St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Announces 2025-26 SAAC Executive Board
10/24/2025 11:22:00 AM | General, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Softball, Women's Soccer, Women's Track and Field
Track and field junior Desiree Pagan will serve as this year’s president
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) announced its executive board for the 2025-26 school year on Friday.
The St. John's division of nationwide council is made up of current Red Storm student-athletes, enhancing the student-athlete experience on campus, while assisting in community outreach around Queens.
The executive board is comprised six St. John's student-athletes from five different athletic programs. The members are required to attend all SAAC bi-weekly meetings and monthly executive board meetings.
Track and field senior Desiree Pagan will serve as the chapter's president, responsible for leading all meetings while serving as the committee's spokesperson. Pagan was a member of last year's executive board, serving as the diversity and inclusion officer. She succeeds Braeden Pratt, who served in the role representing lacrosse during the 2024-25 school year and represented the University on the national level as a member of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Joining the executive board as Pagan's vice president is lacrosse redshirt junior Adrian Nowak. The Wantagh, N.Y., native is responsible for ensuring the top issues raised by SAAC members are addressed and resolved while serving as the leading voice for the committee.
Women's soccer junior Stephanie Cornelius will be the executive board's chief of staff, ensuring that communication throughout the entire committee remains fluid and consistent. Cornelius operates as a point of contact for St. John's and BIG EAST SAAC representatives, confirming that conference programming and initiatives are communicated appropriately.
Softball sophomore Gianna Nicastro will serve as the community outreach coordinator. Nicastro heads the SAAC public relations and social media efforts, working to identify community service opportunities in the athletic department and St. John's community.
Men's soccer senior Markus Pusztahegyi is the newly elected diversity, equity and inclusion officer. His focus is to ensure that the University's athletics continues carrying out its public commitment to inclusion for all while engaging with campus groups to promote inclusivity. Additionally, the senior is responsible for serving as a connection between the St. John's Athletics Council on Community, Culture and Social Justice, SAAC and the student-athlete population.
Rounding out this year's executive board is track and field junior Martina De Buglio, who is set to assume the role of mental health and wellness advocate. Her responsibilities include helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, creating awareness and providing resources to her peers.
The current executive board will serve throughout the 2025-26 school year. The full board can be found below.
2025-26 St. John's SAAC Executive Board:
President – Desiree Pagan, Track & Field
Vice President – Adrian Nowak, Lacrosse
Chief of Staff – Stephanie Cornelius, Women's Soccer
Mental Health and Wellness Advocate – Martina De Buglio, Track & Field
DEI Officer – Markus Pusztahegyi, Men's Soccer
Community Outreach Coordinator – Gianna Nicastro, Softball
The St. John's division of nationwide council is made up of current Red Storm student-athletes, enhancing the student-athlete experience on campus, while assisting in community outreach around Queens.
The executive board is comprised six St. John's student-athletes from five different athletic programs. The members are required to attend all SAAC bi-weekly meetings and monthly executive board meetings.
Track and field senior Desiree Pagan will serve as the chapter's president, responsible for leading all meetings while serving as the committee's spokesperson. Pagan was a member of last year's executive board, serving as the diversity and inclusion officer. She succeeds Braeden Pratt, who served in the role representing lacrosse during the 2024-25 school year and represented the University on the national level as a member of the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Joining the executive board as Pagan's vice president is lacrosse redshirt junior Adrian Nowak. The Wantagh, N.Y., native is responsible for ensuring the top issues raised by SAAC members are addressed and resolved while serving as the leading voice for the committee.
Women's soccer junior Stephanie Cornelius will be the executive board's chief of staff, ensuring that communication throughout the entire committee remains fluid and consistent. Cornelius operates as a point of contact for St. John's and BIG EAST SAAC representatives, confirming that conference programming and initiatives are communicated appropriately.
Softball sophomore Gianna Nicastro will serve as the community outreach coordinator. Nicastro heads the SAAC public relations and social media efforts, working to identify community service opportunities in the athletic department and St. John's community.
Men's soccer senior Markus Pusztahegyi is the newly elected diversity, equity and inclusion officer. His focus is to ensure that the University's athletics continues carrying out its public commitment to inclusion for all while engaging with campus groups to promote inclusivity. Additionally, the senior is responsible for serving as a connection between the St. John's Athletics Council on Community, Culture and Social Justice, SAAC and the student-athlete population.
Rounding out this year's executive board is track and field junior Martina De Buglio, who is set to assume the role of mental health and wellness advocate. Her responsibilities include helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, creating awareness and providing resources to her peers.
The current executive board will serve throughout the 2025-26 school year. The full board can be found below.
2025-26 St. John's SAAC Executive Board:
President – Desiree Pagan, Track & Field
Vice President – Adrian Nowak, Lacrosse
Chief of Staff – Stephanie Cornelius, Women's Soccer
Mental Health and Wellness Advocate – Martina De Buglio, Track & Field
DEI Officer – Markus Pusztahegyi, Men's Soccer
Community Outreach Coordinator – Gianna Nicastro, Softball
Players Mentioned
MID /FWD
/ Women's Soccer
/ Women's Track and Field
INF/UTIL
/ Softball
ATT
/ Men's Lacrosse
/ Women's Track and Field
DEF
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defender
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