The New School for Social Research '74
When Joseph J. Esposito came to The New School for Social
Research to study political science in 1972, he did so with the
intention of eventually getting his PhD and teaching on a college level. Ultimately he took a different route, one that would take him all the way to a judgeship on the New York State Supreme Court.
Esposito says it was his experience at The New School, with its focus on civic engagement and real-world approach to education, that helped push him in a different direction.
“This innovative, very action-oriented take on political science tempted me to go into law,” said Esposito, MA Politics ’74. “Teaching is a noble profession. But after getting my master’s, I thought, instead of teaching political systems and political science, maybe I should actually do something in those fields. At The New School, I learned there's a difference between studying something and actually doing it.”
After graduating from The New School, Esposito spent 40 years working in the New York City court system. He served as the court attorney of the City of New York and in the Supreme Court of Queens County for 18 years. He was then elected to the Civil Court of the City of New York, where he worked for 12 years.In 2016, he deepened his commitment to his community with his election to the New York State Supreme Court.
Esposito's interest in civic engagement developed when he was young. Growing up in Queens, he spent time after school working at the deli operated by his parents. As an employee, he got to know and care about the people in his neighborhood.
Esposito's education began in Queens, where he attended K–12. After high school, he enrolled at Niagara University and then transferred to St. John's University, closer to home, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in political science in 1972. Esposito then came to The New School for Social Research, where he earned his master's degree in political science.
“It was such a positive, rewarding experience,” Esposito said of his time at The New School. “The professors were cutting edge, very smart, and very challenging. The program was rigorous. I spent a lot of time at the library. The New School really sharpened my political skills and knowledge.”