Doctor of Executive Leadership Candidates Celebrate Commencement
June 30, 2026
St. John Fisher University conferred master’s and doctoral degrees upon more than 450 graduates during two ceremonies on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Among them, 26 graduates received their Education Doctorate of Executive Leadership.
During the ceremony, the University also bestowed the President’s Medal upon Dr. Peter C. Carpino ’72. He was recognized for his leadership, service, and commitment to non-profits, higher education, and Fisher.
Carpino has held executive leadership roles in the nonprofit and higher education sectors for more than 40 years. A first-generation student and member of Fisher’s Class of 1972, he received a full fellowship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a master’s degree in communications. His professional career took root at the United Way of Greater Rochester (now the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes) where he served as communications director and later as vice president for marketing and resource development, responsible for a $29 million annual campaign.
In 1987, he returned to his alma mater where he served as vice president for development and communications. While at Fisher, he earned a Ph.D. from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, OH, one of the first accredited distance learning programs in the country. Eight years later, he was named president and CEO of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (PA) and served there until 2005 when he was named president and CEO of Rochester’s United Way. During his tenure in Rochester, United Way launched ROC the Day, a 24-hour online giving initiative which, since its inception in 2011, has raised more than $13 million for 500 nonprofits. The organization also helped spearhead the Rochester-Monroe Antipoverty Initiative (RMAPI) to tackle the systemic root causes that create and perpetuate poverty.
Carpino was a member of the adjunct faculty for Fisher’s Ed.D. program for nine years until he retired from the United Way in 2015. He then founded TheCarpinoGroup, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in nonprofit strategy development, organizational needs assessments, and governance.
Carpino addressed graduates, offering advice on six lessons he has learned from reflecting on his life and career since his graduation from Fisher, including to listen to their heart, not just their head; actively listen and listen first; stay humble; serve others; strive for wisdom; and take time to celebrate. He left the graduates with his wife’s mantra.
“I’d like to share with you the five simple words that define my wife Mel’s philosophy of life,” he said. “I strongly encourage you to embrace them as your own. Those five words are: Do Good and Have Fun.”
Ahead of the commencement ceremony, Ed.D. graduates gathered to mark their graduation from the University and recognize their accomplishments as a class.
Exemplary Performance in Leadership: Loretha J. McCullough and Xavier Earl Edwards
Exemplary Performance in Scholarship: Katrina Julia Wojciechowski, Shantalee Pryce, Christopher Jay Means, and Shamira Pongnon-Gambrell
Exemplary Performance in Service: Lydia Williams and Denise Elaine Bolds
Doctor of Executive Leadership Candidates Celebrate Commencement2026-06-30T13:47:30-04:00St. John Fisher University conferred master’s and doctoral degrees upon more than 450 graduates during two ceremonies on Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9. Among them, 26 graduates received their Education Doctorate of Executive Leadership.During the ceremony, the University also bestowed the President’s Medal upon Dr. Peter C. Carpino ’72. He was recognized for his leadership, service, and commitment to non-profits, higher education, and Fisher.
Carpino has held executive leadership roles in the nonprofit and higher education sectors for more than 40 years. A first-generation student and member of Fisher’s Class of 1972, he received a full fellowship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a master’s degree in communications. His professional career took root at the United Way of Greater Rochester (now the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes) where he served as communications director and later as vice president for marketing and resource development, responsible for a $29 million annual campaign.
In 1987, he returned to his alma mater where he served as vice president for development and communications. While at Fisher, he earned a Ph.D. from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, OH, one of the first accredited distance learning programs in the country. Eight years later, he was named president and CEO of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (PA) and served there until 2005 when he was named president and CEO of Rochester’s United Way. During his tenure in Rochester, United Way launched ROC the Day, a 24-hour online giving initiative which, since its inception in 2011, has raised more than $13 million for 500 nonprofits. The organization also helped spearhead the Rochester-Monroe Antipoverty Initiative (RMAPI) to tackle the systemic root causes that create and perpetuate poverty.
Carpino was a member of the adjunct faculty for Fisher’s Ed.D. program for nine years until he retired from the United Way in 2015. He then founded TheCarpinoGroup, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in nonprofit strategy development, organizational needs assessments, and governance.
Carpino addressed graduates, offering advice on six lessons he has learned from reflecting on his life and career since his graduation from Fisher, including to listen to their heart, not just their head; actively listen and listen first; stay humble; serve others; strive for wisdom; and take time to celebrate. He left the graduates with his wife’s mantra.
“I’d like to share with you the five simple words that define my wife Mel’s philosophy of life,” he said. “I strongly encourage you to embrace them as your own. Those five words are: Do Good and Have Fun.”
Ahead of the commencement ceremony, Ed.D. graduates gathered to mark their graduation from the University and recognize their accomplishments as a class.
Exemplary Performance in Leadership: Loretha J. McCullough and Xavier Earl Edwards
Exemplary Performance in Scholarship: Katrina Julia Wojciechowski, Shantalee Pryce, Christopher Jay Means, and Shamira Pongnon-Gambrell
Exemplary Performance in Service: Lydia Williams and Denise Elaine Bolds
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