St. John’s University held a series of events during International Education Week, highlighting the cultural diversity present on its Queens, New York campus. The week-long program, which ran from November 17 to 21, featured activities aimed at celebrating and educating students about various cultures represented within the university community.
The opening event was a West African drumming workshop conducted by members of Wula Drum on the first floor of the D’Angelo Center. M’Bemba Bangoura and Fara Camara, both originally from Guinea and now residing in New York City, led the session. They demonstrated traditional drum patterns and invited students to participate. “We are from West Africa, where we teach African drumming and dance,” said Mr. Bangoura. “Our company travels to many schools and festivals to share our culture. We are happy to be here today.”
In addition to music workshops, an international snack table offered treats from countries with significant student representation at St. John’s, such as Canada, China, and India. Students gathered around the table between demonstrations to sample foods and discuss their backgrounds.
Maja Henry, a junior majoring in biomedical sciences from Kingston, Jamaica and a member of the Red Storm Women’s Track and Field team, shared her experience discovering St. John’s when an admissions representative visited her high school. “I was impressed they came such a long way,” she said. “That really put St. John’s on my radar.”
According to the Office of Global Programs at St. John’s University, nearly 700 international students from approximately 90 countries attend the institution each year. Additionally, about 42 percent of undergraduates participate in study abroad programs at some point during their studies.
Christina R. Quartararo, Associate Provost for International Education and Global Strategy at St. John’s University emphasized the importance of global engagement: “International education is not ancillary to our mission, it is central to it,” she explained. “At St. John’s, we prepare students to engage a diverse and complex world, and that means both welcoming the world to our campuses and sending our students out into it. Through global partnerships, international students, and transformative study-abroad experiences, we live out our commitment to opportunity, understanding, and service.”
Other activities throughout International Education Week included student discussions on global learning in relation to the university’s mission; a dining etiquette dinner for international students; “Jeopardy Gone Global,” a trivia night focused on worldwide cultures; faculty presentations about integrating United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into coursework; language courses in French and Italian; information sessions about exchange programs; guided visits to diplomatic missions such as Cuba’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations; tours of UN Headquarters; as well as an international student dinner hosted by Multicultural Affairs.
Susan Peterson, Associate Director for Global Engagement in the Office of Global Programs commented: “International Education Week brings together the St. John’s community to celebrate the value of study abroad and gain a greater understanding and knowledge of other cultures, traditions, and world views,” she said.“Global exposure and experience are keys for students to be able to collaborate with partners locally and globally for peace and social justice.”
