Remy Martin ’16P, ’18GEd
July 10, 2019
When Remy Martin ’16P, ’18GEd began to map out his life plan, the St. John’s doctoral candidate realized his path would not be straight and narrow.
“I have quite a few different passions. So, I chose to act on them all rather than on only one,” said Remy, who has skillfully navigated the very different worlds of science, the performing arts, and education after arriving on the Queens, NY, campus of St. John’s University in 2012.
Remy has worked in the classroom as a student teacher, sharing his knowledge of biology with students at Central Islip Senior High School. He has also taken to the stage to sing with Voices of Victory, the official gospel choir of St. John’s, and to perform in the University’s production of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls.
“He is a terrific singer, and he is definitely one of the best we have had,” said Nigel W. Gretton, Director of Performing Arts and Founding Director of Voices of Victory.
Remy has assisted in the management and production of more than 20 shows during his years at the University in his role as Assistant Manager and Coordinator of Events and Activities for Performing Arts groups. He manages The Little Theatre at the University and supports University events through his skills as an audio technician and a DJ.
“Being at St. John’s brings out the best in me. It is a perfect match,” said Remy, whose other roles for the Department of Performing Arts include Staff Assistant and Graduate Assistant, a job he will continue throughout the summer and into the fall 2019 semester.
“He is a tremendous asset to the performing arts and to the University because he has been able to touch every aspect of University life,” Mr. Gretton said.
Remy’s sharing of what he described as “my gift of song” extended abroad in 2017, when he traveled to Spain with Voices of Victory to perform as part of a tour of five cities. “That is a highlight of my time at St. John’s,” he said. “This was my first experience outside the United States, and it sparked my passion for international travel. I never took part in our Study Abroad program, but the Spain tour enabled me to get a taste of what that program is like—while getting to sing, no less!”
Outside of St. John’s, Remy is Senior Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens Pharmacy. He is also the lead male vocalist for CityScape & The Park Avenue Horns, a wedding band based in Montclair, NJ. He additionally sings at churches and at special events in the private and corporate sectors.
Originally, Remy wanted to become a physician. “I initially came to St. John’s with the hope of eventually going to medical school. However, that all changed during my junior year,” recalled Remy, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Toxicology at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “I had to take a hard look at myself to see if I had chosen my true path, and I realized that medical school was not for me. Education was the way I should go.”
With that goal in mind, Remy became certified as a biology teacher for grades seven through 12 after earning a Master of Science degree in Adolescent Education with a concentration in biology at The School of Education. He is currently enrolled in the doctoral Curriculum and Instruction program at The School of Education and expects to graduate in May 2022. His doctoral dissertation focuses on the practice of nontraditional learning in an academic setting. He conducts research on how music, in the form of a jingle or rap, and poetry can be used as an effective modality in teaching science to middle school or high school students.
“I thought that was a brilliant use of the arts as a teaching tool for science,” Mr. Gretton said.
Remy said he is grateful for the freedom he enjoys at the University to explore his academic and extracurricular interests. “What I like best about St. John’s is its acknowledgment, support, and encouragement,” he added. “The University does a great job of honoring your efforts if you work hard and do your best.”