St. John's Offers Career Change Opportunities as Alternatives to New Yorkers During Economic Crisis

St. John’s University is gearing up to provide alternative career opportunities for interested individuals in light of the recent economic plight all across the country. The University’s School of Education, celebrating its Centennial 100-year anniversary, is also holding Career Change Open Houses for people who want to transition from business professional to professional educator.

“Life challenges often present opportunities,” said Julie A. Upton, RSM, Provost of St. John’s University, “The disruption of one career can provide the opportunity for a new one.”

The open houses are scheduled throughout the year at St. John’s campus locations in Manhattan, Oakdale, Staten Island and Queens, New York.

“Society has never needed good teachers more than now,” added Jerrold Ross, Dean of St. John’s School of Education. “Many people recognize that teaching will fulfill a service dream they have long considered. This is a time for them to undertake that service.”

Another example of this trend is the opportunity that the United States Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Metropolitan Library Council (Metro), the Law Librarians of Greater New York (LLAGNY) and St. John’s University have combined to provide. They are offering a career change opportunity for people who want to become an information professional or librarian in a law firm, business, government agency, hospital or other organization.

The opportunity includes a full tuition scholarship for part-time study; up to $1,000 for participation in professional associations, workshops and meetings; mentoring; and a laptop computer and other technology resources.

“Last year the New York Times noted that librarianship was becoming an ‘in’ profession,” noted Jeffrey Olson, Director of St. John’s Division of Library and Information Science. “In the information age, every organization needs professionals who can help them assemble, organize, find and use more effectively the information their professionals need to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.

This scholarship program will enable people from many different professional backgrounds to become the information professionals that organizations need. This is a good time for professionals from all backgrounds to make the career changes they have long considered.”

For more information on the Career Change Program contact Dominic Scianna, Assistant Vice President for Media Relations at St. John’s University by calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.