February 14, 2011
As a multi-campus institution, it’s not surprising that most of
our alumni have a twofold affiliation with St. John’s University.
In addition to remaining connected to St. John’s as a whole, they
usually enjoy a strong sense of attachment to the individual campus
where they attended class and from which they graduated. That sense
of identification is particularly evident within St. John’s Staten
Island alumni, and is fostered by the activities of the Staten
Island Alumni Association (SIAA).
“The Staten
Island Alumni Association was established in the late 1970s as the
campus built a solid base of alumni after the transition from Notre
Dame College to St. John’s University,” noted Nicholas A. Legakis
’97SVC, ’07MPS, Director, Institutional Advancement, Staten Island
campus. “The SIAA is really committed to addressing the changing
personal and professional needs of our Staten Island alumni, and I
can’t say enough about the leadership and dedication of the members
of our Executive Board. They’re special people who really give so
much of themselves to bring everything together.”
Comprised of a broad spectrum of alumni, the current SIAA
Executive Board includes:
President – Larry Durso ’75NDC
Vice President – Maria Nardini-Gallo ’85NDC
Secretary – Diane Anselmo ’96NDC
Program Coordinator/Treasurer – Patricia Bean ’80CBA, ’88MBA
Historian – Stephen Maresca ’72CBA
Members of the Executive Board work closely with Staten Island
campus administrators, serving as the voice of the alumni when
planning events with the Office of Institutional Advancement. Over
the past few years, the Alumni Association has assisted in reviving
the annual Alumni Reunion Barbecue and Family Fun Fair, and in
November, 2009 initiated the Fall Classic Cocktail Reception, which
brings alumni back to campus to network and meet other members of
their St. John’s family.
Meetings of the SIAA are held on the third Thursday of each
month on the Staten Island campus and serve as a vehicle to bring
the ideas and suggestions of the Staten Island alumni to fruition.
The Board is deeply committed to supporting activities that reflect
the Vincentian mission, such as collecting food and clothing at
every meeting, which is then given to the Office of Campus Ministry
on the Staten Island campus for distribution to the homeless.
“The Executive Board and the regular attendees of our monthly
meetings are great,” continued Legakis. “They all have tremendous
enthusiasm. In addition to being loyal St. John’s graduates,
they’re proud to have an affiliation with the Staten Island
campus.”
As would be
expected, members serve for a variety of reasons, all of which
relate in some way to a deep sense of appreciation for what the
University has helped them to accomplish, first as students and
later in their professional lives.
According to Board President Larry Durso, “Serving as President
of the Staten Island Alumni Association has allowed me to connect
with my fellow classmates and, at the same time, meet younger
alumni. It’s a great feeling to be able to exchange ideas with St.
John’s students of all ages, and it’s also great to give back and
help support the University that helped me in so many ways as a
student and also throughout my career. I will forever be grateful
to St. John’s for reasons too numerous to mention.”
Patricia Bean is a double alumna who has been connected to the
Staten Island campus for more than three decades. She was both an
undergraduate and graduate student, has served as an adjunct member
of the faculty, and held a variety of positions within the SIAA,
including its presidency. In her current role as Program
Coordinator, she is pleased with the increased numbers of alumni
who are taking part in what the organization has to offer.
“I’ve been active in the SIAA for years,” she said “and I’m
thrilled to see a rebirth of the organization this time around.
Alumni of all ages are involved, and the SIAA has evolved more to
include greater interaction with the students, as well as a social
conscience and increased community involvement. My participation in
the SIAA allows me an opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ for all of
the good things that have happened because of my ties to this
campus.”
The strong sense of appreciation for what the University has
done for them is a recurrent theme among Board members. They
attribute much of their success to an excellent St. John’s
education, and look back upon their student days on the Staten
Island campus with both affection and gratitude. Their
participation in the SIAA, including a willingness to serve on the
Executive Board, is a way to show their appreciation to the
University and campus that is such an important part of their
lives.
According
to Diane Anselmo, being on the SIAA Board has “…given me the
priceless opportunity to network with other graduates, form
wonderful friendships and take an active role in bringing more and
more graduates back to campus. My years at St. John’s left me with
the foundation on which to build a successful future, and it is my
pleasure to give back to the University in any way I can.”
For additional information regarding the SIAA, please contact
Nicholas A. Legakis ’97SVC, ’07MPS, Director, Institutional
Advancement, Staten Island campus at (718) 390-4146 or e-mail legakisn@stjohns.edu.