Overcoming Obstacles: Alicia Furnari ’23CCPS is a Rising Star in Hospitality Management

A graduate of Tottenville High School on Staten Island, NY, Alicia enrolled at St. John’s Staten Island campus for sentimental and practical reasons. “Multiple generations of my family attended the Staten Island campus, and they take pride in that,” she said, noting that her mother, Nicole Scotti ’00C, was a Psychology major there. “I wanted to continue the legacy in some way. I still have my mom’s St. John’s Staten Island campus sweatshirt that she wore as a student.” 

Despite her emotional attachment to the campus, an autoimmune condition kept Alicia from taking many in-person classes. She explained, “It is hard for me to travel, so I’ve been mostly an online student. The University worked with me every step of the way, and I am truly grateful for the accommodations I’ve been afforded—this definitely played a role in my decision to attend.”

Once Alicia decided on St. John’s, she needed to choose a major. Fortunately, that decision proved to be an easy one as well.  

“I have always loved people and making them happy, so the Hospitality Management program was the perfect fit,” explained Alicia, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management in 2023, and is currently pursuing her M.S. in International Hospitality Management (MSIHM). “Hospitality is an industry where your purpose is to give to others and ensure their experience is the best possible. It aligns with my passion.” 

As a St. John’s student, Alicia found an environment that prepared her to thrive both in her classes and out in the field. “The professors genuinely care about us and go out of their way to prepare us for the future,” she said. “They use their network to help us discover opportunities that most students wouldn’t know about.”

One such professor is April M. Merenda, Assistant Professor/Industry Professional,  Administration and Economics, and

 Program Coordinator of MSIHM, The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies. “Professor Merenda is the most passionate woman I have ever met,” she said. “She is so proud of the hospitality industry and has shown me that women can do anything.”

“Alicia is a shining star in our master’s program,” said Professor Merenda. “She will do extremely well in this growing hospitality management industry.” 

Alicia complemented her St. John’s coursework by interning at the Conrad New York Midtown (a Hilton property); participating in the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World; and representing St. John’s as a facilitator and moderator at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Foundation’s Intercollegiate Global Conference. 

In 2023, she served as a St. John’s representative at City Guide’s Women in Tourism Awards event, which hosted several industry leaders. As a graduate student, she secured a coveted internship at the New York Hilton Midtown. Her exceptional performance left such a lasting impression on her supervisors that she is on track to become a manager within the more than 2,000-room property. 

“The International Hospitality Management program at St. John’s brought me to some of the most amazing experiences and networking opportunities of my life,” she said. “I am 23 and have already worked for multiple hospitality giants, and am now on my way to a management position at the biggest hotel in Manhattan.”