May 26, 2026
In the crowded lobby of Sullivan Hall—the home of The School of Education at St. John’s University—family, friends, and colleagues gathered to welcome an old friend and dedicate a special new place. At the center of it all stood the newly named Joseph Sciame School of Education Recruitment Center.
Fittingly held on Friday, May 1—the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker—the ceremony featured opening remarks by James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean, The School of Education, who helped dedicate the Joseph Sciame Recruitment Center, named for Joseph Sciame ’71ED, Vice President of Community Relations, Emeritus. Mr. Sciame, known to all as Joe, spoke fondly of his more than six decades as a St. John’s student, administrator, benefactor, and integral member of the Queens, NY, campus community. His most important roles included helping generations of students navigate the financial aid process and fostering positive relationships with diverse community groups.
Joining in the celebration were Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President; Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D. ’08HON, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY, and Simon G. Møller, Ph.D., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
For many, the name was more than a tribute: it was a story.
As Master of Ceremonies, Robert D. Cote ’10SJC, Director of Development, The School of Education, described the transformative contributions made by Joe to his beloved alma mater. He helped multiple generations of students with financial aid, often serving as a beacon of hope to students facing economic hardships. A man deeply connected to his Catholic faith and Italian heritage, Joe remains a global ambassador for St. John’s to this day.
The ceremony began with Dr. Wolfinger speaking of a man who believed student recruitment and financial aid were not about numbers, but about possibility—about seeing potential in every student who walked onto campus, often before they saw it in themselves.
“Joe Sciame,” he said, “did not simply invite students here. He welcomed them into a family and a future.”
After a reading from sacred scripture, Rev. Aidan R. Rooney, C.M., M.Div., M.Th. ’78NDC, Executive Vice President for Mission, gave a formal blessing to the new space. He highlighted the proximity of the neighboring Office of Mission Initiatives and shared how the two offices exemplify Joe’s lifelong approach and commitment to the enduring Vincentian mission.
Mr. Cote passed the microphone to Joe, now aged 84, and then came the stories…many of them.
Joe shared that he felt a special kinship with the students he helped secure financial aid, offering scholarships for academic excellence to candidates from local high schools who might not otherwise be able to afford a college education.
What provided him with the most satisfaction were the relationships he cultivated with students, colleagues, and community members. He often found himself in mentorship roles with students who were eventually employed at St. John’s and helped them advance in their careers.
Joe spoke with passion, recalling encounters from years ago, name-checking his fourth-grade teacher who saw potential in him, and sharing encounters with a range of people spanning his eight decades, including regular folks to Saint John Paul II.
The ceremony concluded with guests touring the new center, where the room displays images and honors bestowed on Joe.
To anyone looking around at the gathering of friends, the strength of Joe Sciame’s legacy was clear. With the naming of the recruitment center, it will be with St. John's forever.