Countdown to Commencement 2025: Emily McLaughlin

The next student featured in our “Countdown to Commencement” series is Emily McLaughlin, an inclusive childhood education major with a concentration in mathematics. She was nominated by Coach Sarah Cartmill, the head women’s basketball coach.

As a Fisher undergraduate, McLaughlin has been a member of the dominant women’s basketball team as they are chasing their fourth straight Empire 8 championship title. She has also been a member of Athlete-to-Athlete, a club created by athletes to promote mental and physical health and well-being. In addition, McLaughlin has been a peer mentor for three years teaching first-year seminar classes alongside an academic advisor and a First-Year Orientation Leader ensuring a smooth transition to college for Fisher’s newest students.

“She has been a model student and member of the campus community; visible as a mentor and member of the basketball team, but also behind the scenes doing the small things to help Orientation run smoothly and help first-year students with their experience and transition to Fisher,” said Cartmill.

While this is Cartmill’s first season coaching for the Cardinals, she has had her eye on McLaughlin from recruiting at a previous college.

“I am new to Fisher, but recruited Emily at my previous college and am thrilled our paths have crossed again,” she said. She also emphasized how much of a help McLaughlin has been to the team and getting the little things done when needed.

Now that her time is winding down, McLaughlin said she is excited to dive into her profession in her life after Fisher. She has been student teaching 4th and 5th graders, but would also be interested in teaching younger children.

“I want to go back home to Buffalo, or even stay in Rochester, find a teaching job and just get right in the field and start working with kids right away,” she said.

Cartmill is confident that McLaughlin will move on to be an amazing classroom teacher and will “excel at connecting with her students and her school community.”