University Events provides strategic guidance and event management services for high level, university-wide events hosted by the offices of the president, provost, advancement, and mission. University Events collaborates with these areas to develop events and programs that support the University’s priorities and mission, reflect positively on the University’s image, and foster relationships with students, alumni, donors, employees, board members, and other friends of the University.
The event team provides a variety of pre-event management services including strategy and logistics, protocol, scheduling, budget management, target audience development and mailing data, coordination and scheduling of communications, program design, venue selection and management, vendor selection and contract negotiations, menu planning, reservations, and seating charts. The Office of University Events seamlessly executes all aspects of an event including program participant/speaker/honoree management, management of program timelines, scripts and movement, special requests, staff and volunteer management, on-site event management, as well as post event analysis.
Managing over 100 ceremonial and advancement events and meetings, ranging in size from 25 to 20,000 attendees, the Office of University Events ensures academic tradition is maintained and event protocol is followed. University-wide events for which the team is responsible include: commencements, convocations, induction and award ceremonies, University Christmas Mass and reception, dignitary visits, academic attire distribution, dedications, groundbreakings, Investitures/Installations, anniversary celebrations, fundraising and donor events, Alumni events, Board of Trustees international meetings, mailing of the University’s Christmas card, and other significant high level events.
University Events also maintains the academic attire inventory, presidential honors and awards inventory, records of awards and honors and the archives of citations and other ceremonial materials.
The event team also works in an advisory capacity, providing general event planning guidelines to departments, upon request. For more information, please contact the Office of University Events on Ext. 6365.
Contact
University Events
University Center, Garden Level
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, New York 11439
718-990-6365
[email protected]
Our Team
Director, University Events
718-990-1362
Sandy Morocho works closely with the Vice President to execute and plan University events including Commencements, Convocations and various alumni and donor events. She is also responsible for supervising event managers on a day-to-day basis.
Sandy started at St. John’s University in 1994 as a student worker in the Office of Financial Aid and has worked her way up to Director in the Office of University Events.
Sandy received several awards throughout her career at St. John’s including the Administrative Outstanding Achievement Medal, Vincentian Mission Recognition Certificate and the Latino Women’s Achievement Award. She is also a member of the ACCED-I, NAACO and Who’s Who International amongst Professionals and a former member of Chi Sigma Iota.
She is a double alumna of St. John’s and has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Education in Bilingual School Counseling.
Associate Director, University Events
718-990-6816
Delores Smith Mencarelli started in the Office of University Events as the Data and Reservation Coordinator. As Associate Director, she now plans and executes University-wide events. Prior to coming to St. John’s, Delores worked as an Event Coordinator at the Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference Center where she assisted with contracts for special events and room blocks, as well as reservations for special holiday events held at the Mansion.
Delores is an alumna of St. John’s and has a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management.
Assistant Director, University Events
718-990-7664
Noreen Pruyn works closely with the director, event managers and vendors to ensure event and office expenses remain within budget. In addition, she maintains the inventory for all events materials and University-wide awards. Noreen also provides event support on the day of events.
Noreen joined the Office of University Events in 2013. She has recently joined the Vincentian Mission Cohort program and she is involved with a variety of service organizations within the community.
Assistant Director, University Events
718-990-1356
Aaliyah Atanda has joined the University Events team to assist in the planning and execution of University-wide events. Prior to coming to St. John’s, Aaliyah supported events in the hospitality industry, and collaborated with event planners to execute events.
She is an alumna of St. John's University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics.