Columbia-Greene Media is reporting former 19th Congressional District representative Chris Gibson is officially now the12th president of Siena College, college spokeswoman Lisa Witkowski said. In a message sent to faculty, administrators and staff July 1, Gibson said he is very conscious of the significant challenges Siena faces as it moves to safely reopen for the fall semester. “As we go forward to overcome our current existential threats and help lead our country to higher planes of justice, including racial justice, we take inspiration from the Franciscan traditions on which Siena was founded,” Gibson said. Margaret E. Madden, who has been serving as interim president since July 2019, has been named to the newly created position of provost/senior vice president. The deans of the college’s Business, Liberal Arts and Science schools, as well as the vice presidents for student life and enrollment management, and other academic and student services administrators, will report to Madden. Gibson and Madden have been co-leading the college’s coronavirus recovery and re-opening efforts since the spring, Witkowski said. To help address health and safety concerns, classes at Siena will start early, on August 24, and end right before Thanksgiving. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.