Fisher Recognizes Alumni for Professional Achievements, Dedication to Community

During a special ceremony, St. John Fisher University honored 15 graduates who have found success in their careers and have been influential in serving their communities. The celebration recognized Dean’s Medal recipients from each of the five Schools and graduates of the last decade with the Ten Under 10 Awards.

“Our Dean’s Medal recipients, as well as our Ten Under 10 honorees, were all chosen for their career accomplishments, personal achievements, and commitment to their alma mater and the communities in which they live and work,” said Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, during the ceremony. “Each recipient has achieved much in their careers - some still early in those careers and some more seasoned - and it is both a privilege and a personal point of pride to recognize them this evening.”

Dean’s Medal Honorees

The 2024 recipients of the Dean’s Medals are Dr. Stacy Cairns ’14 (Pharm.D.), Wegmans School of Pharmacy; Michael Stapleton ’98, Wegmans School of Nursing; Dr. Allison Rioux ’03, ’06 (M.S.), Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education; Dr. Theresa Datz Westbay ’86, School of Arts and Sciences; and Carol Sloan Almeter ’74 and John Almeter ’71, School of Business.

Since graduating from the Wegmans School of Pharmacy in 2014, Cairns has spent a decade at Wegmans Pharmacy. During her time with Wegmans, she has served as a wellness and clinical services coordinator and pharmacy store manager at its Pittsford location. In these roles, she has been instrumental in the implementation of new pilot projects and oversaw the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for the grocery chain’s pharmacies. Today, she leads pharmacy operations in the Rochester division.

Cairns has also stayed actively engaged with the School of Pharmacy. Professionally, she has offered her knowledge and expertise by serving as a pharmacy preceptor for clinical rotations, a guest speaker in classes, and as a mentor to current students.   She has also willingly provided her time serving as a panelist for numerous pharmacy career panels, representing both traditional and non-traditional roles in community pharmacy to prospective and new pharmacy students. Earlier this year, Cairns was awarded the School’s Community Preceptor of the Year, an award given by students.

Stapleton earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Fisher in 1998. Since that time, he has made significant contributions to the health care industry and currently serves as the president and CEO of UR Medicine Thompson Health. Under his leadership, Thompson Health has grown to include more than 650 practitioners and 1,800 associates. He is also a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

In addition to his role at Thompson, Stapleton has been an active member of the Fisher community. He currently serves as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees and has served on the School of Nursing’s Advisory Board. His commitment to service extends beyond Fisher, as he also sits on several community advisory and volunteer boards.

Stapleton’s educational background includes a master’s degree in leadership in health care systems from the University of Rochester’s School of Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Oswego. His diverse educational and professional experiences have equipped him with a unique perspective on health care leadership.

Rioux graduated from Fisher in 2003 with a double major in childhood and special education and a minor in Italian, earning the Outstanding Special Education Award her senior year.  She graduated from Fisher again – a double Cardinal - in 2006 with a master’s degree in literacy education. From there, she went on to earn her doctorate in teaching and curriculum from the University of Rochester in 2016.

Rioux began her career as a special education teacher and literacy coach for the Rochester City School District.  She then moved on to the Brighton Central School District, where she held several teaching and leadership positions; currently she serves as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Throughout her career, Rioux has remained dedicated to and deeply involved with Fisher and the School of Education. She has partnered with methods course instructors, established a collaborative field experience model at French Road Elementary in Brighton, and has served as an adjunct professor and sat on advisory boards. Most recently, she has helped establish a partnership between Brighton Schools and Fisher to pilot the now four-year strong Collaborative Education for Equity Teacher Pipeline program. This program began with Brighton and has now grown to include 10 districts.  It has successfully recruited teacher candidates of color to Fisher, and prepared them to be highly effective certified teachers to be employed back in the school districts.

Westbay has been a dedicated member of the Fisher community for more than 30 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Fisher and went on to obtain a doctoral degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry. She returned to Fisher in 1994 to join the Biology Department faculty. In her time at Fisher, she not only taught in the classroom and labs, but she also served as interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences from July 2015 to June 2016.

Westbay’s contributions to the field of biology are highlighted by her published research in various journals, including The Journal of Undergraduate Research and the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. In recognition of her outstanding service, she was named Faculty Member of the Year by the Student Government Association in 2011. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Westbay was an invaluable member of the COVID-19 Advisory Team, contributing her expertise to the Campus Reopening Task Force.

Additionally, Westbay is a founding member of the Science and Technology Alumni Affinity Group and Steering Committee. Her dedication to student success is evident through her involvement in the creation of the Joan Rowan Memorial Award & Student Support Fund in 2015, which recognizes graduating seniors and provides financial assistance to biology students. She and her husband, Joseph, have also supported the Honors Scholar Program fund and the Center for Student Research and Creative Work.

The Almeters have been dedicated supporters of St. John Fisher University for over three decades and have championed the School of Business since its founding in the early 2000s.

John Almeter earned his bachelor’s degree in management and his illustrious career includes executive roles at Foundation Contractors Inc., Datagraphic Inc., and Deloitte, as well as Hemma Concrete, where he retired as controller. His leadership and expertise in accounting and finance have been instrumental in the growth and success of these organizations. Carol Almeter earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and has had a successful career in real estate, working as an agent for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and Harry Norman Realtors, with a focus on REO properties in the Greater Atlanta area.

The Almeters have a long history of philanthropy and involvement with Fisher. In fact, philanthropy brought them together when they met in 1978 as volunteers for the alumni phone-a-thon. They have been members of the Spire Society since 2018 and were inducted into the President’s Society in August 2023 with their lifetime giving exceeding $1 million. In 2021, they established the John and Carol Sloan Almeter Accounting Scholars Fund and the John and Carol Sloan Almeter Fund for Accounting Innovation. These funds aim to attract and educate future leaders in the accounting and financial world.

Their commitment to innovation and technology in education is evident in their support for analytics and artificial intelligence resources at Fisher. Their vision is to enhance analytical thinking and creativity for both faculty and students. In recognition of his contributions to the accounting profession and continued support for the University, John Almeter received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the School of Business in 2018.

Ten Under 10 Awardees

Ryan Andrew is 2014 graduate of the University, where he earned a bachelor’s in accounting. While at Fisher, he was dedicated to his studies and was actively involved in the campus community in leadership positions and as a student-athlete. He competed in the prestigious PwC Tax Challenge in 2012, and received the Accounting Faculty Recognition Award and the Otto A. Shults Accounting Excellence Award.

Since leaving Fisher, he has built a career in accounting, finance, and executive recruitment. As the director of placement for accounting and finance at AP Professionals, he has made an impact on the Rochester area by connecting top talent with meaningful opportunities across several key industries, including accounting, finance, human resources, and administration.

Samantha Bonelli is a 2014 graduate who earned a bachelor’s in physics. After Fisher, she pursued her passion for space and engineering, earning a master’s in space systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2018. Bonelli has established herself as a trailblazer in the field of engineering and is a strong advocate for women in STEM. As program manager at L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems, she leads a team responsible for the design, construction, testing, and launch of a multi-unit satellite. Her remarkable contributions were recognized in 2022 when she received the Engineering & Technology Leadership Award, and she was featured in the article, “Leading Ladies of Aerospace and Defense,” showcasing her as a rising star in the industry.

Bonelli mentors post-9/11 veterans transitioning from military service and remains active at Fisher. She has returned to campus to speak at FIS(HER), a program designed to equip students with strategies to overcome gender-based obstacles. Her last session was titled, “Crafting Your Professional Superhero.”

Double Cardinal Kristy Donaldson Mullen earned both her bachelor’s in childhood and special education and her master’s in literacy from Fisher. Since graduating, Donaldson has devoted herself to a career in education, recently marking her eighth year at School 45 in the Rochester City School District. She has worked within the special education department, leading a self-contained classroom for students with autism, from 1st through 5th grade. Her dedication was recognized last year when she was nominated for the Teacher of the Year Award, a testament to her passion for education.

Beyond the classroom, Mullen remains active in the sport of rowing. A founding member of Fisher’s rowing team, she has carried that passion forward into her community, now serving as the women’s head coach for the Fairport High School Rowing Team.

Alyssa Dyer is a double Cardinal who earned her bachelor’s in marketing in 2019 and went on to complete an MBA in 2020. She launched her professional journey with an internship at the Cooley Group, where her performance earned her a full-time position. She has been promoted twice, taking on roles of increasing responsibility and making a significant impact within the company.

Dyer was recently honored with the prestigious Scoop Cooley Award, given to employees who embody the core values of the company. She was also nominated for a Rising Star Award within her industry’s trade association, further recognizing her remarkable contributions. In addition to her professional success, she plays a key role in the Cooley Group’s community outreach efforts, leading initiatives such as the Day of Caring and holiday gift-giving drives through the Cooley Cares program.

Dr. Amanda Hopkins is a 2021 graduate of Fisher’s Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education, where she earned her Doctorate in Executive Leadership. Since completing the doctoral program, Hopkins has been a driving force in education, serving as the elementary program director for Madison-Oneida BOCES. A visionary leader, she has spearheaded the creation of innovative programs that address the needs of students with significant challenges. These initiatives have not only expanded inclusivity but have also greatly improved accessibility in education, transforming the lives of countless children.

In addition to her work with students, Hopkins is invested in shaping the future of education through mentorship. She plays a critical role in developing the next generation of educational leaders, providing guidance and support to emerging professionals within her organization.

Brittany Lanning graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s in psychology, followed by a master’s in mental health counseling in 2021. She has dedicated her career to making a difference in the lives of others, serving as a substance abuse counselor at the Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency (FLACRA).

Through her hard work and dedication, Lanning has risen to hold the highest caseload of all clinicians at FLACRA, while also serving as a mental health counselor. Her deep commitment to her field is evident in her pursuit of advanced credentials, including earning her Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor-Training and completing the requirements to become a New York State licensed mental health counselor.

As a student, Dr. Vince Marino ’15 earned a place on the Dean’s List every semester and was involved in multiple organizations. He founded the Italian Club, volunteered at Eastman Dental, and served as a lab assistant for students with disabilities.

He went on to graduate in the top 10 percent of his class at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, where he specialized in implant dentistry and served as president of the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity. His commitment to service extended through Buffalo Outreach and Community Assistance and Remote Access Medical, providing dental care to underserved populations. Now co-owner of AM Dental, Marino continues to excel as a clinical supervisor, new dentist chair, and president-elect of the Apollonia Dental Study Club. He also serves as a team dentist for the Rochester Americans and provides care to U.S. Armed Forces.

Brandon McCoy graduated in 2013 with a degree in childhood education. After five years in the Rochester community, he moved to Washington, D.C., to teach at the Friendship Academy Charter School District, serving as a middle school English language arts teacher. His 5th and 6th graders achieved the highest literacy growth in all of Washington, D.C., earning him the prestigious title of Teacher of the Year for the entire district in 2024.

His commitment to service extends beyond the classroom. He serves as the district content leader for 6th-grade ELA and coordinates 17 after-school clubs, fostering community engagement and equity. Additionally, he advocates for disadvantaged students and actively participates in local initiatives, including feeding the homeless every Saturday.

Kelsey Michener is a 2018 graduate with a bachelor’s in accounting. After starting her career in merchandising, she made a decision to follow her true passion for higher education. She earned her master’s degree from the University at Buffalo in 2022 and began working in leadership programming at SUNY Brockport. She has since taken a position as the associate director of student experience affinity programs at the University of Rochester.

Her dedication to service began during her time at Fisher, where she was a Service Scholar and committed to social justice causes. Michener held numerous leadership roles at Fisher, including SGA president, executive intern to the president, and peer mentor. Today, she continues her spirit of service as an active advocate for women’s rights and minority voices, attending rallies and educating herself and others on critical issues facing society today.

Alexander Rozaklis graduated with a degree in finance in 2017. He began his career with Five Star Bank in 2017 as an intern. His exceptional business aptitude and knowledge quickly earned him a full-time position after graduation, and he rapidly rose through the ranks. Starting as a commercial credit analyst, he was promoted to lead commercial real estate analyst and is now the youngest person at the bank to hold the prestigious role of commercial real estate relationship manager. In this role, he manages a portfolio with hundreds of millions of dollars in bank exposure and works with real estate developers and business owners to help revitalize communities throughout Upstate New York.

In addition to his impressive professional achievements, Rozaklis is a committed supporter of the Victor community. Since 2018, he has served on the Victor Central School District Board of Trustees. He plays a vital role in fundraising efforts and ensuring that student projects and activities receive the resources needed to enhance their learning experience. He also serves on the Victor Schools Dollars for Scholars board, helping to provide scholarships to high school seniors pursuing higher education.