When Mark Andrews began his association with St. John’s
University in 2006, he was immediately impressed with the
University’s commitment to caring and compassionate service to
those in need. From his first days on campus, he embraced not
only the philosophical aspects of St. John’s unique mission but
quickly became immersed in the practical application of these
Vincentian values.
“The mission is important here and it’s something I really wanted
to be a part of,” he said. “I wanted to be able to live that
mission outside of the walls of St. John’s, and I’m doing that as
best I can. I see myself as an ambassador for St. John’s
wherever I go, among my friends, in social and professional
circles, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”
After graduating from Iona College in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree
in Journalism, he remained to earn his master’s degree in Public
Relations and Corporate Communications two years later. He
began his professional career as a Regional Director in the
Cardinal’s Appeal Office of the Archdiocese of New York, working to
devise strategies to help parishes reach their goals for the
Archdiocese’s annual fundraising initiative.
Seeking to expand his expertise in the areas of both development
and alumni relations, Andrews served as Development Associate at
the Academy of Mount St. Ursula in the Bronx before making the
decision to come to St. John’s, initially as Assistant Director of
Annual Giving, before being promoted into his current
position. His major responsibility includes working with
constituent groups of alumni whose members are not only connected
to the University but to each other in specific ways. The
more interactions he has with alumni, the more he comes to savor
the uniqueness that seems to touch everyone connected to St.
John’s, including himself.
“St. John’s is a very special place for me,” he remarked. “I
got married by Rev. Kevin G. Creagh, C.M. ’91SVC, ’04PD [Associate
Vice President for International Sites and Chaplain, School of Law]
right here in St. Thomas More Church in 2008. My wife Laura
and I wanted to choose a location that would be very special to us,
and with the great experiences that I’d already had since coming to
St. John’s, being married on campus made so much sense to both of
us.”
Andrews’ dedication to service permeates his day-to-day activities
with alumni, helping him to encourage others who love St. John’s to
follow his example. He noted that he has “…really become
involved with the fabric of the University, which has positively
impacted my dealings with alumni. Being involved in service
activities has made me better able to explain the mission of the
University to our alumni and friends, and hopefully serve as a role
model because of the things I’ve done with both my colleagues here
at St. John’s and with alumni. There are so many alumni out
there who have a lot of love for St. John’s, and I want to do as
much as I can to keep them connected to their alma mater.”
He looks forward to working with his colleagues across the
University to develop additional constituent groups that will
become active in the many events taking place at St. John’s
throughout the year, particularly those involving opportunities for
service. “I’m always looking for additional ways to keep our
alumni connected. Activities like St. John’s Annual Service
Day have a special meaning for me, because they give our alumni a
chance to give back and make a difference in the lives of real
people with real needs. I like to think that I’m helping to
keep that message at the forefront of their lives. Giving back
takes work and energy, but the results are worth it for me, and I
know that so many of our alumni feel the same way.”