A Message from Dr. Gempesaw

At this time of great anxiety and disruption caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), I write to personally express my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the St. John’s University community who have been working tirelessly to address and respond to this public health emergency.  Since the earliest days of this crisis, I have witnessed first-hand the spirit of collaboration and cooperation that is a hallmark of the St. John’s family. Countless faculty, staff, administrators and support personnel have gone above and beyond their normal responsibilities to ensure the safety, health and overall well-being of our students and other members of our University community.  Throughout this experience, I have consistently seen our colleagues answer the timeless Vincentian question “What must be done?” and do their very best to answer that question with courage and compassion.

Although many of us were surprised by the severity of this health crisis, we have made timely decisions in the best way possible to minimize the risk of spreading the virus within the campus community. I recognize that the disruption to our academic and business operations significantly impacts your lives and the uncertainly surrounding this health crisis leaves us with many unanswered questions. In the midst of this rapidly evolving situation, we will continue to make critical decisions in the best interest of our students, faculty, staff, administrators, and support personnel.  

Thank you for all that you are doing for St. John’s University. I have never been more appreciative of the generosity of spirit that binds the St. John’s family during this challenging time.

Conrado "Bobby" Gempesaw, Ph.D., President