Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

David N. Gachigo, M.P.A. ’10G, ’25Ph.D., has been appointed Dean of Students at St. John’s University after nearly two decades in various administrative roles across its campuses. Originally from Nairobi, Kenya, Gachigo arrived in the United States as an international student and has since dedicated his career to supporting students’ success.

“Ever since I set foot in this institution, I’ve been connected with students,” said Gachigo.

After high school in Kenya, he developed an interest in tourism and wildlife management before participating in a program affiliated with Boston University. This led him to the University of Montana’s Wildlife Biology program. Despite arriving unprepared for the winter weather, he adapted quickly and became involved on campus as a resident assistant and student government representative—experiences that influenced his later work at St. John’s.

“It was the best experience ever,” he said of his time at Montana.

As a resident assistant and later Head Resident responsible for over 300 students, Gachigo found himself deeply engaged with campus life: “Here I was an international student elected to student government, so I was representing my fellow students,” he explained. He also worked for the athletics department's events office.

“All of that played a big role in my formative years,” he said. “Being involved, connecting and seeing the need, sparked my interest in working with students.”

He completed undergraduate and master’s degrees at Montana before seeking positions in higher education across the US. Ultimately choosing St. John’s University for its Vincentian mission—focused on providing access to education—he noted: “One thing that appealed to me was the number of students coming here that might not otherwise afford a college education.”

Since joining St. John’s Division of Student Affairs in 2005, Gachigo has worked at Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island campuses with an emphasis on welcoming all students and ensuring they feel heard.

He described each campus as unique: “Each campus was very different. Queens is a huge campus…Manhattan had a very international flavor, while Staten Island was very local and everyone in the community seemed to know each other.”

His involvement deepened through participation in service initiatives like Midnight Runs and soup kitchens organized by Campus Ministry as part of the Vincentian Mission Institute (VMI). Reflecting on this experience he stated: “Through these initiatives I became closer to my colleagues…and through VMI I came to a deeper understanding of the mission. As the number of Vincentians decreases you need people who understand the mission and can keep it alive.”

In his new position as Dean of Students, Gachigo says his goal remains clear: “For me it’s always been about supporting students…My immediate goal is to do it better…I will continue advocating for them.” He emphasized adapting support strategies amid changing educational trends.

Gachigo received St. John’s Vincentian Mission Award in 2022 for sustained commitment to university values: “We are training the next generation of leaders and they need guidance and mentorship,” he said.“What distinguishes St.John's students is…the word ‘opportunity.’ They might not go to college without the St.John's opportunity.”

When encountering students facing challenges,Gachigo leads with empathy:“Down the road,this is someone who could be the next chief executive officer of a big corporation,”he said.He recalls those who supported him during difficult times:“Wherever you go,you think about…the institution you left behind,and how you pay it forward.”