Dominic Scianna, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs, was promoted to director of media relations on Sept. 19.

Scianna has taken over the position formerly held by Jody Fisher, who left St. John’s this past summer.

Scianna, who came to the University in 1996, has spent most of his nearly 10-year career at St. John’s in the department of athletics. During his time in that department Scianna served as Associate Athletic Director for Communications as well as Director for External Affairs.

In his most recent position in athletics, Scianna was responsible for supervising the communications and marketing efforts of the University’s various athletic programs. He has spent much time working with the media as well as the University partners such as the Madison Square Garden Network and ESPN.

Scianna was offered the media relations position several weeks ago. Although he had only been serving as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs for about nine months, Scianna felt that the opportunity to work in media relations was too good to pass up.

“I just took this position [Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs] nine months ago, so I wasn’t thinking about moving,” Scianna said. “But when the opportunity presented itself I thought it was great.”

Scianna is certainly prepared for the opportunity is certainly. He graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in journalism. Originally Scianna planned to go into sports writing, but was deterred by a career in public relations.

His career at St. John’s allowed Scianna to combine careers while working in the athletics department. Although his most recent promotion will take him away from the department, he still hopes to work with his former colleagues.

“I’ll still work with athletics in some capacity, which is a good thing because I certainly want to stay in tune with that,” Scianna said.

He also believes that he will be able to use much of what he has learned during his time in athletics in his new position in media relations.

“The news side and the sports side have the same deadlines,” Scianna said. “Their daily activities really are the same. I think it’s going to be a seamless transition.”