Professor Paul Fabozzi Opens the Door to the Real World

September 12, 2013

For Paul Fabozzi, education has never been limited to what takes place within the confines of the classroom. During the 17 years that he's been a member of the St. John's University faculty, this dynamic and dedicated Fine Arts Professor has been making a difference for students by going beyond the norm of simply dispensing academic information.

"One of the most important things for me about St. John's is the relationships that the faculty and students can build with each other," he said. "The quality of the students who come to the University today is fabulous. There are so many opportunities here to learn about the students and for them to learn about the faculty that go way beyond what goes on in the classroom. It's amazing to see the level at which the students become transformed into young adults ready to enter the professional world."

Fabozzi is genuinely impressed by the work ethic of the students at St. John's. He sees their eagerness to learn as a reflection of the fact that many are the first in their family to attend college. They realize that they have an obligation to make the most of the opportunity that their family is working so hard to provide.

"Our students don't take it for granted that they're supposed to be in college," he remarked, "that it's just four years to have a little fun, maybe learn a little bit. They view their time here as the most important step in preparing them for the rest of their professional lives. What's better for a professor than being around kids who want to learn?"

The mixture of students who want to learn and a gifted professor who loves finding special ways to make the learning process memorable is a powerful combination. Fabozzi has designed a variety of initiatives to prepare his students for life in the real world, the latest of which is an affiliation with Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs in Long Island City (NY), a gallery that has been a feature of the New York art world since the 1960s. He has arranged for senior Fine Arts students to display their thesis work within a "real gallery" format, a unique opportunity rarely available to student artists.

"It's a great opportunity for our students to really learn what it means to be a professional artist by working in a museum quality setting for their work," he said. "They have to organize their work to get it ready for the public to see and ready for the public to purchase, if so be it. We've also done a nice thing in that the exhibition is highlighting not just the Fine Arts students, but creativity at St. John's in general. We're affiliating with the English Department and some of their students who are doing creative writing projects."

The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, begins with an afternoon reception on May 5, 2012.

Fabozzi acknowledges that donor support is imperative if special initiatives like this are to become a permanent part of the learning process at St. John's. He is grateful for the generosity of the University's alumni and friends who regularly do so much to make the St. John's experience the best it can be for every student. That, he says, is a true reflection of the Vincentian mission that makes St. John's different from other universities.

What's Best for the Students
"St. John's is a very unique institution at a time when it's important for universities to have a well-defined identity and a special focus," he said. "We're able to articulate what makes us different from other universities. St. John's might be big in numbers but it's still a very personal place, one that's totally focused on doing the best for every student. That's why donor involvement in helping us reach our goals is huge. Special initiatives like this professional exhibition are over and above what is part of a traditional curriculum, and they really make a difference in the learning experiences of our students. The generosity of our donors is a way of making these things happen. Here at St. John's we're fortunate because we have so much, but we always need more."

How You Can Help
To learn how you can make a difference in the learning experience of St. John's students, click here.

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