The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) recently celebrated its Difference You Make Awards and Recognition ceremony, an annual event recognizing excellence and service among several CAS students, faculty and staff.
Dean David Wrobel emceed the event, welcoming the more than 120 guests who joined the celebration. He started by acknowledging several of the college’s accomplishments of the past academic year, including the Arts Everywhere initiative; an increased number of events to celebrate and showcase undergraduate and graduate student research; increased connections to potential students through new Admitted Seawolf events; and several efforts such as workshops, seed grants and fellowships to support the research and creative activity of colleagues across CAS core areas.
“This is a special community, one that rests on our celebration of each other’s success, our dedication to the mission of our college to be at the leading edge of Stony Brook’s research, student success, and social mobility initiatives, and on our kindness to each other and to everyone we serve and support,” he said.
Interim President Richard L McCormick also offered welcome remarks, recognizing the longevity of this annual event that began in 2016, and its impact in celebrating individuals that make SBU stronger in academic leadership, excellence in research, and unparalleled camaraderie both within the CAS itself and throughout the university as a whole.
“When each of you took on your role within the College of Arts and Sciences, you were likely cautiously optimistic about what your future would hold,” he said. “Now, on the other end of, or maybe in another step of, your journey, you can take the lessons learned while here at Stony Brook and apply them to all you will do in the future. You have seen personal and professional growth. You have taken on responsibilities you may not have anticipated. And you have shown to yourselves and our community that excellence is achieved, not received, through hard work and determination.”
This year’s honorees included recipients of the Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Awards, John S. Toll Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching, Staff Excellence Awards, and this year’s CAS retirees, as well as 2024-25 IDEA Grads, Guiliano Global Fellows, and members of the Dean’s Student Leadership and Advisory Council (DSLAC).
The Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Awards, named for longtime CAS faculty member Aaron (Bill) Godfrey, were given to five faculty members across the college. These awards were created to give students an opportunity to honor faculty members who have provided excellence in teaching and mentorship.
Each year, CAS students are invited to nominate faculty, and members of the DSLAC deliberate to select the final recipients, one in each of five areas.
2025 Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Award recipients:
- Andrew Engelhardt, Department of Political Science – Social Sciences
- William Bernhard, Department of Mathematics – Physical Sciences
- Susan Scheckel, Department of English – Humanities
- Sam Dodd, Department of Art – Fine Arts
- Benjamin Martin, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology – Life Sciences
The John S. Toll Endowed Award for Teaching Excellence is also selected by the DSLAC from this year’s and previous recipients of the Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Awards. Professor Martin was selected based on his exceptional teaching and oratorical skills, and interest in presenting his subject to a general audience.
Additionally, faculty and staff across the college nominated CAS staff members for the Staff Excellence Awards, recognizing those who go above and beyond and provide exceptional service to promote the excellence of the college.
2025 Staff Excellence Award recipients:
- Andrew Breslin, staff assistant, Department of Psychology
- Anne Duffy, staff assistant, Department of Mathematics
- Kimberly Toell, administrative assistant, Department of Chemistry
Dean Wrobel also acknowledged the 2024-25 DSLAC for their amazing feedback participation over the past year.
2024-25 Dean’s Student Leadership and Advisory Council (DSLAC) graduating seniors:
- Leena Alzafarani, psychology and biology double major
- Max Bolkhovsky, psychology
- Laci Burton, English Honors major with minors in women’s, gender and sexuality studies, and writing and rhetoric
- Victor Chacon Cabrera, Hispanic languages and literature, minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- Daniel Canavin, biology; minor in anthropology
- Matthew Jacob, business management and economics double major; minors in globalization studies and international relations, political science and sustainability studies
- Dominic Stanz, economics and human evolutionary biology double major
- Siddhant Desai, biology and Scholars for Medicine BS/MD combined program
- Shreya Motaganahalli, biology; minor in creative writing and literature
- Rebekah Zhao, environmental design, policy and planning and studio art double major, with minors in art history and digital art
- Peter Joyce, history and political science double major currently pursuing an MA in public policy
The IDEA Grad program, which provides a mentor-based experiential learning and professional development opportunity for graduate students, was also recognized. IDEA grads are advanced PhD students in the creative arts, social sciences and humanities, selected based on their commitment to building community on campus.
2024-25 IDEA Grads:
- Elliot Brown, music
- Jesús Jiménez Valdés, Hispanic languages and literature
- Maria Medin-Doce, Hispanic languages and literature
- Galia Cozzi Berrondo, women’s, gender and sexuality studies
- Anna Cahn, art
- Jeremy Carlstedt, music
Lastly, this year’s Edward Guiliano ‘78, PhD, Global Fellowship Program recipients were honored. Now in its eighth year, the Guiliano Fellowship program provides students with the opportunity to broaden their perspectives by engaging with the world beyond SBU and their local communities.
Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Guiliano Fellows:
- Valentina Pucci, Hispanic languages and literature
- Elizabeth A. Lawrensen, music
- Quim Solias, Hispanic languages and literature
- Lana Gouda, political science
- Anuva Wardah, political science
- Melany Bonilla Delgado, globalization studies and international relations
- Chloe Maloy, psychology and history
- Kira Diaz, political science and business
- Emillion Adekoya, women’s, gender and sexuality studies
- Huzaifa Dokaji, history
- Maria Catalina Joseph, Hispanic languages and literature
- Maria Paula Lizarazo, Hispanic languages and literature
- Milena Acosta, Hispanic languages and literature
Read more and view photos from the event.
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