Alumni Leading With Purpose: Shannon Gilroy ’14 and Luigi DiMeglio ’14

StagMates Shannon Gilroy and Luigi DiMeglio graduated from Fairfield in 2014, carrying with them cherished memories, lasting friendships, and a deep appreciation for the well-rounded education they received. They view their college years as a crucial foundation for the lives they’ve built. Above all, they are grateful for the connection they formed at Fairfield, which led to their marriage in 2021.

Both Shannon and Luigi graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences — she was a new media film major and he was a double major in English and journalism. Today, they live in Queens, N.Y., where Shannon works as an HR professional and culture and engagement specialist at Oscar Health, and Luigi is a line producer at Bloomberg.

In 2024, the StagMates attended their 10th Reunion at Fairfield. They enjoyed reconnecting with mutual friends, networking with classmates, and celebrating this meaningful milestone. While the Reunion marked an important moment in their lives, it wasn’t their first time re-engaging with the University community — they have been intentional about staying involved from the start.

Luigi has always believed in the impact that young alumni can have, especially through mentoring and advising current students. He has served as a mentor to many undergraduates, offering support with interview preparation, résumé reviews, and general career advice. His involvement sparked Shannon’s appreciation of this type of mentorship as well. “When you’re more junior in your career, you can likely be more relatable to a current student,” she said. “Your recent experience and insight can offer a hand through the fog of uncertainty that separates those students from their early careers.”

Luigi currently serves on the Media Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences, a group dedicated to supporting the school’s strategic direction and advancement efforts. In the fall of 2024, he partnered with the College of Arts and Sciences’ Office of Career and Professional Development to host a group of students for a visit to his Bloomberg office through Fairfield’s Stags in the City program. “This type of tour is actually part of what eventually led me to work at Bloomberg,” he said. “When I was a senior at Fairfield, I was lucky enough to visit Bloomberg’s headquarters in New York. So, as soon as I got the chance, I wanted to pay that forward.” The full-circle moment also brought back memories of his time as a campus tour guide at Fairfield.

Luigi’s sister, Christina DiMeglio ’06, PsyD, is also a Fairfield alumna. Luigi fondly recalls visiting Christina during Siblings Weekend. “I noticed how genuine, kind, and supportive her friends were — still are,” he said. “Her Fairfield roommate was her maid of honor, and my Fairfield roommate was my best man.”

The DiMeglio siblings are also first-generation college students, a fact that has deepened their appreciation for their Fairfield experience and also inspired Luigi and Shannon to make a leadership pledge in support of the Fairfield Awards Dinner (FAD) and the College of Arts and Sciences. As longtime donors and attendees of the annual fundraising dinner, they appreciate how the Stag community comes together as men and women for others each year to expand access to higher education and the Fairfield experience.

Luigi and Shannon are proud to be active alumni. Together, they plan to continue supporting students, contributing to University initiatives, and inspiring other young alumni to get involved — they believe it’s never too early to make a difference. “Giving back to Fairfield has given us a role in the community that we didn’t predict for ourselves,” said Luigi, “but we now realize it is something we can truly be proud of.”

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