The Rochester alumnus reflects on his formative experiences and shares lessons learned from a career dedicated to public service.
Josh Shapiro 鈥�95 was elected governor of Pennsylvania in November 2022鈥攖he first alumnus to hold a state鈥檚 top executive position.
Shapiro, 49, delivered the address at the University-wide 2023 Commencement Ceremony held in Fauver Stadium at the Brian F. Prince Athletic Complex on the River 人妻少妇专区.
The governor of the fifth most populated state in the United States took time to answer questions via email about his time at Rochester, his unplanned veer into politics, and his advice for graduating students.
A tough day turned into a fortuitous one during Shapiro鈥檚 first year at Rochester.
When he arrived on the River 人妻少妇专区 in 1991, Shapiro planned to follow in his father鈥檚 footsteps and become a doctor. 鈥淚 started as a pre-med student, but a few months into freshman year, I nearly flunked out of organic chemistry,鈥� he shared.
That same day, he was also cut from the men鈥檚 basketball team.
Back in his dorm room, Shapiro was pondering what the future held when someone knocked on his dorm room door and asked if he wanted to run for student government.
鈥淭hey said, 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 have anything else going on, so why not?鈥� I decided to run鈥攁nd I won.鈥�
He is the only Rochester student elected SA president in his first year.
Shapiro became a student senator, then beat five juniors in the spring of 1992 to become the only first-year student in school history to serve as (SA) president.
鈥淚 knocked on doors, rallied with students, and together we made our campus better and improved communications between students and administrators,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淚 learned the ins-and-outs of public service, and what it means to advocate for other people.鈥�
Shapiro championed better safety measures on campus, and during his year as president, the University added more outdoor lights and blue light security phones and improved its shuttle service at night for students.
鈥淛osh Shapiro virtually has set a new standard for student leadership,鈥� Paul Burgett, the vice president and University dean of students at the time, told the 人妻少妇专区 Times student newspaper in 1992.
His cocurriculur experience would end up informing his academic one, prompting him to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science from Rochester and a law degree from Georgetown University.
Faith and family guided Shapiro鈥檚 path into politics.
For Shapiro, an observant Conservative Jew who was raised in Dresher, Pennsylvania (outside of Philadelphia), faith is a lodestar
鈥淢y faith is what calls me to serve my community and has taught me to bring its teachings out in the community to make a real difference in people’s lives,鈥� says Shapiro, an observant Conservative Jew. 鈥淪cripture teaches us that no one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it. To me, that means it鈥檚 on all of us to get off the sidelines and get in the game鈥攁nd that鈥檚 part of the reason why I chose a life of public service.鈥�
He also credits his parents with instilling in him a commitment to family and community service. 鈥淚 grew up watching my father treat his patients as a pediatrician and my mother care for the kids in our community as a teacher,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ow that my wife Lori and I have four wonderful children, I am just as committed to working as hard for the children of Pennsylvania as we do for our own.鈥�
The key to keeping constituents happy is mutual respect.
Shapiro has never lost a political election, starting with his run for SA president at Rochester in 1992. He won a seat on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2004 and served until 2012. He then served on the Montgomery County Board of Commissions until 2017, then was twice elected as Pennsylvania attorney general. In 2022, he defeated Republican Doug Mastriano in the general election for Pennsylvania governor.
After decades of running for and being in office, what鈥檚 his secret to success as a public servant?
鈥淚n every public office I’ve held鈥攆rom state representative to county commissioner to attorney general to governor鈥攖he most important lesson I’ve learned is that you’ve got to show up and treat people with respect,鈥� according to him. 鈥淚鈥�m willing to go anywhere to meet with anyone, regardless of party affiliation, to listen and learn, and I know that nothing will get done unless we do it together.
He鈥檚 filled with optimism for the Class of 2023鈥攁nd offers a few words of wisdom ahead of graduation day.
鈥淭he graduating Class of 2023 are some of the strongest young people I know,鈥� Shapiro says. 鈥淵our years at college are supposed to be filled with firsts and milestones, but for many of you the world stopped in 2020. But you didn鈥檛 let this adversity hold you back or define you. You pushed through, and in the midst of a global pandemic, your commencement is proof of your strength and power.鈥�
He adds, 鈥淲e鈥檙e counting on you, to use your power and your voice to drive change鈥攖o combat climate change, create a more just society, and take on the big fights that earlier generations have failed at. You are going to be the next teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and lawmakers that are going to change our future and leave this world better than how you found it. No matter what you choose to do with your life, always remember the value of community. Use your voice and your power for the collective good, to reject extremism, inspire hope over fear, and bring unity over division.鈥�
Editor鈥檚 note: This story was originally published on May 9, 2023. It was updated and republished in July 2024 to include video of Josh Shapiro鈥檚 commencement speech.
