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Q&A with Dr. Gerard Rooney, 2016 Executive of the Year

At this year’s PRism Awards, St. John Fisher College President Dr. Gerard Rooney received the Executive of the Year Award, recognizing a corporate or not-for-profit executive in the Greater Rochester Area who has demonstrated an understanding and regard for the practice of public relations. 

We interviewed Dr. Rooney to learn more about his view of PR and what this honor means to him.

What is your view of the value of public relations in higher education?
There is a critical need today, more than ever given the rising cost of higher education, to communicate the value of higher education. Because of the competitive nature of the market, it is important to tell the story of the value, impact, and transformative potential of a private college education.  Public relations professionals are in the best position to tell the successful stories of their institutions and, in the process of doing so, help to strengthen the public perception of higher education overall.

When you took over as president of St. John Fisher, you moved the marketing and communications function so it directly reports to you. Why was that move important for you and for the college?
There are many reasons that having the marketing and communications function reporting to the president’s office is important.

First, and for me personally, being on point with my own messaging helps me to convey the institution’s message in a consistent way. Having direct access to our marketing and communications team enables me to do that and to continuously improve.

Second, the way the institution is presented – in news stories, press releases, advertising, etc., - is critical and builds on the core messaging of the College.

Finally, at Fisher, we are all driven by our strategic plan, mission, and vision, so any communication we do surrounds and ties back to those three things.  Having me, as the president, and our communications team on the same page and working towards the same goals helps us to more efficiently and effectively achieve those goals.  

You have served as president of the college for nearly a year. What has been your biggest challenge so far? What do you see as your biggest achievement?
The biggest achievement has been hiring several members of my administrative team, including our new provost, vice president for institutional advancement, and dean of the School of Business.

An unanticipated challenge has been balancing the competing demands of the new position and managing the limited time I have available. 

What does winning the Executive of the Year Award mean to you?
Recognition of your work by a professional organization, in this instance by the PRSA Rochester Chapter, and by internal colleagues is very gratifying.

My efforts have always been for the sake of making Fisher more widely and more authentically known, so being recognized by those whose job it is to promote and share stories of businesses and organizations they represent takes the award to a new level for me.

What do you like to do when you aren't running the college?
Spend time with my wife and four children, Matt, Michael, Elizabeth, and Daniel.