March 25, 2026<\/p>\n
Eighteen seniors from Sacred Heart Academy<\/a> (SHA) in Hempstead, NY, visited St. John\u2019s University\u2019s Queens<\/a>, NY, campus on March 23 for an immersive day of learning centered on several of today\u2019s most pressing issues. Through a series of engaging lectures and discussions, students explored topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) and corporate and social responsibility, gaining firsthand insight into how these forces are shaping the future of business and society.<\/p>\n \u201cThe partnership between SHA and St. John\u2019s is not new, it\u2019s just getting stronger,\u201d explained Jacqueline Grogan \u201990SVC, \u201995M.B.A., \u201901P.D., \u201910Ed.D.<\/a>, Associate Provost for Enrollment Partnerships and Engagement. \u201cWe share so much in common with SHA\u2014their values match our values, SHA teaches their students the importance of giving back, and we teach our students the same.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the presentations, the students learned about the University\u2019s mission<\/a>. They enjoyed a short\u00a0campus tour led by Student Ambassadors, which included a visit to St. Thomas More Church<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI loved seeing the mosaic inside the church and seeing how it tells the story of St. Vincent de Paul<\/a>. It was really impressive,\u201d said Ava Reda, a student from Inwood, NY, who plans to study marketing in college. \u201cI was surprised at how big the campus actually is. Even on a rainy day like today, it\u2019s just beautiful. I can only imagine what it\u2019s like when everything is in bloom.\u201d<\/p>\n After their tour, the group assembled inside the William L. Munson Lecture Hall for a presentation by Max A. Hergenrother<\/a>,\u00a0Associate Dean,\u00a0Technology\u00a0and\u00a0Pedagogic Innovation,\u00a0The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies<\/a>, who led a discussion of the University\u2019s position on the hot-button topic of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n He explained that the University embraces the often-misunderstood technology. \u201cAt St. John\u2019s, we\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0ban AI\u2014we teach students how to use it responsibly, ethically, and effectively in the real world,\u201d he said. \u201cWe know AI is here, and we want students to use it responsibly so we can have a generation of innovators and leaders.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Mr. Hergenrother announced that St. John\u2019s\u00a0recently\u00a0signed\u00a0a partnership with Superhuman<\/a> (formerly Grammarly), to develop a platform tailored to the ethical use of AI.\u00a0<\/p>\n Maciek Nowak, Ph.D.<\/a>, Dean,\u00a0The Peter J. Tobin College of Business<\/a> (TCB), added, \u201cWe want to make sure our students are as prepared as\u00a0possible\u00a0for\u00a0what AI offers and add that human element\u2014 things like communication skills, presentation skills, and networking\u2014which AI will not be able to replace.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Building on this forward-looking approach to innovation and responsibility, the conversation turned to another area where St. John\u2019s is actively shaping the future of business education: ensuring that opportunity and representation evolve alongside emerging technologies.<\/p>\n Daniel Napolitano,\u00a0Assistant Dean,\u00a0Student Services\u00a0and\u00a0Community Design, TCB,\u00a0noted that\u00a0while most\u00a0business schools\u00a0are still dominated\u00a0by\u00a0men, St. John\u2019s works to promote gender balance\u00a0and economic equity\u00a0at Tobin.\u00a0\u201cOur\u00a0Vincentian\u00a0mission is to serve the poor,\u00a0elevate the underrepresented, and make sure access\u00a0is granted to all,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt is\u00a0very important\u00a0to me personally\u00a0and to our students\u00a0that\u00a0we have female faculty\u00a0and that we have students who are having conversations about the\u00a0industry and how to improve it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Later, the group attended a session on corporate and social responsibility led by Tobin\u2019s Ingrid D. Fray, D.M.<\/a>, Associate Professor of the Practice, MECO (Management, Entrepreneurship, Consulting, and Operations) Management<\/a>.<\/p>\n While the young women in attendance represented a wide range of academic interests, they found the content of the sessions strikingly relevant and deeply engaging. \u201cEven though I plan to study biology, I think it\u2019s smart to have a solid understanding of business principles and ethics,\u201d explained Gabriella Sacco of Franklin Square, NY. \u201cWhether you\u2019re paying your taxes or your mortgage, you don\u2019t want to rely exclusively on others to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n For lifelong Red Storm<\/a> fan Lila Lavelle of Rockville Centre, NY, the \u00a0campus visit could not have come at a better time, as it happened only hours after the Men\u2019s Basketball<\/a> team defeated Kansas on a last-second shot to reach the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men\u2019s Basketball Tournament<\/a> Sweet 16.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been coming to campus for basketball games since I was a little kid, so that win makes my visit today feel even more special,\u201d said Lila, whose grandmother, Mary Fascilla Craig \u201988SJC, attended the University. \u201cAs a Sacred Heart student, the fact that St. John\u2019s is also a Catholic school is very important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Kim Johnson, President of Sacred Heart Academy, the connection between the two institutions extends well beyond their shared Catholic identity and is rooted in a common commitment to forming students who lead with purpose. \u201cAt Sacred Heart Academy, our foundation is grounded in the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph,\u201d said Ms. Johnson, who accompanied the students. \u201cWe strive to develop young women of courage, compassion, and commitment\u2014students who excel academically while embracing a deep sense of service, giving back, and living lives of purpose. That mission closely aligns with the values<\/a> of St. John\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n That shared commitment to mission-driven education is reflected in the long-standing relationship between the two institutions, something Dr. Grogan has witnessed firsthand. \u201cSo many SHA students have attended St. John\u2019s University, and these women are strong, successful, proud alumnae of both institutions,\u201d she said. \u201cI look forward to working with and welcoming back SHA\u2019s leadership and students to our campus.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"March 25, 2026 Eighteen seniors from Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) in Hempstead, NY, visited St. John\u2019s University\u2019s Queens,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":176224,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-176223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176223"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176223\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}