College News

President Bain Named Among Nation's Top Irish Educators

10/20/2009

The Irish Voice Newspaper and Irish America Magazine have named Dr. Donald E. Bain, President of St. John Fisher College, to its Irish Education 100 list. The list honors the nation's top 100 education professionals of Irish descent.

"The Irish Education 100 is our inaugural effort to recognize the central role of educators in our history," said Niall O'Dowd, Founding Publisher, Irish Voice Newspaper. "More than a reflection of the past, we endeavor to build a creative communication network that will strengthen Irish identity in the twenty-first century with new collaborations, partnerships, and friendships. We view educators as the central link with Ireland in our globalized world."

Dr. Bain's Irish ancestors are from Counties Cork and Kerry. He joined the St. John Fisher College faculty in 1975, and has held the positions of assistant, associate, and full professor; History Department chair; Dean of Faculty; Provost and Dean of the College; Vice President for Administration; Acting President; Interim President in September 2004; and was appointed President in November 2005. He twice received the College's award for Teaching Excellence.

In November 2008, Dr. Bain traveled to Ireland to meet with Waterford-area business leaders. The purpose of the trip was to explore and assess opportunities for educational partnerships for St. John Fisher College in its Sister City of Waterford, Ireland.

Irish history and heritage are honored at St. John Fisher College through two memorials. The first is a Book of Kells memorial, located in Lavery Library. The original illuminated manuscript of The Book of Kells is permanently housed in the library at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The facsimile displayed at Fisher is Number 765 of a limited edition of 1,480 books worldwide. It was a gift to St. John Fisher College and the Rochester community from Irish immigrants, Irish-American descendants, friends, and members of the Monroe County Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Auxiliary. It serves as a memorial to the loved ones of many of the contributors, and in a broader sense to all the Irish who came to the Rochester area and contributed to its richness.

The second memorial is the Great Famine Monument, which honors the millions of Irish who died as a result of the Great Famine of 1845-1850. This monument was installed on the Fisher campus in 1997 by members and friends of the Monroe County Ancient Order of Hibernians.

The Irish Voice Newspaper regularly recognizes top Irish professionals in a variety of fields, including business, finance, and law. The Irish Education 100 list includes university presidents, board of trustee members, Irish study teachers, and dedicated educators that have committed their lives to selfless giving. For more information about the Irish Voice Newspaper, visit www.irishcentral.com.