Service Activities Aided Alumna in Her Search for a Career to Help Others

Mrs. Cioffi, who was then working toward her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a minor in Psychology at St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, recalled that one of the most meaningful service opportunities for her at St. John’s was an Academic Service-Learning (AS-L) component of her Printmaking I class with Claudia Sbrissa, M.F.A., Professor, Department of Art and Design. As part of the AS-L project, they created rubber stamps and brought them to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside, NY, to make art with the patients. 

“Working with the kids that day was one of the key moments in my life where I realized that I really wanted to pursue art therapy, and that this was the right fit for me,” she said. “I remember finding so much joy and fulfillment in seeing how the art activity brought happiness to these patients, no matter their ability or medical state of mind at the time.”

These days, Mrs. Cioffi is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist at Northwell Health Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, NY. She provides psychotherapy within the in-patient and out-patient pediatric hematology and oncology units. 

“While St. John’s prepared me academically for my work in art therapy, I think it also provided an environment that promoted compassion and empathy for people in all walks of life,” said Mrs. Cioffi. “The diversity on campus and focus on social justice issues in coursework helped to highlight the gaps that often exist in society and enabled me to approach situations in my job with a different lens to better help people during some of the worst moments of their lives.” 

Mrs. Cioffi came to St. John’s because of the great relationship between the University and her alma mater, Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville, NY. “I was able to take college-level courses in high school, so I already had a full semester completed when I graduated,” she said. “Taking college credits through St. John’s, coupled with competitive scholarship packages, ultimately led to my decision to become a Johnnie.”

Mrs. Cioffi entered St. John’s as a member of the Catholic Scholars program. Successful applicants to the program receive $5,000 for each of their four years of study, in exchange for demonstrating a commitment to living the Catholic tradition through leadership and excellence. The Catholic Scholars are part of a multidisciplinary community of Catholic leaders who join professors and campus ministers in monthly meetings, lectures, retreats, courses, and prayer experiences that integrate faith, reason, and service.

“The Catholic Scholars program played a large role in my life at St. John’s, both inside and outside the classroom,” Mrs. Cioffi said. “We had the opportunity to take several classes with our cohort, such as Theology and Discover New York. I attended Mass at St. Thomas More Church two to three times per week and often served as a lector. As I continued the program, we had more responsibilities and activities, such as service experiences, running retreats, and leading parish youth groups. Much of my time at St. John’s was dedicated to serving others and growing my faith.”

She said the University’s incorporation of these and other service components into the institution’s mission and curriculum “helped me with different experiences that I would not have otherwise known about. I also think exposure is important for those who are not typically service-oriented and helps to give students a more well-rounded view of the world.” 

Mrs. Cioffi offers the following advice to prospective students considering St. John’s. “Step out of your comfort zone in all aspects, from selecting challenging courses to trying a new service activity, because you never know what may end up piquing your interest or becoming a more prevalent part of your life if you don’t try.”