Remembering Jennifer Emmi Fiorini ’97

Jennifer Emmi Fiorini ’97 was a beloved colleague and alumna, who served in a variety of roles over the course of 13 years on Agnes Irwin’s faculty. As a student, she was a “firecracker” with a great sense of humor, according to History Department Chair Wigs Frank. “She was always energized and not without a little mischievous behavior.” 

Jenn graduated from Agnes Irwin in 1997, after giving the student address at Commencement as the class-elected speaker. She went on to earn a B.A. from Georgetown University in Literature, Literary History, and Theology. After spending five years in advertising, her passion for education drew her back to the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Master's in Education. 

It was “fate” that brought her back to Agnes Irwin, Jenn once said. As she was nearing the end of her student teaching experience, she ran into longtime AIS teacher Mrs. Gormley, who asked if she would consider interviewing at her alma mater. Jenn joined the AIS faculty in Fall 2005 as a Middle and Upper School English teacher and Middle School Lacrosse Coach. During her tenure at AIS, Jenn also served as an Upper School Advisor, Class Dean, Director of Service Learning, Dean of Students, and ultimately, as Upper School Director, before taking a leave of absence in 2018 as she continued her treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
 

Jenn had a strong commitment to mentoring students. “My favorite parts of the day were working with students on figuring out a leadership path, or working on a personal growth problem, or helping a family support their daughter,” she shared in Agnes Irwin’s Spring 2017 magazine. That passion also extended to serving for five years as a deeply respected mentor in the University of Pennsylvania’s school leadership master’s program.

Agnes Irwin’s Class of 2016, in their yearbook dedication to Ms. Fiorini, said: “You have taught us how to be brave, how to be resilient, and how to be leaders. You have demonstrated to us that things might not always go the way they are planned, and that’s okay; if we just keep pushing through, we can achieve anything we set our minds to. … Through both good and bad, you have been there rooting us on.”

As part of our plans to honor Jenn, we hope to create a collection of stories and photos from her time at Agnes Irwin to share with her family. Should you have images, a story about Jenn's impact as an educator, or other memories you wish to share, please email them to alumnae@agnesirwin.org.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 15 from 2-5 p.m. at Alleva Funeral Home, 1724 E Lancaster Ave., Paoli, PA. The funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, December 16 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 35 Old Eagle School Road, Strafford, PA.

Read a beautiful tribute to Jenn here