For Andriana Lewinsky ’04CPS the opportunity to give back
through her interactions with the students and alumni is what makes
her professional life so meaningful and filled with joy.
“I truly believe that it is in giving back that we receive,” she
said. “It’s not until we go out from our comfort zone to serve
others that we can really be completely fulfilled.”
Lewinsky began her connection to St. John’s University by following
in the footsteps of her older sister Lydia [Lewinsky] ’02C, ’04MBA.
The combination of her strong Catholic background and the excellent
education she received as a student at a private elementary and
high school on Staten Island made it almost inevitable that she
would continue to immerse herself in the Catholic and Vincentian
traditions for which St. John’s has always been known.
The commitment to service that is one of Lewinsky’s most
recognizable characteristics began during her formative years on
the Staten Island campus. “As a student I was part of the
V.I.T.A.L. (Vincentian Initiative to Advance Leadership) Program,
and it really helped to develop my spiritual values, Vincentian
leadership skills, and a strong commitment to service.”
Lewinsky entered the corporate world fulltime while she was still a
sophomore, taking advantage of an internship that she secured
through the University. “My biggest fear was of graduating from
college and not having a job,” she said, “so I was going into
Manhattan to work during the day and going to classes at night. I
knew that I would have the power of a St. John’s education behind
me when I graduated, and I wanted to be sure that I had the
experience to go along with it.”
After a few years in the computer software and publishing
industries, she decided to become her own boss as an Associate
Broker of real estate on Staten Island, a career in which she
continues to participate. In 2007, she returned to St. John’s
to assume her current position.
“I came back to St. John’s because I was ready to come back home,”
she said. “You don’t realize how impactful your college experience
is until you return to alma mater. There’s a special way that the
wind blows here on campus, a special feeling that we have that
makes us all part of the St. John’s family. It has always made me
feel really good to be back and be able to facilitate the
opportunities for our current students that maybe I wasn’t aware of
when I was a student. As part of my work at the University, I have
a chance to give back as much as I can to these fine young
people.”
Lewinsky’s professional responsibilities fall into two main
categories. She is the direct link between the University and
various alumni constituent groups, particularly the Staten Island
Alumni Association. She is also charged with planning and
implementing initiatives that foster student engagement to St.
John’s, particularly through activities of the Student Alumni
Association (SAA). She is genuinely happy with the ongoing progress
that has been made in both areas. “The monthly meetings of the
[Staten Island] Alumni Association have become much more lively and
interactive, and attendance at alumni events continues to rise. On
the student side, we’re offering more opportunities for them to
turn to our alumni for networking and mentoring, and we invite our
SAA members to work with us on all alumni events. It’s really a
mutually beneficial relationship.”
Embracing the value of leading by example, Lewinsky recently
completed the Vincentian Mission Certificate Program, a 16-month
program designed to instill a sense of Vincentian service and
leadership throughout the St. John’s community, bridging the gap
between a theoretical understanding of the University’s mission and
its practical applications.
“I try to encourage students to join me in my service goals,” she
said, “and show them that my goals can be their goals, too. Last
fall I went out with some students to plant trees in Clove Lake
Park as part of the Million TreesNYC initiative. When it comes to
service, a lot of times people just need to be invited, so I try to
offer them that invitation.”
Lewinsky noted that the opportunity to reach out to others was one
of the most meaningful reasons for her return to the University
that has always meant so much to her. “I absolutely feel called to
service,” she said, “which is why I’m committed to doing what I can
to make other people’s lives better. St. John’s gives us all a
chance to make a difference for others. My Catholicism is my
relationship to God, but my relationship with God is one of being
nourished and inspired to reach out and touch others. For me,
that’s what makes St. John’s so special.”