Center for Student Success
What We Do
The Center for Student Success is a one-stop hub of resources for first-year students, inclusive of academic and career advising, academic achievement resources and tutoring, mentoring and other first-year transition programs.
Our dedicated team seeks to initiate and maintain an on-going relationship with students focused on achieving success at St. John’s University both inside and outside of the classroom.
Whether you are a future or current first-year student, a parent, family member or supporter, or a guidance counselor, we are excited that you wish to learn more about the Center for Student Success and hope you enjoy viewing our site.
Academic Advising
The First-Year Academic Advising Team advises incoming first-year students. This beings with informal meetings in the spring of your senior year and continues with ongoing personalized advisement through the first year. The team creates your first semester class schedule aligned with your academic interests, and helps you build a foundational understanding of how to plan and navigate your academics and campus life at St. John's, including understanding graduation requirements and the many online student tools available to you.
First-Year Transition Programs
Our First-Year Programs team is committed to helping our students thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Learning how to build relationships with the University, with professors, and with each other is an important skill to develop. Our first-year programs are designed to strengthen students’ ability to connect with the St. John's community with a focus on building strategies to enhance their academic skills.
Academic Achievement
To ensure a student's achievement in the classroom we provide peer tutoring and other resources to help students hone their academic skills
Case Management
Our Case Management team helps students navigate resources on- and off-campus. We do this by:
Engaging in crisis prevention and intervention
Responding to concerns from the campus community about students in distress
Assisting students in identifying options to address challenges and barriers to success
Promoting growth in self-advocacy while connecting students to campus and community resources
Providing opportunities for students to develop critical thinking skills
Major Exploration
Students are encouraged to connect for support and guidance for exploration of major options and foundation of career readiness
Meet the Team
Joni O'Hagan
Executive Director of the Center for Student Success
First-Year Academic Advising
Dr. Charles C. Pizzo
Director, First-Year Academic Advising
Dr. Jennifer L. Newsom
Associate Director, First-Year Academic Advising
Alison Celaya
Associate Director, First-Year Academic Advising
Anna Donnelly
PT Advisor, First-Year Academic Advising
Gerri Vopelak
PT Advisor, First-Year Academic Advising
David Duryea
Assistant Director, First-Year Academic Advising
Udeshika Abeysena
Assistant Director, First-Year Academic Advising
David Strauss
Assistant Director, First-Year Academic Advising
Thomas Boehrer
Assistant Director, First-Year Academic Advising
First-Year Programs
Sarah Braden
Director of First-Year Programs
Gerard Fabian Cajas
Associate Director, First-Year Programs
Stephanie Ramsey
Assistant Director, First-Year Programs
Academic Achievement
Alexandra Marquez
Director of Academic Achievement
Melissa Tirelli
Assistant Director, Academic Achievement
Mario Cornejo
Assistant Director, Academic Achievement
Linda Dersch
PT Office Assistant
First-Year Career Advising
Kenneth Emeghebo
Associate Director of Career Services/First-Year Career Advising
Bernice Swinton
Assistant Director, First-Year Career Advising
Case Management
Princess Britta Gay-Henderson
Case Manager
Department Support
Betzaida Gonzalez
Support Staff
Amanda Rose
Support Staff