#Fisher2025: It’s Lights, Camera, Action for Budding Filmmaker

This summer, recent Fisher graduate Kessan VanGronigen is traveling down the NYS Thruway to enroll in the television, radio, and film master’s program at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

A media and communication and sociology major, VanGronigen hopes to pursue a career in documentary filmmaking. She said her experiences at Fisher have prepared her well for the future.

“The professors have played a significant role in preparing me for the next step in both my academic and professional journey,” she said. “Their mentorship, support, and real-world insights have not only deepened my understanding of the field but also helped me build the confidence and skills necessary to take on new challenges.”

VanGronigen was an active member of Cardinal TV and Fisher’s student-run communications agency, The PRIMA Group. She also spent a semester studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, an experience she said she deeply values.

“I felt privileged to be part of something bigger than myself and to gain a deeper understanding of another community,” she explained.

Those experiences in hand, VanGronigen feels ready for whatever comes next.

“Fisher has set the foundation for what I would like to pursue and has equipped me with the tools I need to succeed,” she said. “I hope to be working on various film projects across the country, while also expanding my professional network internationally.”