About Fisher Forward
There has never been a better time to build upon our past to help secure our future.
Move Fisher Forward
The narrative of St. John Fisher University chronicles steady growth and broadening impact since our beginning, nearly 75 years ago. While respectful of our history and traditions, Fisher has always kept its focus keenly on the future, anticipating and responding to the changes in society that bring new opportunities to our students. Our success is dependent upon the generosity of our alumni, friends, and community – essential partners of St. John Fisher University. Students, programs, and the Fisher campus will be empowered by this generosity to support and drive innovation, programming, and the future, expanding the impact of this work broadly throughout the community and beyond.
Campaign Leaders
Wayne and Beverly LeChase are loyal and longtime donors of St. John Fisher University. Wayne, chairman of LeChase, served on the Board of Trustees from 1991-2015 and today is a member of the Trustee Emeriti Society.
St. John Fisher University
President Rooney took office in 2015 after having served as the University's executive vice president for enrollment, advancement, and planning. Dr. Rooney has been a member of the Fisher family for over two decades and is the proud parent of two Fisher alumni.
News and Events
A $1 million gift from Jack ’73 and Donna DePeters will create an interactive space designed specifically for education majors in the newly modernized Lavery Library, expected to be complete in summer 2025.
During a ceremony held on Saturday, Oct. 19, members of the St. John Fisher University community gathered to celebrate 25 years of Dugan Yard, cut the ribbon on the newly opened Player Development Center, and recognize Kevin ’70 and Peggy Dugan, whose decades of philanthropy turned the area from a single baseball field in the early 2000s to the world-class complex it has become today.
A new endowed scholarship will support graduates of Rochester’s Catholic high schools as they pursue higher education at St. John Fisher University.
A newly endowed scholarship fund at St. John Fisher University will benefit undergraduate students in the School of Business, thanks to the generosity of alumnus and University Trustee Matt Rowe ’90.
With its repository of research journals, teeming stacks of books, and archival materials, Lavery Library has served the St. John Fisher University for nearly 50 years, helping countless students, faculty, and staff accomplish their scholarly pursuits. Now, the University has begun work on a multimillion-dollar modernization and renovation to the library, the largest capital project both in scope and investment in the institution’s history.
A $2.5 million gift to St. John Fisher University will ensure that its President’s Residence will continue to remain a gathering place for engagement with students, alumni, donors, and community members for many years to come.
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, with some of the early work dating back to the 1950s. Largely the stuff of sci-fi movies and TV shows throughout the late 20th century, AI now is embedded in our daily lives in things like Amazon and Netflix recommendations, face ID on cell phones, and banking alerts based on prior purchases, just to name a few examples.