John Fiske, political science alumnus, is changemaker in the community
With the Fiske Legal Series and a new documentary about San Diego – John Fiske brings his passions to the forefront as a mentor to students and now as a film director
When John Fiske (‘04) decided he wanted to go to law school in the fall of 2003, he had minimal understanding of what lay ahead for him.
A political science student, Fiske won a spot in the Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program to study for two weeks with Leon Panetta and other CSU awardees at CSU Monterey. It was there that Panetta told students, “Go to law school, you’ll learn to think properly.”
Fast forward 20 years later, Fiske, a partner at Baron & Budd, and environmental (public entity as plaintiff) expert attorney, found a way to give back — to help undergraduate students prepare for what lies ahead in law school. He provides a resource for students considering law school by helping them answer questions about debt, competition, happiness, and stress.
He wants new law students to learn how to manage health, relationships, and one of the biggest challenges — the financials. Students have to decide how they will manage all these factors. Fiske said that “one of the best decisions in my life” was the decision to go debtless by accepting a scholarship, rather than taking on student loans in order to attend a prestigious law school.
“I think the most fulfilling life someone can lead is when they find service and they seek out service unique to them,” Fiske said.“The best I’ve ever felt is when I’m meaningfully serving the community.”
Fiske and his wife Courtney first created the Fiske Legal Series and then established a dedicated endowment fund for pre-law students (both through the Fiske Family Foundation) to help aspiring SDSU students make the jump from undergraduate studies to law school. Their funds aim to both demystify the law profession and also provide support and resources to facilitate applying and getting into law school.
The series offers insights about the law school experience — “to peel back the layers and have time for some real talk from the panelists,” Fiske said.
The 2023 Fiske Legal Series event featured two practicing attorneys who attended San Diego State University as CAL undergraduates — Jennifer Stone (English ‘96), sr. deputy county counsel, Office of County Counsel, County of San Diego Office and Rodney Cruz Pizarro (sociology ‘03), lead counsel, Airbnb Host Community.
At the 2024 series, Fiske welcomed expert legal graduates to campus for a formative discussion on “Aspirational Lawyering Today.” Retired Superior Court Judge Vic Bianchini (political science ’60) and Superior Court Judge Devon Lomayesva (history ’94) shared their unique career stories and keys to their success.
In spring 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta took the stage in a wide-ranging conversation with Fiske.
Most recently, Fiske has embarked on a journey as director of a documentary about San Diego’s biodiverse climate: “The Most Biodiverse Place in America,” The passion project features Fiske, his sons, and three faculty members, including CAL postdoctoral research scholars Brooke Rose, and Clarissa Rodriguez along with Marshal Hedin, professor in biology and director of SDSU Biodiversity Museum. Fiske hosted a standing-room only film screening at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Theatre in November.
The film showcases San Diego’s unique climate in “an intimate portrait of place, purpose, and generational connection.“ Filmed and produced by Cherimoya Pictures and Paradeigm Films — to date, it has won more than seven awards at film festivals across the West Coast.
Planning for the 2026 Fiske Legal Series that takes place in April is in the works — and as in the past, it will prove to be an inspirational event showcasing career pathways for aspiring law students and other students across disciplines at SDSU.