August 21, 2026
What drew you to St. John’s University at this point in your career, and what convinced you this was the right place for your next chapter?
After 25 years in public higher education, I knew my next step needed to be meaningful. I wanted an opportunity where I could build on my experience, continue to grow, and make an impact on a broader scale. St. John’s commitment to access, opportunity, and student success really resonated with me.
As a graduate of the University’s doctoral program, I already felt a personal connection to St. John’s and its Vincentian mission. The opportunity to return to St. John’s in this role, at a time when student success is such a clear institutional priority, felt like the right next chapter for me.
As you begin meeting with students, faculty, administrators, and staff, what are the questions you are most eager to ask, and what do you hope to learn?
Right now, I am very much in listening and learning mode. I want to understand what is working well, where students are encountering barriers, and where greater communication, coordination, or consistency could improve their experience. I am interested in hearing what faculty and staff need to support students effectively and what they believe we should preserve as we move forward. I also want to hear directly from students about when they feel most supported, where they experience frustration, and what helps them feel connected to the University.
The Strategic Plan’s first goal is Student Success. How do you respond to that?
It is incredibly meaningful to join St. John’s at a time when student success has been identified as the University’s North Star. To me, that means considering how our decisions affect students and their ability to persist, graduate, and thrive beyond the University. Student success is a shared responsibility that requires strong partnerships among faculty, academic advising, student support services, and so many other areas across the University. It also requires us to recognize that students do not all need the same type or level of support. We must create a strong foundation for every student while providing more proactive and individualized support when it is needed.
From your perspective, what are the ingredients that allow both students and faculty to thrive, and how can the Provost’s Office help create those conditions?
Students and faculty thrive when expectations are clear and communication is strong, and they have the information and resources they need. Students need to feel known, supported, and connected. Faculty need strong partnerships and clear pathways for connecting students with the appropriate support. The Provost’s Office can help by bringing people together, clarifying responsibilities, improving communication, and ensuring that our systems and processes support the work. It can also help us share effective practices while recognizing the unique needs of each school and its students.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how students learn and will influence the career paths they choose. How do you think St. John’s can help students seize the opportunities AI presents while using it responsibly?
Artificial intelligence will be part of nearly every field our students enter, so we have a responsibility to prepare them to use it thoughtfully, ethically, and effectively. Students need to understand what AI can do, but they also need to recognize where human judgment, creativity, critical thinking, and accountability remain essential. At St. John’s, we can embrace the opportunities AI presents while also helping students ask important questions about accuracy, fairness, privacy, and responsible use. We want our students not only to know how to use these tools, but also to think critically about when and why they should use them.
Any other fun facts about your bio that you want to share?
My connection to St. John’s is both professional and deeply personal. My grandmother earned her B.S. in Pharmacy from LIU in 1943, her M.S. in Biology from St. John’s in 1965, and her Ph.D. in Cellular Biology from Fordham University in 1972. She accomplished all of this while raising three children and at a time when women had far fewer educational and professional opportunities. She was truly ahead of her time and remains an inspiration to me. Her St. John’s alumni sweatshirt is one of my most treasured possessions! I was proud to follow in her footsteps by earning my Ed.D. from St. John’s in 2022 while working and raising a family of my own.