Success Stories

Diego Rodriguez ’88SVC, ’90GEd

Diego Rodriguez ’88SVC, ’90GEd has spent his entire career serving and protecting others: as a teacher, a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and now as Vice President of...

Sr. Patricia Evanick, D.C. ’97GEd

Sr. Patricia Evanick, D.C. ’97GEd, who serves as Campus Minister for Faith Formation and Leadership on St. John’s University’s Queens, NY, campus, recently reflected on how she came to truly know God through caring for others.

Nicolás Cabrera ‘19G: Award-Winning Poet and Bilingual Teen Librarian

He is now a Bilingual Teen Librarian at the Denver Public Library in Denver, CO, a position he assumed in March 2020. In that role, he will be initiating and leading a virtual book club as part of the...

Diana Esposito ’18P

A physician assistant in orthopedic surgery, Diana Esposito ’18P never imagined she would be on the front lines of a worldwide pandemic.

Nancy Silvestri ’07CPS, ’08G

Real learning for real life—inside and outside of the classroom—aptly describes the pedagogical and professional efforts of alumna Nancy Silvestri ’07CPS, ’08G, senior advisor for New York City Emergency Management (NYC-EM) and Adjunct Instructor in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Michelle Amaryllis Centeno ’14GCPS

Children, immigrants, victims of natural disasters, the impoverished, and refugees of global conflict are all close to the heart of Michelle Amaryllis Centeno ’14GCPS. Ms. Centeno has spent her entire life working on behalf of populations on the margins as a passionate humanitarian, relief worker, and policy activist.

Carolyn Wargula, Ph.D. ‘13C

Dr. Wargula recently earned her Ph.D. in History and Architecture from the University of Pittsburgh. Her dissertation focuses on pre-modern Japanese textiles that incorporate women’s hair. According...

Andrea Licari-LaGrassa, D.P.S. ’72CBA, ’73MBA

For A. Andrea Licari-LaGrassa, D.P.S. ’72CBA, ’73MBA, travel, scholarship, and community service are among her most defining characteristics. A Professor of Administration and Economics in The Lesley...

Jennifer Daniel ’07TCB

Jennifer Daniel was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, with community service being instilled in her at an early age. Starting at the age of five, she accompanied her mother with delivering fresh food to senior citizens on a monthly basis.

Joseph Kelly ’19TCB

When Joseph Kelly ’19TCB was preparing for his first day on the job at LPL Financial a few weeks after graduating from The Peter J. Tobin College of Business in May 2019, he had a Yogi Berra moment: that “it’s déjà vu all over again” feeling, as the late, great Yankees catcher famously quipped.

Yugi Paul ’17TCB, ’18MS

Anyone who has been affiliated with The Peter J. Tobin College of Business for the past few years may find it strange that Yougnand Paul ’17TCB, ’18MS is no longer around.

Bernard Babb ’53C, ’58L

As the late Bernard Babb ’53C, ’58L was always quick to point out, many times things happen for a reason that do not become apparent until years later. A double alumnus of St. John’s University, Mr. Babb once related how his connection to St. John’s began long before he ever set foot on campus: “The man who was to become my godfather came to America prior to 1900 with a letter from his bishop in Guyana as a recommendation to help him find a job. The first job he got was at St. John’s College, on Lewis Avenue in Brooklyn.”