On January 23, 2025, the Denise and Michael Mattone Center for Law and Religion at St. John's University hosted its inaugural Center Directors Summit at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan. This event marked a significant gathering of directors from law and religion centers and clinics across various universities, including Brigham Young, Emory, Harvard, Notre Dame, Pepperdine, Stanford, The Catholic University of America, the University of Texas, and Villanova.

The summit also celebrated the renaming of the center in honor of Denise '90 and Michael '91 Mattone. The event commenced with three private roundtables moderated by Center Director Mark Movsesian. These discussions focused on topics such as mission, scholarship, curricula, and programs related to law and religion centers.

“It was wonderful to get together with colleagues and friends to talk about our successes, challenges, and plans for the future,” Professor Movsesian stated. He highlighted that despite many law schools having such centers and clinics, this was the first initiative to bring directors together to share insights. "This Summit was an important first step," he added.

The event concluded with two panel presentations for student fellows of the Mattone Center along with board members, alumni, and friends. These sessions were moderated by Judge Richard Sullivan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

“The Mattone Center for Law and Religion...play a vital role in advancing knowledge," said St. John’s Law Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum. She expressed inspiration from witnessing directors exchange insights during the summit.

Established in 2010 at St. John's Law School, the Mattone Center provides a platform for studying law and religion from multiple perspectives. It hosts academic programs globally while coordinating a dedicated curriculum within the law school.