Payton’s Path to St. Joe’s
Business Administration major Payton Lancer ’26 is a young woman whose love of community has led her to play an active role in campus life on SJNY’s Long Island Campus. A transfer student from Suffolk County Community College (SCCC), Lancer’s academic journey is one of hard work, perseverance and selflessness. While working three jobs and taking online courses at SCCC, Lancer found what she was missing was a sense of community, something she immediately sought to rectify.
“The beginning of my college education was online, and I found it extremely difficult to balance my life and learn from a distance,” said Lancer. “The asynchronous learning made me realize how disconnected from the community I felt when I couldn’t be a part of something. So, I went back to campus and joined the E-board for the Society of Writers (another passion of mine), and became a member of the Rotaract Community Service Club.”
Lancer’s natural leadership abilities and deep reverence for community service and involvement resulted in her being selected for St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Presidential Scholarship. Once on campus, her love of fostering community and bringing students together only continued to grow.
Core Memories
A highlight for Lancer during her time at SJNY was founding the Tabletop Games Club.
“I will always hold so much love for the process of creating my club, the memories of planning and preparing events, and the fun of running the events and meetings. Some of my favorite experiences at SJNY have been the small interactions I have had with the members of my club, Tabletop Games.
“Seeing them on campus and getting a smile or a hello, being a resource and enjoying the small things together as we played a new game have been my happiest moments. In those moments I felt like we all found our place in the SJNY community with each other,” she said.
Thanks to the learning opportunities both in class and in her extracurriculars at SJNY, Lancer feels confident about braving the path ahead. The University’s academic and campus life exposed Lancer to new ways of thinking as well as how to work with others from all walks of life.
After graduation, you might still spot Lancer around campus as she plans on remaining at SJNY to receive her MBA. As she continues to further her education, she is aiming for a job in human resources, while advancing her culinary skills in hopes to one day open a foodservice business.
Payton’s Inspiration
Looking back on her time at St. Joseph’s, Lancer doesn’t cite one particular source of inspiration but rather all those who surround her. The Sisters of St. Joseph, Lancer’s significant other and her sister are just a few worth mentioning.
“Everyone I meet inspires me in small and big ways. Everyone has something new to teach us, and I feel motivated by them to be better for not only them, but myself,” Lancer said. “I’ve heard it said before that we are a mosaic of those we have met. The pieces of myself are all of the aspects of others that have inspired me the most. At SJNY specifically, many professors have inspired me to be unafraid to let our passion lead us. Students have inspired me to show grace and understanding to all I encounter.”
From staff to faculty to students, all within SJNY’s obit have helped push Lancer closer to her dreams, something she hopes the University will do for others as well.
Advice to Students
“Keep at it. The sun will rise tomorrow, so keep pushing forward and never forget what you love to do. Love and passion will drive you towards success. It is never too late to start.”
This story is part of OnCampus’ “Class of 2026 – Meet the Grads” series, focusing on the Class of 2026 at St. Joseph’s University, New York. To read more from this series, click here.
