Countdown to Commencement 2020: Darienne Slocum

The next member of the Class of 2020 to be featured in the annual Countdown to Commencement series is Darienne Slocum, a marketing major who was nominated by Monica Gebhardt, assistant registrar and veterans coordinator at Fisher.

A First Generation Scholar, Slocum stays active volunteering in the Rochester community and recalls that as a freshman, she was involved in too much on campus. Gradually, she says, she chose things that were important to her, and ultimately became an RA – a job she has enjoyed as it has allowed her to build relationships with her residents. Her first year on campus, she brought her love of swimming to the SGA who approved a new swim club that Slocum coached. They practiced at Nazareth College, which allowed her to expand her network.

She is currently serving as the executive intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications. Through that experience, she had the opportunity to be a part of the College’s new ad campaign, “I See Myself,” from the production side as well as the casting side.

Gebhardt first met Slocum in fall 2019, after she contacted the marketing and communications team about ideas to promote student veterans around Veterans Day. Slocum took the lead on the project and met with Gebhardt to brainstorm different ways the College could both recognize and honor current student veterans.

“As the veterans coordinator at the College, I am always looking for new, creative ways to acknowledge our veteran community and to show the College’s continued support for them and their families,” said Gebhardt. “Darienne was engaged and very interested in the project, professional when she met with me, and had great ideas.”

As part of the project, Slocum interviewed three current student veterans and told their stories through content she created for the College’s social media channels and website.

Gebhardt says what she will remember most about Slocum is her energy, ability to dive right into a project and communicate her thoughts, as well as her enthusiasm. She predicts that Slocum will land a great job and make an immediate impact, and notes that she will also be an active alumna and represent the College in a positive way.