April 15, 2008
“It is important for me to gather women together and tell them
how wonderful and amazing they are” said Brent Scarpo, educator,
producer, writer, director and former Hollywood casting director.
Scarpo presented his lecture “For Women Only” to an audience of
over 50 St. John’s students and faculty in the Little Theatre at
St. John’s Queens campus on March 27.
Scarpo’s lecture was part of the Women’s History Month
celebration and sponsored by the Academic Lecture series. The
lecture series, created in Fall 2006, presents students and faculty
with lectures on topics ranging from politics to religion,
athletics to science. The Academic Lecture Series gives students
the opportunity to not only attend a workshop but often meet and
mingle with the lecturer.
Brent Scarpo recounted his childhood memory of his father’s
abandonment and attributed the reason for this empowering lecture
to the strong relationship he had with his mother, “My mother,
Betty Scarpo, was a single parent of three children, with no
college education who barely graduated from high school but was the
best mother I could ever ask for. She was big on making her
children’s dreams and aspirations come true.” Scarpo’s mother was
the inspiration for his mission of empowering women and helping
them realize that they are what he calls the true definition of
special, “Women are special because they contribute so much to this
world,” said Scarpo.
Scarpo believes that every woman should be guided by core values
which help her identify her self worth and be the best mother,
sister and friend each day. These values include his belief that a
woman should never forget to take care of herself first, so that
she will be in a better position to take care of others. “Women
tend to do the opposite and take care of those around them first. I
saw this first hand with my mother everyday. She never took time
out for herself,” admitted Scarpo. It was after the passing of his
mother that Scarpo realized the importance of encouraging women to
live their lives never forgetting to love, care for and respect
themselves each day.
“Do everything from a place of passion,” said Scarpo, presenting
his last core value to the audience. Scarpo’s core value of passion
aligns with the University’s commitment to fostering the growth and
development of its constituents. Passion for one’s work, both
academic and service-oriented, is the fuel for realizing one’s
potential through excellence in achievement. By
bringing Scarpo’s message of passion for work to women at St.
John’s—women who hold a variety of roles from student, to teacher,
to employee—the University is contributing to the development of
women empowered to make a difference in this
world.
Please see the schedule of events for the University’s Academic Lecture
Series.