Pitt student wins Truman Scholarship for establishing gun violence prevention nonprofit

University of Pittsburgh junior Kathryn Fleisher has been awarded a 2020 Harry S. Truman Scholarship, one of 62 students in the country to win the prestigious award and the 13th in Pitt’s history.

The Truman Scholarship is awarded to students who excel in their commitment to public service.

Following the Tree of Life massacre on Oct. 27, 2018, Fleisher founded a nonprofit organization, Not My Generation, dedicated to gun violence prevention.

“After the tragedy, I struggled a lot with grief I didn’t know how to process,” said Fleisher. “I felt like I needed to channel it somewhere. The only thing that made sense to me was organizing.”

#ICYMI: Junior Kathryn Fleisher was named one of this year's @TrumanApp scholars! Learn more about this amazing Panther here: https://t.co/QAYrgUDbt1 pic.twitter.com/pbEKtiCPps

— University of Pittsburgh (@PittTweet) April 16, 2020

Fleisher’s organization now has active coalitions in 11 states and regional coordinators nationwide. And for the past two years, she has worked as a community research fellow in Mayor Bill Peduto’s office, looking at ways to mitigate police violence and provide support to immigrant and refugee communities.

“It sounds cheesy, but the bottom line for me is doing everything I can to create a more just and equitable country and world. Gun violence prevention intersects with pretty much every other issue,” Fleisher said.

Fleisher, a native of Strongsville, Ohio, was chosen as a Truman finalist from a pool of 773 applicants from 316 colleges and universities. Finalists were selected on the basis of their records of leadership, public service and academic achievement. The competitive national scholarship awards $30,000 for two to three years of graduate study.

“During her time at the University of Pittsburgh, Kathryn has used her voice and vision to power Not My Generation and its work in the areas of gun violence, intersectionality and diversity,” said Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “I am proud of all that she has accomplished so far and certain that our future, as a society, looks brighter and safer with Kathryn leading the way.”

Fleisher expects to graduate from Pitt in April 2021 with a bachelor of philosophy degree. With the Truman Scholarship, she will pursue a Masters of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University, focusing her studies within its Center for Gun Policy and Research. She hopes to work as a legislative assistant to a lawmaker on Capitol Hill.

Honored and elated to share that I’ve been selected as a 2020 Truman Scholar! Couldn’t be more proud to represent @PittTweet and lift up the lifesaving work of @nmg_gvp. Now let’s get back to work ✊?✊?✊?✊?✊? https://t.co/M2uIxhFIvP

— Kathryn Fleisher (@kathrynfleisher) April 15, 2020