Josh Palmeri, 35, has been a web development specialist at Suffolk County Community College
for six and a half years. Outside of Palmeri’s office, he is one of the faculty advisors for the
Christian Fellowship Club.
After beginning at Suffolk, Palmeri learned about the Christian Fellowship Club. Since Palmeri
“loves Jesus” and watching others discover God, he said, “Sign me up.” While the school highly
encouraged faculty to be involved in student life, “it was a no-brainer” for Palmeri.
Palmeri grew up in a Christian household, where his family would gather for family devotionals
and after Bible readings. Like many children, he would be “watching the clock” at a young age
before he understood “the love that God had for me and what Jesus did for me by dying on the
cross.”
It took Palmeri until his 20s to truly change his life and say, “Okay, God, if you’re real, and I
know you’re real, but I really wanna know you.” So, being in this environment is exciting
because he relates to that time in his life. He finds that students often are now asking him those
more significant questions: What’s next for me? What could my future look like? Where did I
come from?
James Sparling, 19, the president of the Christian Fellowship Club, says Palmeri is “genuinely
one of the most friendly and welcoming people that I have met during my time at Suffolk, and he
truly wants to see the lord move through our lives.”
For Palmeri, the role of a faculty adviser is to understand that it’s a student-run organization.
“We’re not the people to go and do the thing. We’re really here to help support and cast vision,
and really, my understanding is kind of to maintain the flow over the course of many years,” he
said.
Palmeri has seen many vital turnovers since he joined Suffolk. Most college students come for
about two years, so the faculty advisor’s question is how to maintain continuity that is so
important for an organization.
One key role is motivating students to be inspired by their fellow club members and then share
that inspiration with people in their lives. “Encourage them to catch the vision and then to run
with it,” he said.
Students meet weekly during Common Hour to play games and get to know each other. They
also do some form of Bible study and try to relate it to their everyday lives.
“I’d say in terms of Club dynamic, probably about 80% of our students are coming with some
form of religious or church background,” Palmeri said.
He said it’s great to watch students find their people. “Like, oh wow, there are other students on
campus who believe similarly to I,”
He would say that about 20% of students are new to faith, questioning, or even looking for a
genuine community have been looking at the club in recent weeks.
Community outreach and small group Bible study are also crucial aspects of the club. “Looking
for opportunities to be a blessing to students on campus and their greater communities.”
“He went above and beyond as faculty advisors usually do,” said his colleague and friend Ming
Gullo, who has known Palmeri for six years.
Gullo shares how students constantly seek Palmeri out for advice: “There are always a lot of
students who come from the club to look for him and ask for advice. He’s always ready to help.”
Palmeri cherishes learning students’ stories, and since he doesn’t directly work with students,
he enjoys being involved in the Christian Fellowship Club. “I’ve grown a lot through the
opportunity to learn just how to be a good advisor. I think I’ve grown in understanding how to
support the students well.”
Palmeri says he is involved: “To remember this is why I’m working here. This is why I’m here.”
