From Rome to Global Recruitment: Living the St. John’s Mission

When people ask how I ended up working in international student recruitment, I often tell them that it began during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.

Before joining the Office of International Admission full time, I worked at St. John’s University’s Rome, Italy, location as Coordinator of Academics and Program Development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many study abroad programs around the world were placed on hold.

While our normal operations in Rome had paused, St. John’s chose to retain its staff and find meaningful ways for us to continue contributing to the University. I volunteered to assist the admission team remotely and quickly discovered a passion for international recruitment.

I later proposed creating a permanent position dedicated to this work, and that role became a reality. For me, this experience reflected the University's long-term vision, loyalty to its community, and commitment to its Vincentian values.

Today, as an International Recruitment Manager, I work with students, families, and counselors throughout Europe, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Russia. I genuinely enjoy interacting with people from different countries on a daily basis, learning from different cultures, and helping students imagine their future at St. John’s.

International students are often drawn to St. John’s because of our location in New York City. However, what truly distinguishes St. John’s is the student experience beyond the classroom. While many higher education systems around the world focus only on academics, students are excited by the opportunities available in the US and specifically at St. John’s, including athletics, clubs, internships, service, and leadership programs.

Through my travels, I have also seen firsthand the global reach of St. John’s. I regularly meet students, families, counselors, and alumni who are familiar with our University.

Sometimes those connections appear in unexpected ways. In London, England, a student’s mother told me she knew St. John’s from the film Coming to America and remembered the scene set during a St. John’s basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Also in London, a high school counselor surprised me by reciting the Run-DMC lyric, “I’m DMC in the place to be, I go to St. John’s University.”

In Greece, many students and families recognize St. John’s because of Rick Pitino’s connection to both Greek basketball and our Division I Men’s Basketball team. In Italy, Spain, and France, many people know a player on our Tennis and Soccer teams. These encounters are a reminder that the St. John’s community extends far beyond Queens.

Most importantly, I want the St. John’s community to know how much our international students contribute to campus life. They bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and ambitions from every corner of the world. While adapting to a new country can be challenging, our welcoming and diverse community helps students feel at home. Watching them succeed, build connections, and thrive in New York City is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. It is a privilege to help them begin that life-changing journey.