A World of Opportunity: Brianna Garrison’s St. John’s Experience

To say that Brianna Garrison is making the most of her time at St. John’s University would be an understatement. From studying abroad each year, to leadership positions in a dizzying array of clubs and organizations, to a coveted internship at the world’s preeminent provider of financial data and news, the Finance major (and Computer Science minor) has certainly received an incredible return on investment. 

“At first, I was hesitant to choose St. John’s, as it is very close to home for me and I initially wanted to go away for college,” she explained. “St. John’s campus has been a whole universe in and of itself, and through my extracurricular involvement and social activities, I spend more time on campus than at home.”

Touring St. John’s Queens, NY, campus, she learned about the University’s vast alumni network (now, more than 200,000 living members), and the various offerings of University Career Services. 

“The biggest consideration for me when choosing a college was enrolling somewhere that would prepare me for success in my career,” Brianna said. “After my first campus visit, I knew that St. John’s was the best school for my career—and I was right!” 

Brianna has taken advantage of the University’s various Global Studies programs, and has thus far been able to study abroad in Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and Limerick and Cork, Ireland. 

“During my first year, I participated in the Global Passport program, where I traveled with my literature class and spent a week in Rome, Italy,” she explained. “This was my first time going out of the country, and I fell in love with traveling!”

During her sophomore year, she spent five weeks each in Ireland, Paris, and Rome through the Western Europe Business program. “It was a particularly great experience to participate in a study-abroad program with a focus on business, as I got to take business classes, study with other business students, and participate in business-related excursions and networking events,” she said. “I explored more than 12 countries that semester, and the memories I made are immeasurable. I still talk about it two years later.” 

A member of the Thomas J. Cox Jr. Honors Program, she spent spring break her junior year in Cork, Ireland. She will return to the other side of the Atlantic at the end of her senior year, when she will spend a week in London through the Tobin Global Destinations program. 

“My time studying abroad helped me gain confidence and independence, especially navigating unknown and unfamiliar places and situations. Studying abroad has allowed me to overcome obstacles such as language barriers, think quickly and work and learn from individuals of different cultures and backgrounds.”

Stateside, Brianna serves as President of Women on Wall Street and is a Senior Senator in Student Government, Inc. She is also a member of the President’s Society, Applied Finance Institute, Career Peers, and Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. She was also Fundraising Chair for the Student Programming Board. 

“I also volunteer at GallopNYC,  a therapeutic horseback riding program in Queens, NY, for children and adults with special needs,” she said. “I participate in service and philanthropy through my sorority, aiding organizations such as Special Olympics and Girls on the Run.” 

Her commitment to service aligns closely with St. John’s Vincentian mission, which emphasizes compassion, social justice, and uplifting those in need. Inspired by this, she further expanded her impact by enrolling in St. John’s GLOBE (Global Loan Opportunities for Budding Entrepreneurs) program, where she explored the power of microfinance in alleviating poverty. 

“Not only did I learn about it, but I got to help fund microloans for real women entrepreneurs in countries such as Vietnam and Guatemala,” she said. “It was an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on business skills while being able to help communities across the world.”

Experiential learning is the hallmark of a St. John’s education, and Brianna has benefitted from this crucial component of the University. In the summer of 2024, she interned at Bloomberg as an Equity Research and Data Analyst, working with the Equity Strategy team under Bloomberg Intelligence. 

“I was able to apply both my financial and technical skills to analyze and visualize large and complex sets of data, identifying patterns and trends to generate a portfolio strategy,” she explained. 

She also uses those skills as a financial analyst in the Student-Managed Investment Fund (SMIF), assisting with  managing St. John’s active investment portfolio. “The returns from that fund are used for scholarships for incoming business students,” Brianna said. “With SMIF, not only do I receive tangible experience as a trader, but my efforts get to help other students receive an education at St. John’s as well.”

Her involvement in SMIF is just one example of the many opportunities at St. John’s that have shaped her journey. Beyond academics and professional growth, she has found a deep sense of belonging within the University community.

“As a student I feel genuinely cared for, and St. John’s has become my family,” she offered. “I have grown professionally and academically, and the life experiences I've gained as a student here helped me develop and mature.”

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