from 2013 to 2017 and New York's 20th congressional district from 2011 to 2013.[37] George Deukmejian served as the 35th Governor of California from 1983 to 1991 and as Attorney General of California from 1979 to 1983.[38] Anthony Brindisi, class of 2000, served as U.S. Representative from New York's 22nd congressional district from 2019 to 2021.[39]

Law and judiciary

Mae D'Agostino is a United States District Court judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.[40]

Sports

Jalen Pickett with the Siena Saints in 2019

Jeff Hafley '01, who played wide receiver for the Saints from 1997 to 2000, was named the 12th head coach of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League in January 2026.[41][42] Jalen Pickett is a professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Notes

  1. ^ Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.
  2. ^ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
  3. ^ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

References

  1. ^ American Universities and Colleges. Berlin: De Gruyter. 1992. p. 1179. ISBN 9783110850482.
  2. ^ "Siena College | Data USA". datausa.io.
  3. ^ Siena College usnews.com Archived January 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c d "Institution Data Profile - Siena College". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Black Issues in Higher Education. Cox, Matthews & Associates, Incorporated. 1992. p. 50.
  6. ^ "Sienna College - Graphic Standards" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  7. ^ "Siena College Archives and Special Collections". New York Heritage Digital Collections.
  8. ^ Herald, The Catholic (November 10, 2023). "US Catholic Universities and Colleges Guide 2023: A-Z Guide - Catholic Herald". Catholic Herald.
  9. ^ "SEEN: Siena College 80th Anniversary". Times Union.
  10. ^ "NY Institution Transfers Teaching Programs, Refines Focus". Inside Higher Ed. March 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Drew, Emily (November 2, 2014). "Siena dedicates its new Grotto - Spotlight News". Spotlight News.
  12. ^ "Siena Rugby Pitch - Facilities - Siena College Athletics". Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "State of New York Census Designated Places - Current/BAS20 - Data as of January 1, 2019". tigerweb.geo.census.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  14. ^ Moore, Kathleen (January 2025). "Siena College Unveils $35 Million Science Building". Times Union.
  15. ^ Handy, Kristina (June 7, 2025). "Siena College board votes to become 'Siena University'". WTEN. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  16. ^ DeCamilla, Jana (July 16, 2025). "It's official: Siena College receives state approval to transition into a University". WRGB. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  17. ^ Franco, Jim (November 20, 2019). "DISCOVER LOUDONVILLE: Despite falling enrollment numbers across the country, Siena College welcomes its largest freshman class - Spotlight News". Spotlight Newspapers.
  18. ^ "Siena University". Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  19. ^ "Siena College | AACSB Accredited". www.aacsb.edu. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  20. ^ "Siena University - CCNE". Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  21. ^ "AAQEP Commission Action Record". aaqep.org. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  22. ^ "Siena University - CHEA". Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
  23. ^ Research Centers Directory. Gale Research Company. 1986. ISBN 978-0-8103-0469-7.
  24. ^ "College Scorecard: Siena College". United States Department of Education. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Siena University - Campus Life". petersons.com. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  26. ^ "Siena University - The Princeton Review". www.princetonreview.com. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  27. ^ "Public notice" (PDF). FCC. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2025.
  28. ^ a b c Peterson's Guide to Four-Year Colleges, 1995. Peterson's. June 1994. pp. 2372, 2373. ISBN 978-1-56079-364-9.
  29. ^ McGuire, Mark (January 22, 2010). "Streaking Siena". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B1. Retrieved June 22, 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  30. ^ "Siena Field Hockey Selected Ninth in NEC Preseason Poll". Siena College. Archived from the original on August 18, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  31. ^ "Mission Statement". Siena College. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  32. ^ "John Lannan". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  33. ^ Saints Face-Off with Syracuse in NCAA tournament Archived May 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Siena College, May 8, 2009.
  34. ^ Skodnick, Leif (January 26, 2025). "Siena raising funds for $4.5 million lacrosse complex". Times Union. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  35. ^ "Alumnus Inducted into NYS Writers Hall of Fame". Siena College. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  36. ^ "Wendy Moniz Biography". Tvguide.com. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  37. ^ "Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier" (PDF). Legislative Agenda. Association of the United States Army. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  38. ^ "George Deukmejian, ex-governor of California, dies". San Francisco Gate. May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  39. ^ "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  40. ^ President Obama Names Two to the United States District Court, whitehouse.gov (September 29, 2010).
  41. ^ "Miami Dolphins agree to terms with Jeff Hafley as head coach". Miami Dolphins. January 19, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  42. ^ Haas, Griffin (January 23, 2026). "Siena grad Jeff Hafley introduced as Miami Dolphins head coach". WTEN. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
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