Fisher Flight Strengthens Alumni Connections and Student Confidence

Hosted by the President’s Office and organized by the Office of Alumni and Constituent Engagement and Career Services, the annual Fisher Flight program brought 12 students from a variety of majors to Charlotte, North Carolina, for two days of employer visits, alumni networking, and immersive professional development.

Students explored one of four career tracks: finance and accounting, marketing and sales, media and communications, or sport management, while also experiencing the energy and opportunity of a major metropolitan city.

Accompanied by Jaclyn Stowe, assistant director of experiential learning; Molly Place '19, '24MBA, associate director of student and alumni engagement; Katy Festa, senior director of alumni and constituent engagement; and Heather DiFino, director of career services, the cohort included: Brooke Chase ’26, Brennan Conn ’28, Hailey Gunther ’26, Emma Muchow ’26, Isabelle Newcomb ’26, Taylor Weldgen ’27, Janie Missel ’26, Leah Kucharski ’26, Kenzie Downs ’27, Xander Burke ’28, Jackson Gallivan ’27, and Evan Salazar ’27.

The trip began with a visit to Compass Group, the parent company of Chartwells Higher Education, where students met senior leaders and had conversations centered on organizational culture, career pathways, and the wide range of roles available within a global company.

Students also participated in a hands‑on pizza‑making class led by Fisher’s own Chef Joel Kraft, who was a surprise guest, offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at the creativity that shapes team culture.

That evening, students attended a vibrant alumni networking reception that brought together graduates from class years spanning 1992 to 2025. President Gerard Rooney joined the gathering, reinforcing Fisher’s commitment to building strong alumni‑student connections. For Conn, a marketing student, this became one of the most impactful moments of the trip. 

“The beginning of the event was a little bit unnerving, being in a room full of people we’ve never met who all have important jobs and insight to offer us. But after the first 30 minutes, students were able to shake their jitters and make memorable conversations and valuable connections. Getting over that hump of nerves gave me confidence for the rest of the trip, and still does now that we’re home,” he said.

Salazar, a sport management student, reflected on the meaningful conversations he had. “I genuinely believe I built bonds with the people that I met there. The conversations that we had, the way we opened up with each other, was really great, especially with our alumni.”

On the second day, students began with a team breakfast before splitting into their academic tracks for tailored employer visits. Each group met one‑on‑one with alumni working in their fields of interest, gaining firsthand insight into workplace culture, daily responsibilities, and career trajectories.

Later, the cohort visited alumni at Wells Fargo, MKTG, and Ally Financial, where conversations helped students better understand opportunities within large organizations and the importance of building strong professional relationships.

Weldgen, a media and communication student, emphasized the overwhelming support the students felt. 

“The level of support on this trip was incredible. Every person we met, alumni, staff, and leadership, was extremely dedicated to our success. It really highlighted for me how much St. John Fisher invests in its students, which is such a blessing,” she said.

The program concluded with a private dinner attended by President Rooney, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Chris Biehn, Jennifer Biela ’92, and Mike Zarrillo ’96, giving students the rare opportunity to engage in personal conversations about leadership, career development, and the transition from college to the professional world.

Across the two‑day experience, students described Fisher Flight as both empowering and transformative. The face‑to‑face conversations with alumni and industry professionals helped them see new possibilities for their futures, while the supportive environment strengthened their confidence and sense of belonging within the Fisher community.

This article was written by Hailey Gunther, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2025-2026 academic year.