An Evening of
Leadership and Legacy

Roger A. Delisle, Jr. ’94 is managing director and commercial broker of Island Associates Real Estate, Inc., where he has built a 20-year career specializing in national retail leasing and commercial investment sales. A CCIM designee, he earned his B.A. from St. Joseph’s University, New York in 1994, later completing his M.B.A. at Southern New Hampshire University and advanced certification at New York University.

“Failure is not the opposite of success,” Delisle said while addressing the evening’s guests, “It is an essential part. Every challenge has a benefit. Every failure is a lesson. We live in a culture that often celebrates the outcome but ignores the process.”

Known for his expertise and leadership in the industry, Delisle also oversees property management operations while guiding clients through complex real estate transactions.

“Living by Esse Non Videri is not always easy,” he said. “It means resisting temptation and embracing delayed gratification. It means standing firm when others are watching for you to fall…Embrace adversity, embrace challenges and embrace obstacles to overcome and excel and always welcome the opportunity to learn.”

Julia Cuttino Bennett ’78, R.N., devoted 39 years of service to Harlem Hospital Center, commuting an hour each way by subway, where she started as a nurses’ aide and progressed to licensed practical nurse, staff nurse, assistant head nurse, head nurse and nursing supervisor. After becoming a licensed practical nurse at Central School for Practical Nursing, she continued her education at New York City Community College and City College of New York before graduating from St. Joseph’s University, New York in 1978. Throughout her career, Bennett was known as a dedicated leader and mentor who guided nurses with patience and care while ensuring the highest standards of service.

In 2024, the Julia Cuttino Bennett Foundation was established to honor her remarkable legacy. The foundation carries forward Bennett’s impactful work, honoring the vital role of nurses in healthcare and inspiring generations to come. The Foundation strives to provide opportunities for students who aspire to pursue nursing careers, fostering a spirit of excellence, commitment and service.

Holly O’Grady Cook ’84, U.S. Army (Ret.), has built a distinguished 38-year career as a civilian and military attorney, lobbyist and strategic leader. She has extensive experience in diverse areas of law, legislative affairs, resource management, strategic planning and policy development.

“I may never be able to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my education or my career, but I do try to pay forward the time, the financial investment, the training and the professional courtesies that I have received since I graduated from St. Joseph’s almost four decades ago,” Cook said during her award acceptance speech.

Cook serves as senior associate executive director of the Governmental Affairs & Center for Public Interest Law at the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. She earned a B.A. in Social Sciences from St. Joseph’s University, New York in 1984, her J.D. from Albany Law School, and advanced degrees from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School and The National Defense University.

Yesenny Fernandez ’19 combines her expertise in data analytics and art to advance equity by ensuring minority communities receive accurate information about New York City’s programs and services in their own languages through local ethnic media outlets. In less than two years with the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, she has developed innovative strategies for collecting financial and media placement data from city agencies, media placement vendors and outlets, which have been proven comprehensive and successful.

She manages the annual citywide marketing spend aggregate dataset, encompassing tens of thousands of data points. Her work strengthens outreach efforts in partnership with the NYPD and many organizations across New York City dedicated to ending domestic violence.

“What receiving the Rising Star award from St. Joseph’s means to me is motivation to continue surpassing myself and to kind of look back at everything I did,” Fernandez said.

Sashoy Milton ’20 is a health scientist, certified Master in Environmental Management and LEED Green Associate, whose work evaluates toxicity and movement of chemicals to assess risks to human health. She has in-depth experience with projects that integrate quantitative exposure and risk assessments with sustainability, and serves as Stantec’s technical lead and technical manager for projects supporting the pulp and paper industries and contributes to projects for global tire industries.

“Winning the Rising Star Award embodies the St. Joe’s motto, ‘To be, not to seem’, so for me I really appreciate that because I am constantly evolving and constantly growing,” Milton said.

She is also director of the Caribbean Youth Development Institute, a virtual learning platform she created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide Jamaican primary students with curriculum-based resources and workshops. A graduate of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Milton advised on the associate dean’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board, where she brought her expertise in predictive modeling to trace chemicals to understand their health impacts.