St. John’s University hosted its annual Parent Conference and Resource Fair on March 26, bringing together families of children and young adults with disabilities for a day focused on learning, networking, and community support.
The event took place at the D’Angelo Center on the Queens campus in New York. Organized by The School of Education in partnership with the Community Inclusion and Development Alliance, the fair offered workshops led by experts on topics such as Individualized Education Programs, self-direction, and transition planning. Sessions were available in English, Korean, and Chinese to accommodate diverse attendees.
Rev. Aidan R. Rooney, Executive Vice President for Mission at St. John’s University, welcomed participants to the event that also included professionals from related fields, community partners, alumni and faculty members such as Mary Carole Schafenberg ’70ED, ’80P.D., member of The School of Education Dean’s Advisory Board; and Nadia Giannopoulos ’08M.S.Ed., ’23Ed.D., ICS Board Member & Executive Director of Marie Pense.
According to the official website, St. John’s University supports initiatives through its centers and institutes that focus on multicultural efforts both locally and globally according to the official website. The university features campuses in Queens and Manhattan as well as international sites in Rome, Paris, and Limerick according to the official website.
St. John’s operates as a Catholic institution affiliated with the Vincentian Community according to the official website, offering more than 100 undergraduate majors across six schools and colleges according to the official website. Rev. Brian J. Shanley serves as president of St. John’s University per the official website.
The annual Parent Conference aims to empower families navigating educational resources for children with disabilities while strengthening connections among educators, professionals, alumni—and broader community networks.
