Open Letter to St. John Fisher Alumni (ROCHESTER, NY)

Join St. John Fisher Alumni of Color on LinkedIn

Dear Educators, Students, & All who are interested

St. John Fisher College was founded in the suburbs of Rochester, NY as a Catholic college in 1948 through the combined efforts of civic leaders, the community at large, the Basilian Fathers, and the late Most Reverend James E. Kearney, then Bishop of Rochester. The school was founded on the principles created by the Jesuit society.

"Education in the Jesuit tradition is a call to human excellence. It develops the whole person, from intellect and imagination to emotions and conscience, and approaches academic subjects holistically, exploring the connections among facts, questions, insights, conclusions, problems, and solutions."

It started as a Jesuit school in the Catholic tradition then became a liberal arts school. It was a school that had only white male students until 1971.

The 60's changed the entire world, Rochester (NY) was no exception

It is now a coeducational institution that has become more diverse, but it has a long way to go. It has grown from a college into a university. As it continues to grow, my goal is to be an advocate for its diversity. I want to see the doors open up for more students of color from across NY state. I want to see a diverse, multicultural campus. I want to create a pipeline for those alumni seeking to remain involved with students with or without the school's involvement.

I want to see St. John Fisher Alum sending their children to St. John Fisher.

I spent 4 years learning how to maneuver in this world of education at the prestigious St. John Fisher College. I met many people who changed my life forever in a positive way. I learned from these people. I grew up with these people. I truly hope that more people have the opportunity to meet people who will facilitate change in their lives as well. It wasn't until I left St. John Fisher College which is now called St. John Fisher University that I realized how impactful these years were on my life which is why I am working to create an alumni page entirely dedicated to engaging current & former students.

Rest in Peace Father Joe who was always real & wanted to see a more diverse Fisher

We are moving into the future with a diverse mindset. We are looking to see opportunities for all who want to receive a higher quality of education. I am an alumni of St. John Fisher University. From this humble beginning, I have continued my education. If it wasn’t for St. John Fisher University, I wouldn’t have been able to go on to study at schools like University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University. Eventually I hope to see St. John Fisher University on all of the top colleges/universities list.

I am currently seeking alumni of color to write positive testimonies of their time spent at St. John Fisher! Feel free to reach out. I may have already reached out to you. Let's make the next generation of Fisher students' experience better than ours.

Please feel free to comment, message, or write in the St. John Fisher University of Alumni LinkedIn page

With Love,

Kendrick