Alumna Enjoys Deep Connections to St. John’s

Strong ties bind Kathleen McGovern ’88CBA, ’91J.D. to St. John’s University, both personally and professionally. Her father and brother were both Johnnies, her mother worked in the Career Development office; and nearly every position Ms. McGovern has held connects back to her roots at St. John’s.

With a successful career both as a federal prosecutor and in private practice, Ms. McGovern noted that her ties to St. John’s have been instrumental at every stage of her career. “I’ve always felt a sense of community,” she noted. “I’ve been on several panels and in discussions, and I always say it’s because of the St. John’s connections.”

A transfer student to St. John’s, Ms. McGovern immersed herself in campus activities, and in her senior year was named to the President’s Society, the highest honor society for undergraduates. “I remember going to different events with the President and serving at commencements,” she recalled. “People were outgoing and I got very involved in student activities. I would go to class, then to Student Government, Inc.; the Accounting Society; and the President’s Society, you name it. I loved it.” Ms. McGovern’s academic and leadership achievements are many and include the Outstanding Student Achievement Award.

She loved the school spirit of bus trips to Men’s Basketball games, recalling travel to Syracuse, NY; Storrs, CT; and Washington, DC. “Going to basketball games was the greatest,” she recalled. And during the 2024–25 season, “We made it to every Madison Square Garden game that was on a weekend. We were there when they won the regular season. We were there for the BIG EAST Conference championship. It was just amazing and so much fun!”

As an accounting major, Ms. McGovern felt the excitement of business law classes taught by Professor John Manna and soon set her sights on a law degree. Although she went directly after earning her undergraduate degree, she encourages students to get work experience first. 

“As I got toward junior year, I wanted to go straight to law school,” she said. “I remember thinking that if I did not, I would start working and never go back to school.”

In her professional life, she has hired St. John’s alumni, noting, “the more that people see and understand St. John’s students, they realize they’re very capable. They work really hard.” 

She knows well that the law school was an intense educational experience. “We didn’t work hard and play hard—we worked hard and played a little bit,” she said with a laugh. 

Following a start in private practice, Ms. McGovern moved up quickly during her 11 years in the office of the Suffolk County District Attorney, working with fellow Johnnie, Justice James M. Catterson ’58J.D. “I tried all kinds of cases: homicide, violent crime, and even economic crime cases, and I enjoyed being able to help people,” she explained. 

It was hard work but fulfilling. “When you think you can’t do something and then you are able to accomplish it, I don’t know if there’s a better feeling of satisfaction,” she said.

Given her expertise at trial, Ms. McGovern was encouraged to apply to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), where she interviewed with yet another fellow St. John’s Law graduate. She relocated to Washington, DC, where she has lived for 22 years, spending 14 years at the DOJ and rising to Senior Deputy Chief for Litigation in the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division. 

After working in forensic investigations at Ernst and Young and as a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, Ms. McGovern has served for the past 24 months as Head of Litigation in the Division of Enforcement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, where she oversees investigations of accounting firms for securities violations; the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and accounting rules. 

“I’m back in public service again, which is great,” she said. And who interviewed her for the position? “That person also happens to be a St. John’s law grad!” She confirmed. 

She encourages today’s students to take advantage of their alumni connections. “There’s such a network of St. John’s graduates. It can be tough to navigate, but there are people who are willing to help.”

Ms. McGovern’s time at St. John’s was marked by engagement and service; she continues to build upon both with a lifelong commitment to public service and as an engaged and loyal member of the University community as a member of the Tobin Board of Advisors and the Law School Alumnae Leadership Council.