St. John’s Alumni Share How Core Coursework Impacted Career Development

St. John’s University welcomed first-year students to a career development event designed to reinforce how the University’s core curriculum and early coursework build competencies that support long-term professional success.

University Career Services and the First-Year Seminar program —part of the Department of Core Studies at St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences—partnered to host the November 22 session, which brought together faculty, administrators, alumni, and employer partners to discuss with students how experiences translate into meaningful career pathways. 

Ellen Burti ’83C, ’87GEd, Assistant Vice President for Career Services, opened the program by acknowledging the 250 first-year students in attendance, who had all chosen to engage career-development professionals early in their academic journeys.

“Even if you have not finished your first semester, engaging with Career Services early and often is one of the most valuable habits you can build,” Ms. Burti said. “This collaboration between First-Year Seminar and Career Services exists to help students see early on how their college experience connects to long-term success.”

Teresa Delgado, Ph.D., Dean, St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, emphasized the value of the University’s core curriculum in shaping its graduates. “Your experiences here—the relationships, skills, and competencies—will stay with you for the rest of your life,” Dean Delgado said. 

Headlining the event was a panel discussion moderated by Maria Alfonso, Associate Director of Career Services. The panel featured St. John’s alumni and employer partners, including Priscilla Agyeman-Pena ’16SJC, founder of the Manhattan, NY-based digital marketing and consulting firm Nomen Klature; Georgios Spanos ’07SJC, Regional Sales Manager, Johnson & Johnson; Christopher Stephens ’19SJC, Director, American Express; and Tracy Vitale ’07M.S., a human resources professional in the beauty industry. 

Through their career stories, the panelists demonstrated how foundational skills developed through liberal arts coursework and cocurricular experiences can prepare students for professional success, even across unpredictable or nonlinear paths. 

Elise Turley, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Enterprise Mobility—which sponsored the event—said that her experience in an honors archaeology seminar at Mercy University, unrelated to her major, strengthened her analytical and persuasive communication skills. “Something I took just to fill a requirement ended up being incredibly beneficial,” she said.

Ms. Agyeman-Pena described her nonlinear path from a degree in biology to public health and, eventually, digital strategy, emphasizing how writing and communication opened doors across multiple fields. Ms. Agyeman-Pena credited Sophie R. Bell, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Core Studies, for tapping into a creativity she did not know she possessed. 

“Public speaking has become a daily skill in my work,” she said. “Writing is a strength you will use everywhere. Even in the age of artificial intelligence, being a good writer will set you apart.”

During a question-and-answer session, panelists shared how they built essential professional competencies while in college. Ms. Vitale pointed to leadership roles and campus involvement. Mr. Spanos, a former captain of the Red Storm Men’s Soccer team, emphasized the importance of consistency—a habit he strengthened through athletics and applied to high-stakes clinical environments. Mr. Stephens encouraged students to join clubs and organizations to strengthen teamwork and communication.

Interactive breakout sessions focused on several career competencies. Career Services incorporated a Vincentian theme into the sessions, allowing students to reflect on how they can continue to develop these competencies through coursework and cocurricular activities at the University. 

Brianna Bogado, a first-year student majoring in childhood education, said the panel left her feeling more confident in the career path she hopes to pursue. “I always believed the core curriculum mattered, but now I see even more clearly how many soft skills and opportunities grow from those classes,” she said. “What stood out most was realizing that a career does not have to follow a straight, linear path. We can use these foundational skills as a base and explore different directions until we discover what truly fits.”