150th Anniversary

Dear members of the St. John's University community:

In 1870, when the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) first opened the doors of St. John’s University in Brooklyn, NY, those pioneering educators opened a world of opportunity to students and originated our enduring mission to transform lives. 

At that moment in time, when educational opportunities for immigrants and their children were limited, The Most Rev. John Loughlin, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn, reached out to the Vincentian fathers with a mission to establish “a day College where the youth of the City might find advantages of a solid education.” After 150 years, St. John’s University remains faithful to the mission.

As you undoubtedly are aware, the Task Force began planning for the anniversary celebration well before the global COVID-19 pandemic. As we work together to manage the impact of the pandemic on the University and the world, the plans for the anniversary year may change but the University is dedicated to finding appropriate ways to celebrate this milestone occasion while keeping the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and alumni a number one priority.

We remain committed to forging a path of mobility and opportunity for those who want to make a difference in the world. As a private, Catholic, and Vincentian University, St. John’s prepares students for personal and professional success in today’s global society while never wavering from our founding mission.

As we celebrate, we are reminded of our core values of Truth, Love, Respect, Opportunity, Excellence, and Service. These values, guarded by our predecessors, continue to guide us today as we prepare future generations of St. John’s students.

Those students and our accomplished graduates are a continual source of school pride and a powerful reminder for us of why we were founded. The hard work currently undertaken by our faculty, administrators, and staff demonstrates the formidable promise and possibilities of the St. John’s educational experience.

Being faithful to the mission is what enables St. John’s to be the life-changing place that it has been for 150 years. With your continued support, our mission endures, grows, and thrives—just as St. John’s University has done since its humble beginnings.

Sincerely,

Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D.
President

Contact Us

If you have questions about the 150^th Anniversary Celebration, please contact

St. John’s University
150^th Anniversary Celebration
Office of University Events
University Center, Garden Level
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Phone: 718-990-1358
Email: [email protected]         

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