Stony Brook University has earned numerous accolades and recognitions over the years, and its Division of Student Affairs (DoSA) has accomplished another feat this year.
The State University of New York (SUNY) system has recognized Stony Brook Student Affairs with four Outstanding Student Affairs Program (OSAP) Awards for 2025. Out of all SUNY campuses, SBU DoSA earned the most awards this year. DoSA’s OSAP 2025 wins include the Robert A. Bonfligio New Professional Award, John Graham Award for Mentorship and two awards for Outstanding Program.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our staff and professionals who have been recognized by SUNY for the incredible work they do for our campus community,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Rick Gatteau. “My sincerest congratulations to Ms. Deb, Simran, the Career Center and the Center for Prevention and Outreach, all of whom have made our Division stronger with their dedication to the students we serve.”
The full list of this year’s award winners is as follows:
Simran Kaur: 2025 Robert A. Bonfiglio New Professional Award Recipient
Simran Kaur, survey research analyst for DoSA’s CRAFT Team, received the Robert A. Bonfiglio New Professional Award, which “recognizes the impact that new professionals in Student Affairs have upon the student affairs profession and our State University of New York colleges and universities,” according to SUNY’s description. Up to three individuals can receive the award each year, professionals who each “must have served in a student affairs role for less than four years” and show excellence in at least one of the following NASPA Pillars: integrity, innovation, inclusion and inquiry. “Impact” is an additional area for consideration. Some of Kaur’s notable work, which earned her this achievement, includes published works and presentations in regional and national conferences, and her instrumental involvement in the launch of the Campus Pulse Survey, a two-question tool co-developed with the Divisions of Student Affairs and Educational & Institutional Effectiveness that delivers timely, actionable insights with minimal fatigue for students.
Deborah Britton-Riley: 2025 John Graham Award for Mentorship Recipient
Deborah Britton-Riley, coordinator of New Student and Transition Programs (NSTP), received the John Graham Award for Mentorship. According to the SUNY description, only one individual from across SUNY’s state-operated campuses is selected, a professional who not only exemplifies the aforementioned NASPA Pillars, but has also “demonstrated a record of mentorship” while serving in a student affairs role for “no less than eight years.” Commonly referred to as “Ms. Deb” by colleagues and students, some of Britton-Riley’s work to earn her this award includes serving as founder, co-advisor, and mentor for the Black and Latino Initiative, creating and enhancing SBU’s First Generation Student Program, and assisting with other programs focused on inclusion and student development.
Center for Prevention and Outreach: Outstanding Program
The Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO) was recognized with the OSAP award for Outstanding Program regarding the “Upstander Program.” This program encompasses four training sessions to teach students how to handle critical public health and safety issues, one of which is to teach hands-only CPR. The other three are Red Watch Band, QPR and Green Dot, which address issues related to alcohol or drug overdose; mental health distress and suicide ideation; and forms of personal and domestic violence, respectively.
Students who complete all four trainings receive recognition at a semi-formal “Upstander Gala,” where they are awarded a certificate and graduation cord. By the time of the OSAP nomination deadline, 550 Stony Brook students had completed the full Upstander Program in 2025. This is over a 1,000 percent increase from the program’s launch year in 2019, with 50 students completing all trainings, which excluded CPR until it was added in 2024.
Career Center: Outstanding Program
Along with CPO, the Career Center received an award for Outstanding Program as well. Titled “Diversity Dialogues: Shining a Light on Unconscious Bias in the Workplace,” the program educates students on the impact unconscious bias can have on professional environments. The program involves group activities and discussions, as well as lectures, all designed to analyze identity and systems of power and privilege. Staff members credited with overseeing the program include Jiana Farrell, career coach for Healthcare, Social Welfare and Emerging Talent; Katie Diekman, program manager of Early Career Initiatives; and Kimberly Joy Dixon, director of Employer Engagement and Recruitment Strategies.
For the time covered by the recent awards, 131 students engaged with the program, and a post-workshop assessment indicated that the vast majority of students learned key takeaways. These include being able to define bias, provide examples of and identify bias, and comprehend strategies to mitigate bias. According to the Career Center, the workshop is set to be an annual event, but will also be available upon request from student groups, staff and/or faculty.
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