This Women’s History Month, we honor the bold legacy of Siena Heights University. In 1919, the Adrian Dominican Sisters took a leap of faith to found a Catholic college named St. Joseph’s College. What began as an all-women’s college for future teachers soon became a national standard for excellence and to ensure women had the space to lead, learn, and grow; by the 1950s, we were recognized as one of the top ten liberal arts colleges for women in the United States.

At the heart of our identity is St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century Dominican who dedicated her life to a quest for truth and social responsibility. It is from her philosophy that our mission grew:

“To assist people to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical through a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all.”

Throughout our history, Siena Heights has built a proud tradition of innovative response to challenging social needs. We have always been a place where powerful women—and eventually all Saints—learned to lead with conviction. St. Catherine famously told us:

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

As our time on this campus draws to a close, we reflect on the thousands of fires lit over the last century. The institution is evolving one final time—from a physical place to a living legacy. We are the mission in motion. And we will continue to set the world on fire—from now until forever.