Rick Jefferson '83SVC
Sitting in his well-appointed midtown Manhattan office at CBS News, Rick Jefferson ’83SVC is surrounded by a treasure trove of historic memorabilia from virtually every major news event spanning the last 30 years, including Republican and Democratic National Conventions, presidential inaugurations, Super Bowls, and Space Shuttle launches. “Not bad for an inner-city kid from the Bronx,” Mr. Jefferson noted.
Albert Bateh ’16TCB
Creativity can lead people on paths that others rarely consider, according to Albert Bateh. “I have always preferred the less conventional approach to solving problems,” he said.
Chez Valenta ’11P
Before leaving New Zealand in 2004, Chez Valenta taped a map of the United States to her wall and threw a dart at it. “Wherever it hit,” she said, “was where I was going to go.” It landed in the middle of the Hudson River.
Deirdre Matthews ’12G
A Special Investigator for New York City, Deirdre Matthews calls her continued connection to St. John’s “profound.”
Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship Alumnae Continue to Lead
St. John’s University students continue to enjoy extraordinary academic, cultural, and professional development opportunities as recipients of the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship, a highly selective, three-year program for outstanding undergraduates from 12 participating New York City colleges and universities.
Jomaire A. Crawford ’09C
An accomplished big-law associate, Jomaire A. Crawford has never forgotten the lessons she learned at St. John’s University, as well as its mission. “Providing pro bono services is how the University's mission most directly manifests within my legal practice,” she commented.
Kevin Kaulfers ’09CPS, ’11GCPS
As a freshman in the College of Professional Studies, Kevin Kaulfers thought he had his career path planned. However, the advice he received as a Criminal Justice major opened his eyes to a wider array of opportunities in the field.
Michael Kyriakides ’16GCPS
When two jetliners crashed into the Twin Towers on the morning of September 11, 2001, Michael Kyriakides was with fellow police officers at a training session in Bronx, NY. He and his colleagues headed for Manhattan.
Tahir Boykins, J.D. ’12CPS
By the time he entered high school, Tahir Boykins, J.D., had good reason to believe he was headed for a career in law. “I was a tenacious arguer,” he recalled. “I would put together all of these examples to defend what I was saying. My parents kept saying, ‘you think like an attorney.’ They turned out to be right.”
Lamar Perry ’12CPS
Though Lamar Perry majored in a healthcare-related field at St. John’s, his extracurricular activities on campus introduced him to the creative rewards of the performing arts. Those experiences led him to a position with one of America’s leading professional regional theaters.
Maeve Dwyer '18G
Library and Information Science alumna Maeve Dwyer ‘18G found that her preparation at St. John’s University led her to a career path she wouldn’t have been able to predict when she started.