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I came to St Johns in the late summer of 1968. Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy had recently been assassinated. The war in Viet Nam was raging and I was as confused an ill prepared for college as anyone could be. The country was divided and the future hung in the balance. Sound familiar?

I studied History and was exposed to many fine scholars who were interesting and demanding. I remember one Professor for whom I wrote a term paper and she gave me a B+. She commented that the paper was quite good and would have earned an A were it not for punctuation errors in the footnotes. No AI in those days!

But one professor was especially inspirational, Dr Richard Harmond. I had him for a colloquium which demanded extensive student participation. We were called upon to run the class for various readings he assigned. I was in charge of the discussion for four classes which is when I learned that I would enjoy teaching.

I then went to Grad school at SJU and eventually law school there as well. The students and the professors I was lucky enough to meet made all the differrence to me, not just in my career but, more importantly, in my spiritual and intellectual growth.

My career took many paths including teaching, higher ed administration, and law. St Johns was with me all the way and I cherish the years spent at my Alma Mater,

Jimmy Newell 72BA, 78MA, 90JD.

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When I received the Hearts on Fire campaign letter from Provost Dr. Simon Moller, I made this post part of my homework assignments.

Like Dr. Moller, I had spent decades in the education industry. I've always wanted a school to be more than just a building, more than just curriculum and instruction, and more than just an alma mater, because any school can have all of these things. I wanted school spirit from a school.

In 2020, during the isolation of the COVID pandemic, I wanted to connect to a college for continuing education. St. John's Red Storm always makes the news! There is spirit there! Members of the clergy is on campus, and they invoke plenty of spirits too. The choice for my continuing education was clear.

In 2021, I graduated from a program at the School of Education, and later in 2026, I will graduate from the Tobin College of Business. There, I found my school spirit.

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I graduated St. John's School of Education in 1975 with a BA in Secondary Education, minor in Biology. Of course, my favorite classes were in the Sciences and Education.

St. John's prepared me for my future destiny by educating me on how to work with all age groups and achieve my best potential.

Now I am in the Ministry as an ordained Pastor and still reaping the fruits of my education at St. John's Univ. May the Lord direct each one into the plan and destiny he has for you. Blessings and thanksgiving to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Rev. Dr. Richard Ienuso

'75

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Click to DONATE TODAY

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The opportunity St. John's University provides is what sets my Heart on Fire!

I've been lucky to find opportunity at St. John's in so many ways ... academically, through extracurricular, and of now working in the Alumni Office! Hearing from my fellow alumni similar stories of opportunity, and success, always solidifies how proud I am to spend my time working at this institution.

Abby Ballard '23CCPS, '24MS

Assistant Director of Regional Engagement

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Hearts On Fire | The Campaign for St. John's University

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The Campaign for St. John's University Hearts on Fire 