Student with SJU backpack looking at the Eiffel Tower

Office of International Education (OIE) – Outbound Programs

St. John's takes you GLOBAL from day one... in keeping with our mission!

Our campuses, our courses, and our commitment to YOU!

From St. John’s signature first-year programming designed to engage students from day one to our short-term and semester-long study abroad and service programs internationally, the Office of International Education (OIE) serves as the central resource for the St. John’s community regarding global opportunities beyond our New York campuses.   

In keeping with the University’s global mission, OIE strives to provide international opportunities at every level of your degree.  St. John's innovative core and major-specific programming offers opportunities for students in nearly every discipline to engage in cross-cultural experience and gain invaluable skills for the job market, opening doors to future opportunities.  Starting with the Global Passport Program in Freshmen year, to our semester programs at St. John's European campuses, all the way up to our graduate programs around the world, St. John’s students hear the call – over 40% of St. John’s students participate in some form of study, internship or volunteer opportunity abroad! 

Start exploring your options today... 

Students and faculty explore Rome

Global Passport

St. John's nationally unique first-year program engages your Core academics form day one!

The glass Pyramide in the Louvre courtyard

Semester

Whether you travel to one country or three, St. John's offers you full cultural exploration and immersion through our Semester in Paris, Semester in Rome and Western Europe Semester programs.

St. John's student in Havana, Cuba

Short-Term Programs

St. John's offers a wide range of short-term, faculty-directed programs all over the world, with travel ranging from 7 days to 2 months.

Australian Catholic University campus in Brisbane

Exchange

For the more independent student, we offer a variety of exchange programs with partner universities around the world, including Sweden, Japan, Colombia, Australia, Chile and more!

Student working abroad

Global Internships

Gain global competencies and language skills while earning academic credit in your field with an in-person or virtual internship through our Paris and Rome connections.

Student graduating on the Rome campus

Graduate Study

St. John's has multiple opportunities for graduate students to take courses abroad.

GLOBAL is part of the St. John's MISSION!

Given how often you hear about study abroad at St. John's, would it surprise you to learn that only 10% of college grads nationwide take advantage of this incredible opportunity? At St. John’s, our global mission pushes us to consider that a challenge, driving us to create new and innovative programs that encourage all students to study, volunteer, and live outside the U.S. 

Study abroad is not only a fun and personally rewarding experience, it helps to set you apart on the job market and gain invaluable global competencies.  And who knows?  You may come back with new ideas for where your career may take you.  Many St. John's students go on to pursue other international opportunities, and we're confident that you will too! 

So what makes St. John's programs unique?

Academics

Locally informed scholarly inquiry is at the core of our study abroad programs. With that in mind, we offer intellectually engaging classes taught by dedicated, highly trained St. John’s faculty throughout the world, with experiential components at the core of every course.  That means you won't just be sitting in a classroom abroad but directly engaging your coursework in the cities, histories and landscapes that surround you. What's more, these are our programs, so you know the courses are designed for you, work for your major and core requirements, and keep you on track for graduation. 

Affordability

Study abroad should be accessible to all students. To make that a reality, St. John’s offers generous financial aid and scholarships that aim to accommodate every student, independent of their financial resources. Plus, most of your St. John's financial aid package will travel with you... that's the beauty of a St. John's program!

Safety

We want you to expand your intellectual and personal horizons, safely. Our full-time student life and academic support staff in each of our semester locations work with you to make sure you’re able to make smart choices. And when things don’t go perfectly? You’ll have St. John’s-provided international health insurance and worldwide emergency assistance – all covered by your program fee. 

The Vincentian Difference: Giving Back

Helping to change lives is an inspiring experience – one that sets studying abroad with St. John’s programs apart from most others. Each year, our study abroad students commit roughly 5,000 hours to service sites worldwide. You’ll make a real difference through activities like teaching English to local students, serving in soup kitchens, and working with the elderly.  Best of all, giving back often forms a central part of your academic experience. Through our Academic Service-Learning offerings, you’ll work with the community while fulfilling course-based experiential education requirements.

Student Support—Before, During, and After the Program

At St. John’s you’ll receive personal attention. We’ll be with you every step of the way, making sure you are fully prepared to get the most out of your experience. We’ll even (happily) talk to your families and provide resources to help them understand how St. John's guarantees that you’ll have an amazing... and safe... experience abroad!

Meet the OIE Team

Gregory Bruhn 

Director of Outbound Programs 

Education 

  • B.A. in French Language and Culture, University of Connecticut 

  • M.A. in French Literature, New York University 

  • M.Phil. in French Literature, New York University 

Relevant Experience 
Greg has over 25 years of experience in international education in a variety of roles including as an international student advisor at NYU; as a classroom educator in literature, English as a Second Language, and French language and culture at a number of universities; and as a study abroad administrator in the U.S. and France.  Greg studied and worked for three years in France, and has directed service and academic programs in France, Italy, Guatemala, and Peru.  His work has also included translations for W.W. Norton Press, as well as interpreting work for the Paris Opera Ballet and Theatre des Bouffes du Nord during their performances with the Lincoln Center Arts Festival. 

Fun travel facts 
Greg has hiked in Patagonia and completed the Inca Trail in Peru.  He was also able to attend a wedding in a castle in Germany, and stayed with friends in an Italian villa with a library that possessed manuscripts that pre-dated Christopher Columbus.   


Imran Patwary

International Education Office Assistant 


Anna Torres

Coordinator of Study Abroad Academics and Scholarships

Education 

  • B.A. in Psychology, St. John’s University  

Relevant Experience  

Anna comes with over 23 years’ experience in Higher Ed. She began her higher ed career at St. John’s as part of the University’s Executive Vice President team implementing various research projects and studies for new initiatives. One of her early projects includes working with the development team, performing research for the Discover the World program, now known as Western Europe Semester. Anna has worked in the OIE for over 8 years. She works closely with Advising Deans and students as they prepare and plan academically to study abroad. 

Fun Travel Fact  

Anna grew up living in Greece during the summer months and is bi-lingual in Greek. She has traveled to 4 continents. Some of her favorite experiences include exploring many of Greece’s beautiful islands with her family, swimming beneath a waterfall in Costa Rica, and wave-running in the turquoise waters of Bora Bora. 


Bianca Sylvain

Assistant Director of Outbound Student Services 

Education 

  • B.A. in Psychology, Mount Saint Mary College 

  • Masters in Business Administration, Mount Saint Mary College   

Relevant Experience  

Bianca has worked in the field of International Education for over four years, as a study abroad advisor in the SUNY system. Throughout her career, Bianca has focused on making study abroad accessible to all students, through study abroad scholarships. Bianca is committed to making study abroad affordable to students by taking advantage of the funds provided by the national scholarships, such as the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship. Bianca herself is a recipient of the Gilman scholarship.

Fun Travel Fact  

Bianca’s fascination with travel started with her own study abroad experience in the Czech Republic during her undergraduate career. Since then, she has traveled to more than 25 countries on five different continents. During her travels, she has stayed in a hut located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Colombia and technically missed her 24th birthday because she was flying to New Zealand and skipped a day because of time zones.   

 

running in the turquoise waters of Bora Bora. 


Natalie Artiles

Coordinator of Outbound Student Services 

Education 

  • B.S. in Marketing, St. John's University

  • M.B.A. in International Business, St. John's University   

Relevant Experience  

Natalie’s passion for international education started while she was a student at St. John’s. She studied abroad three different times as an undergrad, which included the Global Passport program to Rome, the Discover the World semester program to Spain, France, and Italy, and a Global Destination Course to Athens, Greece. After graduating from St. John's, she worked in different industries including pharmaceuticals at Pfizer, digital ad sales at Yelp, and financial services at Piper Sandler. In her current role as Coordinator of Outbound Student Services at OIE, Natalie works directly with SJU students to prepare them for their study abroad experiences through pre-departure orientations, visa advisement, health insurance registration, and more. She is dedicated to making students’ preparations for studying abroad run as smoothly as possible.

Fun Travel Fact  

Natalie is bilingual in Spanish and has traveled to a total 18 countries in 4 different continents. On one of her study abroad programs with St. John’s to Athens, Greece, she met two of her now closest friends. Since then, they have continued to travel together internationally.   

Queens CampusStaten Island Campus
Marillac Hall, Room 210
Tel: 718-990-6105
[email protected]

Hours:
Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m
 
Campus Center, Room B-18
Tel: 718-390-6105
[email protected]

For after-hour emergencies regarding students
currently abroad, please contact:
Office of Public Safety: 718-990-5252