College News

St. John Fisher College to Host Nationally Recognized Author Wes Moore November 17

11/10/2010

On Wednesday, November 17, St. John Fisher College will host nationally recognized author, Wes Moore, to address the campus as well as the Rochester community about the importance of life’s choices and lessons. His book, The Other Wes Moore, chronicles his relationship with a man who shared his name and hometown. But, while the two had similar upbringings, they chose two very different paths in life.

Moore, the author, graduated Phi Theta Kappa as a commissioned officer from Valley Forge Military College in 1998, and Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. In 2004, he completed a master of letters degree in International Relations from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Then from 2005-2006, he was a paratrooper in the United States Army, serving a combat tour of duty in Afghanistan with the elite 1^st Brigade of the 82^nd Airborne Division. He spearheaded the American strategic support plan for the Afghan Reconciliation Program that unites former insurgents with the new Afghan Government.

A White House Fellow from 2006–2007, he served as a Special Assistant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He then went on to work as an investment professional at Citigroup in New York, focusing on global technology and alternative investments. Last year, he was selected as an Asia Society Fellow.

He has appeared on “Oprah,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” “The View,” “Meet The Press,” and has been featured in USA Today, People, and O! Oprah Magazine, to name a few. He has been recognized by Ebony magazine for its “Top 30 Leaders Under 30” feature and Crain’s New York Business’ “40 Under 40 Rising Stars.”

The “other” Wes Moore is serving a life sentence in prison for a felony murder during the commission of an armed robbery. And so begins the story of The Other Wes Moore.

In 2000, the Baltimore Sun was covering the author and his accomplishments. Simultaneously, the paper was reporting stories about four men who were arrested for murdering an off-duty Baltimore police officer. One of them was named Wes Moore.

The author wrote a letter to the incarcerated Wes Moore, and started a relationship with him. He received a letter back, visited him in prison over a dozen times, spoke with his family and friends and found countless similarities in their lives. The story struck him enough to begin writing about it and a significant story emerged about personal responsibility and the importance of education and community.

The event is free and open to the public, and will include a book signing session immediately following his presentation at 6:15 p.m. in the Student Life Center.

For more information about the event, call the St. John Fisher College Office of Multicultural Affairs at 585-385-8378.