Four Alumni to Receive 2026 Awards from Alumni Executive Council
St. Lawrence University’s Alumni Executive Council has announced that Barbara S. Christie '76,
Robert "Bob" E. Rich III '89, and Julia Steckel Fleischner '95, P'24 will receive Alumni Citations for their dedication and service to the Laurentian Community, while Jordan A. Pescrillo '12 will receive the Sol Feinstone Award for Humanitarian Service.
These honors, along with John P. Crowley ’76 receiving the Legacy Society’s 2026 Atwood ’16 and Alice Manley ’17, P’45 Achievement Award, will be presented during Reunion Weekend on May 30, 2026.
Alumni Citation Recipients
Alumni Citations are awarded to graduates of the University for long-term and exemplary service to the University or for exemplary professional accomplishment or community volunteer activities.
Barbara S. Christie '76
Barbara Christie has been a Laurentian trailblazer for 50 years, using her liberal arts education and passion for progress for the betterment of her community. A government major while at St. Lawrence, she was the president of the Panhellenic Council as a sister of Alpha Delta Pi, was a Thelomathesian Society representative, served on the Orientation Planning Board, and made fond memories as a member of the Laurentian Singers.
Following her graduation from the University, Barbara began a dynamic career in sales and marketing for pharmaceutical and surgical device companies, including a decade of work at Johnson & Johnson. Having build prominence in the field of neurosurgery, she was approached by BrainLAB, a developer and producer of medical equipment and techniques for non-invasive brain surgery, and help start their U.S. sales force in 1996. After years of travel and success in the industry, she relocated in Charleston, SC to serve as the Director of Marketing for Darkness to Light, a non-profit committed to ending child sexual abuse.
While Barbara’s work helped countless individuals and families in need of medical care and compassion, she always found ways to remain connected to her local community and alma mater. In Charleston, she is a member of the choir of Grace Church Cathedral and was an active member of their Saving Grace capital campaign. Barbara is also a past Board Chair of the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community, has supported One80 Place to help end homelessness, and was the first woman to serve as president of the Country Club of Charleston which hosted the 2019 Women’s U.S. Open. Meanwhile, she’s attended and volunteered for many St. Lawrence Reunions throughout the years, served on the Leadership Gifts Committee, has served students as a past Career Advisor, and most recently joined a group of Laurentians on a University-led golf trip to play in England and Scotland.
Barbara has answered the call for the University throughout her life as a philanthropist as well. She’s been a loyal St. Lawrence Fund supporter, including a $50,000 matching gift for her class to celebrate their 50th Reunion. In December of 2022, with memories tied to friendship and mentorship, Barbara established the Barbara S. Christie ’76 Director of Laurentian Singers endowed fund in honor of the group’s 75th anniversary and the impact her director, Dr. Bunny Jones, had on her life.
Robert "Bob" E. Rich III '89
One of the nation’s most prominent business leaders and a pillar in both the Western New York and St. Lawrence communities, Bob Rich has lived a life of impact while focusing on thoughtful solutions. He majored in Psychology and Environmental Studies while in Canton, building deep ties with mentors including Dr. Glenn Harris and Dr. Tom Greene, and was a brother of Sigma Pi as well as a DJ on KSLU Radio.
Bob worked as a Youth Development Coordinator for Western New York United following his graduation before joining his family’s company, Rich Products Corporation, in 1991. He served in a variety of leadership roles and earned his MBA from Canisius before establishing ROAR Logistics in 2003, a world class logistics provider offering a full spectrum of Rail, Ocean, Air and Road (ROAR) transportation services to national and global customers. Given his deep-rooted ties, Bob headquartered the company in Buffalo, NY with 8 locations across the country including Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ. Most recently, he expanded his business portfolio by establishing Three Sticks Marketing, a medical supply company, in 2020.
While his professional success is to be celebrated, Bob has also done a great deal of good for the people of Western New York, his adopted hometown of Carefree, AZ as well as St. Lawrence University. He’s been on multiple boards, foundations, and councils in his local community, including serving as a Trustee at Niagara University, the Park School of Buffalo, and Elmwood Franklin School. Bob serves as the co-chair for the schools and education committee for Kiwanis of Carefree and is on the Board of Trustees for Foothills Caring Corps. Bob is proud of his volunteer work for charity events benefiting Alzheimer’s research, cystic fibrosis, and juvenile diabetes, and used his professional acumen to help deliver clean water to the people of Flint, MI during their water crisis in 2014.
As an alumnus, Bob has often served as a connector for Laurentians. He’s hosted a semi-annual event at the Buffalo Bisons for alumni, parents, and friends, and has worked to connect with students as a Career Advisor. Bob has returned to campus regularly, including as a Reunion volunteer, a Laurentian in Residence, and most recently in 2024 to serve on an alumni panel highlighting 50 years of Environmental Studies at St. Lawrence. He’s matched that effort through his charitable giving, establishing the Robert Rich III ’89 Endowed Internship Fund in 2020 to support students in need of financial assistance while pursuing professional opportunities.
Julia Steckel Fleischner '95, P'24
Julia Steckel Fleischner has been a loyal Laurentian and active member of both the St. Lawrence and her local communities since her Commencement in 1995. An English writing major at St. Lawrence, she was a member of Calling All Saints, The Hill News, the Big Brother-Big Sister Program, and studied abroad in London.
Julia met her husband, David Fleischner ’95, in their first year on campus in 1991. They married in 1998, and welcomed two daughters, Margaret and Caroline, in the years that follow. Their St. Lawrence story continued with a new, exciting chapter as parents of a Saint when Margaret enrolled with the Class of 2024.
A thoughtful philanthropist and volunteer, Julia’s service spans several charitable and civic organizations, mostly centered in her home-city of Philadelphia. Following a career in the arts and development sectors for non-profits, she and David continue to support the arts and education, as well as health and wellness. She serves on the board of the Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) in downtown Philadelphia. A trustee at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Mural Arts, the nation’s largest public art organization, she served as the group’s first female board chair. She has been involved in key fundraising campaigns for these organizations, as well as The Farm Institute and the West Tisbury Library on Martha’s Vineyard.
St. Lawrence, too, has benefitted from her involvement. Julia and David have hosted and attended several Laurentian events, served as members of the Parents Committee during Margaret’s time on campus, and have been generous supporters of the University. They enjoyed their trips to the North Country to visit as Margaret competed on the Saints squash team, as well as a trip to visit her in Kenya while studying abroad. The Fleischners have generously supported the St. Lawrence Fund, as well as the squash program and new enrollment initiatives at the University.
Julia and David are proud to support St. Lawrence and treasure the education they received as well as the lifelong friendships they made. Julia, who has given back to St. Lawrence every year since her graduation, summed it up this way: “Giving back is easy when you realize how much your alma mater gave to you and truly laid the groundwork for your life.”
Sol Feinstone Humanitarian Award
The Feinstone Award is presented to a graduate who, through devotion of his or her resources or personal effort, has demonstrated deep commitment to the advancement of the freedom of people to pursue and attain personal, professional and economic freedom.
Jordan A. Pescrillo '12
One of the youngest alumni to receive the Sol Feinstone Award in University history, Jordan Pescrillo has spent her entire life in service for others, both globally and locally. A global studies major at St. Lawrence with a minor in education, her college activities is a resume founded in service and impact, including Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, Literacy for Nepal, and studying abroad in Kenya.
Following her time at St. Lawrence, Jordan served two years in AmeriCorps in public schools and in refugee resettlement. She became the first St. Lawrence University teaching fellow at Minmahaw School in 2014 and helped to forge a strong connection on behalf of her alma mater. Jordan has led community development teaching at Wide Horizons, supporting dozens of youth-led projects on the Thai Burma border and in Myanmar. She organized an international virtual conference for hundreds of educational leaders during Covid, and designed and monitored a youth program for children in Myanmar that supported learning and leadership skills after the military coup in 2024.
Meanwhile, a native of Buffalo, NY, she has participated in and completed Citizen Planning School and Cooperative Buffalo training. She’s a supporter of Weave News, Clean Air Coalition, and the Buffalo Mutual Aid Network, making an impact both in person and virtually whenever and wherever she can.
