President’s Office
Dr. Gerard Rooney is the seventh president of St. John Fisher University. He has served as president since 2015 and has been a member of the Fisher community since 1996. Before assuming the presidency, he served as executive vice president for enrollment, advancement, and planning.
He brings more than 40 years of experience in higher education and executive leadership. He has also held adjunct teaching positions in the University at Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education and in the Executive Leadership Program in Fisher’s Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education.
His presidency is grounded in a student-centered approach, strategic innovation, and a deep commitment to the University’s Catholic tradition and Basilian heritage. He has led Fisher through a period of mission-driven growth and development. In 2022, Fisher transitioned from a college to a university, reflecting the breadth of its academic portfolio, research profile, student success, graduate outcomes, and institutional standing.
“I am committed to carrying the vision of our founders forward, to advance the mission of the University, and to continue its good work for its students, its alumni, and for the people around us. I will seek opportunities to make the Fisher educational experience transformational for all of our students.” - Dr. Rooney
Early in his tenure at Fisher, President Rooney created College Bound, a weeklong residential program that helps low-income, first-generation high school students navigate the college search and selection process. The program has served hundreds of students since its inception, most of whom planned to attend college. As a first-generation college student, he remains committed to expanding access and opportunity for students from similar backgrounds.
President Rooney serves on the boards of national and regional nonprofit organizations and serves as a peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
He holds a Ph.D. in Education, Leadership, and Policy from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York; a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Fairfield University; and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Villanova University. In addition, he completed a certificate in Higher Education Leadership at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
President Rooney and his wife, Susan, live in Pittsford, New York, and have four adult children.
