Division of Student Affairs

Resources are available at Sexual Assault: You Are Not Alone. If you would like to meet with someone from SOAR (Sexual violence Outreach, Awareness, and Response), please call our Campus Support Advisor at 718-990-8484.

You are not alone — you can get help today!

Call the Center for Counseling and Consultation at 718-990-6384 during office hours and identify the situation as urgent. The receptionist will connect you with a clinician who, after assessing the situation, will provide specific direction about what to do.

After hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays, please call 718-990-6352 for the After-Hours Helpline. The After-Hours Helpline counselor will be able to assist you with your concerns and provide a specific plan about what to do.

As a Catholic and Vincentian university deeply concerned about the health and wellness of our students, St. John’s cares about your basic needs. We recognize that too many of our students struggle with not having reliable access to nutritionally adequate food due to lack of financial resources.

Any current students struggling with food insecurity can visit Your Basic Needs for assistance and resources.

Vice President for Student Affairs
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, G023
Tel. 718-990-6568

Throughout her notable 31-year career, she has led most areas of Student Affairs, providing a vast knowledge of St. John's and its growth. In 1999, Jackie was part of the planning, implementation, and welcoming of our first class of resident students as the university transitioned from an all-commuter campus to a 24/7 residential operation. She has helped our students navigate impactful events from September 11, Super Storm Sandy, blackouts, and a global pandemic.

Jackie has led most areas of Student Affairs, including Student Engagement, Student Center Operations, Student Accessibility Services, Fraternity & Sorority Life, Performing Arts, Campus Recreation, Student Conduct, and Residence Life. As a Student Ombudsperson, she advocates for students in need of additional support, including those experiencing food insecurity, courseware inaccessibility, mental health and wellness needs, and personal trauma. In a first responder role, Jackie directly engages with hundreds of students needing fiscal, academic, and emotional resources. Jackie has capably served as the University Deputy Title IX Coordinator, ensuring all federal and state mandates are met, providing a fair and discrimination-free opportunity for students to receive accommodations, resources, and fair due process.

As Dean of Students, Jackie served as the chief student response member of the Student Success team. She responds to students with conflicts, questions, or concerns, advocates for students, and provides resources to resolve challenges. Students requiring basic needs, facing crises, or experiencing circumstances that affect their ability to be successful are provided with the necessary resources to thrive academically and socially, with overall well-being as a priority.

Astutely aware of the ever-changing needs of students, Jackie's institutional knowledge and long-time university-wide relationships provide her with the network to advocate for and support students in securing what they need to attain student success.

Jackie lives the Vincentian mission in word and action and completed the Vincentian Mission Certificate (VMC) Program and the Vincentian Mission Institute (VMI). She also serves on the Board of Directors at St. John’s Bread and Life.

Originally from Western Pennsylvania, Jackie lives in Little Neck, NY. She is a four-time graduate of St. John's most recently earning a doctoral degree in the Instructional Leadership program at The School of Education.

Director of Residence Life
Donovan Hall, Room C-16
Tel. 718-990-2417

Jason and his Residence Life team spearhead the day-to-day operations of the Residence Village, the home away from home for more than 3,000 undergraduate, graduate, and law students. To serve this dynamic community of students, staff, faculty, and their families, Jason and his team are in action twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Community development has been a part of Jason’s career in higher education. A product of Catholic education and a veteran of four other Catholic colleges, Jason began his career on the Staten Island Campus in 2015 and then transitioned to new roles in the Office of Residence Life in Queens.

Jason's career in Residence Life has grown alongside his training as a historian. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Scranton, a masters from Providence College, and a PhD from Temple University. His dissertation explored the fifty year of history of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, the nation's first Community Development Corporation. Born in the throes of the Urban Crisis of the late 1960s, this innovative alliance of neighborhood organizations, business and elected leaders remains dedicated to fostering and supporting the growth of a strong and vibrant community in Central Brooklyn.

He serves as a board member for the Salvadoran Children of the Poor Education (SCOPE) Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting elementary education at the Santa Luisa School in San Salvador. He has participated in numerous service immersion programs in Mexico, Guatemala, and at various locations throughout the Appalachian region.

An avid bibliophile, an aspiring guitarist, and lover of America's National Parks, Jason, his wife Alexa, and their three children Claire, Timothy, and Caroline live in Queens, New York, but can be found zipping around campus on a golf cart in the summer months.

Assistant Dean of Student Engagement
D'Angelo Center, 1st Floor
[email protected]

Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, G002
Tel. 718-990-6525

Eric M. Finkelstein serves as the Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff for the Division of Student Success. He provides strategic oversight to the areas of Student Conduct, New Student Orientation, First Year Mentoring, and Student Communications as a member of the student success leadership team. With bachelor and master’s degrees from Salisbury University and a doctorate from St. John’s University, Eric has 23 years of experience in catholic higher education, and 18 of those years as an administrator at St. John’s.  Eric has overseen the growth of the residence life program on and off campus, and led the program through the automation of student-facing administrative services, the launch of the StarRez housing management software, and training for staff on the global campuses. In his current role, Eric coordinates strategic planning and professional development initiatives across the division. As a member of the University’s Emergency Management team, Eric led Residence Life’s Hurricane Sandy and COVID-19 pandemic response, including the coordinated move-out of occupied buildings and safe, modified reopening for residential students, and initiated the student concerns committee at St. John’s. Eric is a native New Yorker and lives on Long Island with his family.

Senior Associate Dean of Students
Tobin School of Business
Tel. 718-390-4345

David N. Gachigo serves as the Associate Dean of Students. Prior to his current role, David also served in other capacities within the Division of Student Affairs on the Queens campus and the older Manhattan campus at Murray Street. His diverse role in supporting student success has been rooted in the intentional coordination and collaboration of the Office of Student Life in concert with other campus community partners in supporting New Student Recruitment efforts, New Student Orientation, Student Engagement, Student Mentoring and Academic Support Services.

David received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from The University of Montana, Missoula. He also has, a Master of Arts in Government and Politics (International Relations Concentration) degree and an Advanced Certificate in International Law and Diplomacy from St. John’s University. He is currently working on his doctoral degree in World History.

Director of Finance and Business Operations
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, G012
Tel. 718-990-1531

Dr. Kevin T. James is an accomplished higher education administrator, researcher, educator, and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in academic advising, budgeting, and business operations. He currently serves as the Director of Finance and Business Operations for the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Enrollment Management at St. John’s University, where he oversees financial strategy and operational planning to enhance student engagement and institutional efficiency.

Dr. James holds a B.A. in Government and Politics and an M.B.A. from St. John’s University and completed his doctorate in Education from Johns Hopkins University. His dissertation research focuses on space utilization in higher education, particularly optimizing university spaces to improve student satisfaction and institutional effectiveness. Using a mixed-methods approach, his study incorporates observational studies, surveys, and interviews to inform strategic space planning within The University Center.

Beyond administration, Dr. James is a published author and educator. He teaches a 14-week undergraduate course on Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at St. John’s University, where he integrates real-world problem-solving, lean startup methodology, and human creativity to foster an engaging learning environment. His passion for innovation extends to his writing in April 2024, he co-authored his first book, Design Your Business: A Creative Pathway to Transforming Ideas into Successful Products, with Dr. Luca Iandoli, offering aspiring entrepreneurs a designer’s mindset to transform ideas into successful products.

Director of Data Management and Assessment
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Garden Level
Tel. 718-990-7987

For nearly two decades, Jason Jeannot has been part of the St. John's community, contributing first as a student and now as a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team. Coming to St. John's University in 2009 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management in 2013, while holding various leadership roles in Residence Life and Conference Services.

In the Fall of 2014, he returned to the University as a Coordinator of the Operations & Event Support Services team, supporting the execution of event logistics for the Division of Student Affairs and the Student Organizations recognized by Student Government Inc. (SGI).

He completed his Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics and Information Systems from the Tobin College of Business in the Spring of 2020. This advanced degree supported his passion for building automation workflows that utilize data to inform decision-making in his area.

After a successful nine-year tenure leading the Operations team, he left the area as a director to become the first Director of Data Management and Assessment. In this new role, he has been charged with making data more accessible to help all leaders within Student Affairs identify what drives success for our students, which we define as graduation and career readiness.

Assistant Vice President for Student Wellness
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, G027
Tel. 718-990-6911

Executive Assistant
Newman Hall
Tel. 718-990-1921
 

Director of Student Communications, Marketing, and Information Services
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, G025
Tel. 718-990-2169

Scott A. Wallick leads university‑wide student communications strategy, digital platforms, and information services. He has driven major advancements in institutional communications through the implementation of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Email Concierge, strengthening accessibility, governance, and student engagement. Scott also serves as a Title IX advisor to students and is recognized for leadership grounded in equity, care, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Student Communications serves as the central communications partner for the student experience—educating and informing students about programs, services, events, and opportunities that meaningfully impact their academic journey and campus life. Through strategic messaging, digital engagement, and cross-campus collaboration, we ensure students stay informed, connected, and empowered to succeed.

We drive student engagement toward success.
Student Communications delivers targeted, relevant messaging that increases awareness of programs, services, and opportunities that support student achievement, persistence, and overall success.

We lead an integrated communications strategy.
Our office aligns messaging across email, social media, web, and digital platforms to ensure consistency, timeliness, and maximum reach among diverse student populations.

We enhance efficiency and effectiveness in communications.
We optimize internal and external communication processes by reducing redundancy, improving workflows, and leveraging technology to ensure timely, accurate, and coordinated messaging across the University.

We leverage data and technology.
We use analytics, user insights, and emerging technologies to inform decision-making and continuously refine our strategies to improve performance and enhance the student experience.

We promote equity, access, and inclusion.
We ensure communications are inclusive, culturally responsive, and designed to equitably connect all students to institutional resources and opportunities.

We strengthen institutional collaboration.
We partner with campus stakeholders to coordinate messaging, elevate divisional initiatives, and advance University-wide priorities.

Our work is guided by a shared commitment to excellence, accessibility, and student-centered communication. We strive to:

Be clear and actionable.
Deliver concise messages that help students easily understand what they need to know and do.

Be timely and relevant.
Share information when it matters most to support decision-making and engagement.

Be coordinated and intentional.
Align messaging across platforms and departments to reduce redundancy and improve the student experience.

Be inclusive and accessible.
Ensure all communications reflect the diversity of our student body and meet accessibility standards.

Be data-informed.
Continuously improve based on analytics, feedback, and evolving student needs.

Email Concierge is a centralized, self-service tool that empowers colleges, schools, and administrative offices to efficiently create and submit targeted student communications.

Designed to support strategic, coordinated outreach, Email Concierge streamlines the email request process while ensuring messaging aligns with University communication standards and priorities.

Email Concierge Features

• Targeted Audience Selection: Access dynamic student segments to ensure messages reach the right audiences based on relevant characteristics and needs.
• Self-Service Request Submission: Easily create and submit email requests through a guided process that promotes clarity, consistency, and efficiency.
• Campaign Performance Reporting: Access send reports and engagement metrics to measure the effectiveness of email campaigns and inform future communication strategies.
• Enhanced Communication Channels: Provides colleges, schools, and administrative offices with structured pathways to communicate directly with their students in a strategic and coordinated manner.
• Improved Coordination and Oversight: Supports our office in maintaining the quality, timing, and effectiveness of student email communications across the University.

Email Concierge helps reduce inefficiencies, limit redundant messaging, and ensure students receive timely, relevant, and impactful communications.

Access Email Concierge

Interested in using Email Concierge?

Please contact Scott Wallick at [email protected] and Beatriz Cabañas at [email protected] for assistance.

To ensure responsible, coordinated, and compliant outreach, all formal student surveys must be reviewed and approved by Institutional Research.

Institutional Research Approval Required

Any survey conducted for research, assessment, or data collection purposes must go through Institutional Research. For guidance, please refer to Survey Policy.

Informal Student Polls

Student Communications can support departments in conducting informal polls for engagement or feedback purposes (e.g., social media polls, quick-response questionnaires). These efforts should be limited in scope, non-research in nature, and coordinated with our office to ensure alignment with overall communication strategy and to avoid over-surveying students.

@StJohnsNow is a platform made for the students, by the students, dedicated to keeping St. John's students informed, connected, and engaged through promoting on-campus resources, events, and opportunities. We partner with all areas within the university to support strategic goals and improve the student experience.

Looking for a way to promote to and reach St. John's students? We would love to work with you. The student-led team can help create content that resonates with the current undergraduate population.

You can submit a request by completing this form or contacting the team directly during the academic year at [email protected].

Scott Wallick
Director of Student Communications, Marketing, and Information Services
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Garden Level G025
[email protected]
718-990-2169

Beatriz Cabañas
Assistant Director of Student and Family Communications
@StJohnsNow Team Supervisor
The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Garden Level G021
[email protected]
718-990-2981

The Division of Student Affairs holds bimonthly divisional meeting in which the leadership team provide insights and updates from senior university leadership. In addition, end-of-the-semester and end-of-the-year gatherings are held in December and June.

The Coffee Break series is designed to provide ongoing professional development for employees of the division. Sessions in the series will cover a variety of topics designed to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and development, and usually something sweet to eat and warm to drink.

For more information on the Coffee Break series, please contact Eric Finkelstein, Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, at [email protected].

Engaging Students on Social Media

This presentation provided new and innovative strategies to capture our students' attention for events, programs, and important communications. It was co-presented by Scott Wallick, Director of Student Communication and Web Content, and Cherrelle Nicholson, Associate Director of Digital Communications, on March 6, 2024.

The Division Book Club is a professional learning community of colleagues who enjoy learning something new. Interested colleagues meet over refreshments to discuss a common read, typically on a topic related to our work.

• 2024 Summer Book Club selection:The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt.
• 2024 Fall Book Club Selection:Campus Free Speech: A Pocket Guide by Cass R. Sunstein
• 2025 Fall Book Club Selection:Leading from the Margins: College Leadership from Unexpected Places by Mary Dana Hinton

For more information on the Book Club please contact Eric Finkelstein, Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, at [email protected].

This series is designed to provide new employees in their first year of employment with a common curriculum to increase cross-functional knowledge, improve collaboration, and encourage the sharing of ideas as we assist students in a variety of roles. The series is conversational and over lunch, designed for new employees to participate as a cohort and learn and grow together.

For more information on the Lunch and Learn series, please contact Eric Finkelstein, Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, at [email protected].

Lunch and Learn Series Modules 3.0

Module 1: Introduction to the Division of Student Affairs

• Welcome, Our Mission, and Values
• Strategic Goals and Professional Development
• Our Resources
• Student Government
• Data Assessment
• Student Communications
• Support Staff

Module 2: Campus Engagement & Student Leadership

• Campus Activities
• Fraternity and Sorority Life
• Operations
• Performing Arts

Module 3: Student Wellness

• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Student Health Services
• Student Accessibility Services
• Wellness
• Sexual Assault Outreach and Awareness Resources
• Campus Recreation

Module 4: First-Year Experience and Parent and Family Connections

• New Student Orientation
• Parent and Family Connections
• Veteran Student Services
• First-Year Mentoring (RISE and EPIC)

Module 5: University Career Services

• Career and Internship Advising
• Leadership Development
• Employer Relations
• Virtual Career Services
• ASPIRE

Module 6: 24/7 Community, Community Standards, and Managing Risk

• Residence Life
• Student Conduct
• Risk Intervention/Education Cloud/Early Alert

The Student Affairs "Pod Squad" consists of a group of podcast enthusiasts within the division who engage in meaningful dialogue and apply fresh ideas to our work in Student Affairs. They are truly “Podcasts with a purpose!”  Here’s how it works:

• Listen: We select three podcasts centered around a common theme.
• Reflect: We listen on our own time and consider how the content connects to your role in Student Affairs.
• Discuss: We come together for an in-person conversation to share insights and explore practical applications to our work.

This is a great opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives, spark innovative thinking, and strengthen our community of practice.

For more information about the Professional Mentor Network, please contact Eric M. Finkelstein, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, at [email protected].

This fund is available to cover conference attendance, webinars, workshops, and other opportunities and is funded at the unit level. St. John’s University is a member of National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) at the divisional level.

An initiative designed to support early-career professionals within the Division of Student Affairs. This program connects emerging professionals with experienced colleagues, offering guidance, insight, and encouragement as they grow in their roles. Why does mentorship matter? Research shows that mentorship has a significant impact on professional success, including job satisfaction and connection to and engagement with their organization.  

As a mentee, Student Affairs employees select from a directory of volunteer mentors (seasoned professionals from within the division) and someone whose experience aligns with their goals, and establish a collaborative conversation schedule throughout the year.

For more information about the Professional Mentor Network, please contact Eric M. Finkelstein, Ed.D., Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff, at [email protected].

Graduate Assistantships offer tuition remission and a stipend as part of the compensation package depending on the position. Please note that there are a limited number of positions available with the Division of Student Affairs.

Any available positions will be posted to the Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships page (please see the bottom of the page under "Division of Student Affairs"). Please review this page for information on the required academic criteria and required forms.

If you have any questions about your application, please contact [email protected].