In this appearance on Brooklyn Savvy, Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz discusses St. Francis College’s mission to provide high-quality education to underrepresented communities, emphasizing the role of institutional leadership in driving social mobility and equity.

As part of the Reflections on a Life in Public Service series, President Miguel Martinez-Saenz hosted Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for a discussion on the arc of civic leadership. The conversation explored Adams’ journey from the NYPD to elective office, centering on his motivations for public service and his mentorship advice for the next generation of Brooklyn leaders.

In a session of the Reflections on a Life in Public Service lecture series, President Miguel Martinez-Saenz hosted Congressman Peter King for a conversation on the evolution of leadership. The discussion traced King’s journey from his roots in New York City and his time as a student at St. Francis College to his career in Washington, emphasizing the personal motivations required for lifelong public service.

President Miguel Martinez-Saenz launched the Reflections on a Life in Public Service series by hosting U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez for a dialogue on leadership. The conversation explored the Congresswoman’s journey from Puerto Rico to Washington, D.C., focusing on the motivations behind a career in public service and offering strategic advice to the next generation of civic leaders.

In this keynote from the 2018 Fortune CEO Initiative, Bryan Stevenson argues that true social justice requires getting proximate to marginalized communities, changing the narratives of fear and racial bias, staying hopeful, and embracing the uncomfortable work necessary for change. He concludes that the opposite of poverty is not wealth, but justice.

At St. Francis College’s Scholarship Day, Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz urged students to view education as a moral opportunity rather than a transaction. He challenged them to lead intentional lives, engage actively in their learning, and maintain the critical independence to question conventional wisdom.

The inauguration of Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz as the 19th President of St. Francis College concluded a ten-day celebration of hospitality and social leadership. In his keynote address, "A Cosmopolitan Vision for St. Francis College," he outlined a future for the institution rooted in global citizenship and the essential needs of a modern world.

St. Francis College President Miguel Martinez-Saenz welcomes hundreds of prospective students and their families to the Fall 2017 Open House on October 29.

In an address for St. Francis Week, Dr. Miguel Martinez-Saenz used spoken word and music to advocate for "radical welcome." He urged the audience to view hospitality as a call to action, making a tangible difference through small but meaningful acts of kindness.

In a dynamic academic welcome, Provost Miguel Martinez-Saenz moved among the crowd to engage Otterbein’s new students directly. His interactive address used four key points and live student demonstrations on stage to emphasize that education is a collaborative, participatory journey rather than a spectator sport.

In her TED Talk, "How to Fix a Broken School? Lead Fearlessly, Love Hard," Linda Cliatt-Wayman shared her experience leading a struggling North Philadelphia high school. Her three core principles for leadership in low-performing schools are to lead fearlessly, adopt a "so what, now what?" attitude towards obstacles, and ensure students know they are loved.

In his viral spoken-word poem "Why I Hate School But Love Education," Suli Breaks delivers a powerful critique of the modern schooling system, arguing that formal education often prioritizes standardized testing and rote memorization over true learning and individual passion. He highlights the distinction between obtaining a degree and gaining an education, urging listeners to define success beyond traditional institutional benchmarks.

In her TED Talk "The Power of Vulnerability," Brené Brown discusses her research on human connection, shame, and empathy, arguing that vulnerability is the birthplace of joy, creativity, and belonging. She suggests that people with a sense of worthiness embrace vulnerability and imperfection.

In her TED Talk "The Danger of a Single Story," novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explores how limited narratives can shape perceptions of other cultures and people, arguing that identifying a person or country by a single, often stereotypical story leads to critical misunderstandings. She advocates for embracing a "balance of stories" to gain a more complex understanding of the world.

In his TED Talk "Do Schools Kill Creativity?", Sir Ken Robinson argues that current education systems, rooted in the Industrial Revolution, prioritize academic skills and testing over creativity, advocating for a reform that values diverse forms of intelligence equally. He emphasizes creating learning environments where students feel safe to explore ideas without fear of being incorrect, stating that originality requires a willingness to be wrong.