Fisher Launches Parent Leadership Council

Libby Pinti, a 1985 St. John Fisher College graduate, today serves the College as associate director of development and director of parent engagement. As the parent of college students, she saw an opportunity for Fisher parents and families to be involved beyond Move-In Day and Commencement.

With the help Phil Castleberry, vice president for institutional advancement, and Adam Paré, assistant vice president for development, an informational breakfast was held during Alumni and Family Weekend 2019 and the Parent Leadership Council was created.

Castleberry and Paré both came from institutions with robust Parent Leadership Councils, and realized that there was an opportunity for Fisher to establish one as well. The newly created council provides parents and families opportunities to become more actively involved in the life of the College through enhanced communication with administration, participation in VIP events, serving as volunteers at recruitment and retention events, and supporting the College with a philanthropic investment during their students’ time at Fisher. Additionally, parents and families may engage with the College through their places of work by offering job shadowing, mock interviews, internships, and job openings for graduates.

Six families have already joined the council, and include parents from the Rochester, Buffalo, and Utica/Rome areas. Pinti said there are prospects for new members from out of state areas, namely Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

The participation goals for the Parent Leadership Council within the next five years according to Pinti, are to meet the membership numbers of between 15-20 families and to have a robust group of parents who partner with the College and each other for the betterment of the Fisher community.

“I think parents are a great constituency and they have a lot of enthusiasm for the College,” said Pinti. “They want to be engaged and we want them to be engaged. This opportunity will establish a partnership that is mutually beneficial and enhances the Fisher experience.”

For more information about the Parent Leadership Council, contact Libby Pinti ’85 at (585) 385-7350 or epinti@sjfc.edu.