2024-2025 Awards Ceremony & Reception

Valedictorian 
Michael Becker

The Murray Korn Undergraduate Community Service Award     
Oroboghene Obaro-Ogbovoh

The Bernice Korn Capstone Paper Award    
Tessa Wisloh

Political Science Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award    
Shrijna Dixon

Political Science Outstanding Adjunct Instructor Award    
Connor Moran

Outstanding Student Leadership    
Andrew Fleckenstein

Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award    
Shelby Cook-Shannon

James Unger Memorial Undergraduate Award for an Outstanding Research Paper    
Ethan Madappatt
Sean Millington
Michael Regateiro

2024-25 Presidential Award for Undergraduate Research    
Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado
Erin Donnellon
Olivia Scheffer

Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation    
David Siracuse

Professor Martin Edelman Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching    
Cammie Bolin
 

Valedictorian    
Mirabel Sandler

First Penguin Undergraduate Research Award    
Jessica Medwid

Steve Jackson Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award    
Royal Srem Sai

Outstanding Student Leadership    
Robert Pitkofsky

Outstanding Candidacy Paper Award    
In Hae Noh

Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation    
Arzana Myderrizi

Valedictorian    
Dean Hood

Eliot H. Lumbard Award for Excellence    
Beau Holladay

Steven DeBraccio ’10 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award     
Linda Balcarova

Graeme Newman Award for Entrepreneurial Criminal Justice     
Dean Hood
Samantha Hurley

Dr. Walter M. Francis Award for Excellence in Master’s Study    
Jenna Chorba
Kevin Doherty
Charles White III

Donald J. Newman Award for Outstanding Achievement    
Ryan Parker

Distinguished Teaching Professor James Acker/Dr. Walter Francis Award    
Ananya Sharma

Distinguished Professor David Bayley/Walter M. Francis Policing Award
Kelsey Demick

Pi Sigma Alpha

• Jason Aguayza-Palaguachi
• Aasam Ali
• Jacqueline Arena
• Aaron Argomido
• Carys Bartlett
• Kaitlyn Bechand
• Michael Becker
• Alexandrea Bondinello
• Anna Buckridge
• Lucienne Burns
• Vinny Carucci
• Thomas Chase
• Karly Cavanaugh
• Mateo Childs
• Hayley Clark
• Sydney Cooper
• Sofia Dahl
• Nathaniel De Leon
• Golden  Duru
• Dorothea Farrell
• Nic Feldman
• Richard Fischer
• Jenna Garufi
• Meredith Gilbert
• Demiana Hoch
• Max Hussey
• Makayla Hutchinson
• Alana Ikeler
• Joshua Johnson
• Jerem Joseph
• Giovanna Larca
• Karolina Maczuga
• Morgan Magwood
• Cristin Marte
• Elijah Mckible
• Isabella Mele
• Sean Metcalf
• Danielle Mueller
• Chris Nanas
• Kassandra Pangallo
• Trey Parkin
• Sam Peters
• Zara Pinar
• Wendy Rodriguez
• Amelia Ruggiero
• Plabon Saha
• Ethan San Pedro
• Shianna Smith
• Kayla-Jay Soriano
• Rebecca St Germain
• Ryan Szepek
• Zeinab Toure
• Prajeeta Vaidya
• Nazar Yevko
   

Pi Alpha Alpha

• Colin Beasor
• Matthew D’Angelo
• Sarah Finkelstein
• Jae Fish
• Razi Gillani
• Daiseon Jeon
• Hyeonmin Kim
• Robert Pitkofsky
• Theresa Quinones
• Jahyra Speights
• Cindy Treminio

Oroboghene Obaro-Ogbovoh

• Aasam Ali
• Irene Aloyce
• Sodiq Ambali
• James Cuddy
• Jayden Fritz-Berrios
• Steven Jimenez
• Joshua Korn
• Jack Kozlowski
• Mac-Olivier Lalanne
• Halimah Lawson
• Akhenaton Lazarre
• Sara Mabee
• Max Dydynski
• Sean Metcalf
• Sean Millington
• Christopher Murunguzha
• Oroboghene Obaro-Ogbovoh
• Trevor Pettit
• Zara Pinar
• Robert Pitkofsky
• Anna Schumacher-Zaremsky
• Gracianna Serravillo
• Olivia Sheffer
• Zeinab Toure
• Annabelle Trowbridge
• Craig Waltz Jr
• Tenzin Yingsal
   

Anna Boochever De Beer Scholarship Fund         
Bryce Mack

Anne Gustin Rockefeller College Scholarship for Women in Law or Government  
Katelynn White

Arthur & Maria Kelly Smith Endowment Award                
Paris Lyons
Zaranur Pinar
James Raggio
Rija Zahra

Bruce L. Davis '73, '75 Fellowship             
Manuela Brunner Carrasco

Bruce L. Davis Criminal Justice Scholarship          
Emma Seils

Buchly Semester in Washington Fund     
Sean Millington

Casey Groves Memorial Fund     
Morgan Gunter
Abigale  Rhodes

Dean Frank J. Thompson Scholarship      
Favoured-Joy Oghenekome

Distinguished Service Professor David F. Andersen Scholarship   
Patrick Schumacher

Governor Mario Cuomo Scholarship Fund            
Xavier Lamar

Hans Toch Memorial Endowment in the School of Criminal Justice           
Samantha Nunes

J. Edgar Hoover Leadership Scholarship 
Lolita Alienicheva
Taysha Hohensheldt
Hayley Moskowitz
Dorothy Muller
Justin Rathje

Jean Ellis Poletti Memorial Internship Fund         
Rayhana Ami
Karly Cavanaugh
Margaret Driscoll
Watini Murekatete
James Raggio

John Giarrusso'87, '89 MPA Endowed Scholarship            
Daniel Weinstein

Joseph & Helen Heikoff Endowment       
Jerusha Chipingo
Razi Gillani
Robert Pitofsky
Taylor Sjursen

Letizia Tagliafierro '95 Endowed Scholarship       
Kathryn Taleporos

Lew Weiner '84 Scholarship        
Xia Hoffman
Esther Levine
Sean Metcalf
Andrea Trifunovic

The Libby Post '82 MA '84 Endowed Fund for Social Justice Policy             
Frannie  Pande

Louis P. and Dolores M. Augostini Fellowship      
Zong-Xian Huang
Connor  Moran

Lt. John Finn Memorial Scholarship Fund             
Jenna Chorba

Mary & Peter Brusoe Washington Semester Fund            
Demiana Hoch

Matthew Peter '06 MA '07 Endowed Scholarship              
Trevor Pettit

Michael J. Lynch & Elizabeth Cass Endowed Award          
Hilary Jackl

Professor Jose E. Cruz Scholarship for Global Understanding       
Kayla-Jay Soriano

Professor Michael J. Malbin Washington Semester Fund               
Alexix Halpin
Sarah Jamil
Jack Kozlowski
Jalen Rose
Chinoso Udoye

Professor Walter Goldstein Graduate Scholarship             
Ruth Ifebuzo

Public Administration & Policy Scholarship          
Sachin Mitra

Ralph H. & Dora Baker Scholarship          
Danielle Mueller
Zara Pinar
Mickey Zheng

The Relentless Bonilla Fazio Public Service Scholarship   
Fatmata Bah

Richard Bailey Memorial Scholarship Fund          
Jennifer Thiem

Richard Gentilcore '66 Criminal Justice Scholarship          
Li-Chen Chu

Rick C. Mathews Homeland Security Award        
Razi Gillani

Robert S. Herman Endowment   
Bryce Mack

Rockefeller College Advisory Board Scholarship Fund 
Korra O'Neill

Rockefeller College Dean's Fund for Excellence 
Jerusha Chipingo
Samuel  Eisenkraft
Alice Russo
Katelynn White

Rockefeller College Dean's Fund for Excellence, Undergraduate Research Award               
Guadalupe Cataldo
Larisa Ibralic
Ethan Maliszewski
Robert Mellon
Maddisen Nelson
Anna Richichi
Benjamin Sepello
Andrea  Trifunovic
Prajeeta Vaidya
Gaheul Yi

Rockefeller College General Scholarship Fund     
Jerusha Chipingo
Alice Russo

Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy Scholarship 
Sarah Finkelstein

Rockefeller College Scholarship 
Batzaya Byambasambuu
Jenna Chorba
Griffin Galvin
Jenifer Martinez-Peraza
Julia Ross-McGuire

Rockefeller College Steve Jackson Graduate Student Scholarship              
Patrick Schumacher

Rockefeller Diversity Scholarship Fund   
Abhay Randhawa
Sanaa Woodley

Rousseau Warner Family Scholarship Fund          
Leslie Fuentes-Mejia

School of Criminal Justice - Graduate Student Fellowship              
Kevin Doherty

Steven Gold Research Assistantship
Jacqueline Johnson
Mac-Olivier Lalanne
Kelly Osei

Swyer Family International Affairs Endowed Scholarship              
Andrew Fleckenstein
Erin McAliney

Walt Francis Fund in the School of Criminal Justice          
Hilary Martinez
Heather Miller
Dhiti Rajaram
Abigail Verhayden

Gerard Citera, BA ’77

For over four decades, Jerry Citera has worked at the intersection of finance, law and policy representing banks, investment banks, securities exchanges and other financial institutions in complex legal, regulatory and compliance matters.   Most recently, Mr. Citera served as Senior Policy Adviser to the SEC Division of Trading and Markets where he advised on regulation of the securities trading markets.  Previously, he was Associate General Counsel at J.P. Morgan Chase, where he represented the Equity Trading Group, and Counsel in the Financial Institutions Group at Davis Polk & Wardwell.  Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy General Counsel at PaineWebber Securities, Regulatory Risk Manager for UBS Investment Bank, and Counsel at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering.

Mr. Citera is a proud graduate of the SUNY system.  He received his BA degree in Political Science from the University at Albany in 1977. He obtained his JD degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School in 1980.  Throughout his career, Mr. Citera has provided support and guidance for Rockefeller College, its dean, faculty and administrators, and most importantly its students.  He has served on the Rockefeller College Dean’s Advisory Board (past Co-Chair) since its founding in 2001.  He was one of the founders and has served on the Executive Committee for the Financial Market Regulation Program for over 20 years. And, he has been a guest lecturer at Rockefeller College, Massry School of Business, Buffalo Law School, and Albany Law School. 

Lynn Addington, MA ’99, PhD ’02

Lynn A. Addington is a professor in the Department of Justice, Law and Criminology at American University in Washington, DC. Her research focuses on violent victimization and includes responses by victims, police, and service providers. Her current work examines issues concerning older adults and fatal violence. Dr. Addington’s research also reflects her expertise with national crime data sources collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has a consistent record of successfully obtaining external and internal funding to support her work. She is completing a multiyear project on violence against older women funded by the National Institute of Justice (US Department of Justice). Dr. Addington also is interested in ways to better connect research with practice and policy.

She frequently partners with local and national government agencies and non-profits to support their efforts to address criminal victimization. She is a past editor of Homicide Studies and continues to serve on its editorial board. In 2016, Dr. Addington received AU’s top award for faculty research. In addition to her PhD in criminal justice from the University at Albany, she has a JD from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS from Northwestern University.

Deborah Chard-Wierschem, MA ’89, MSW ’89, PhD ’98 

Deborah Chard-Wierschem has dual master’s degrees in social work and criminal justice and a doctorate in Criminology, all from the University at Albany, SUNY.  (In fact, she was the first student to test out UAlbany’s new dual MSW/CRJ program which started in the fall of 1986.) As a PhD student, she was part of the original research team for the School of Criminal Justice, Hindelang Research Center’s Rochester Youth Development Study, a renowned cohort study, funded by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention which continues to be the most significant, longitudinal data source available to this day. Using data from this study, her dissertation provided a highly quantitative analysis of the effect of religiosity on juvenile delinquency and substance use.

Dr. Chard-Wierschem has over 30 years of civil service experience, spanning four major New York State (NYS) agencies: the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS); the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS); the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). For the first half of her state career, she worked in a research capacity, conducting studies and developing programs or policies covering a broad range of topics: incarceration, recidivism, female offenders, reentry planning, evaluating domestic violence arrest policies, fatality reviews, risk assessment, suicide prevention, training for law enforcement, mental health treatment and forensics. The other half of her state career has involved managing bureau operations for offenders with mental illness and other behavioral health needs. Most recently, she was selected for and graduated from the prestigious New York State Leadership Institute at Rockefeller College which is a non-residential program for high-level state managers.

Dr. Chard-Wierschem is currently the Director of the OPWDD Bureau of Intensive Treatment Services (BITS), the agency’s forensics-related bureau, which oversees activities related to justice-involvement for people with developmental disabilities. In her current role, she oversees statewide admissions and discharges to secure inpatient settings and compliance with criminal (and family) court orders to the Commissioner, for individuals found not competent to proceed or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect. The bureau provides consultation to forensic liaisons across the state who help individuals with developmental disabilities navigate justice system involvement. These activities include jail or prison reentry planning and complex, cross-system, case consultation.

Prior to her work with the state, Dr. Chard-Wierschem worked for several non-profit agencies, including the Equinox shelter for homeless youth and the Schenectady ARC Day Treatment program. She worked in a research capacity at Policy Research Associates, a national leader in behavioral health and research, on a project examining the effect of insanity defense reforms in the U.S. Her community work has included volunteering for rape crisis, suicide prevention, raising awareness of domestic violence in faith communities, conflict mediation, nonviolent communication and using theatre and the arts with youth.  

In 2023, Dr. Chard-Wierschem returned to UAlbany as an Adjunct Professor, developing and teaching a new graduate course in forensic mental health, which uses the Sequential Intercept Model to examine behavioral health interventions across the justice system. She also teaches an undergraduate course for seniors who have criminal justice internships. Finally, in the fall of 2024, Dr. Chard-Wierschem received a Certificate in Building a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Curriculum from the UAlbany Center for Professional Development.

Dr. Chard-Wierschem lives in Albany with her husband (whom she met during Fred Cohen’s Deprivation of Liberty class in 1988!). They have three daughters, one who graduated from law school and is currently working at the NYS Senate, one who is a graduate student at Hunter College and one who is a sophomore at SUNY Stonybrook. When she is not working, teaching or volunteering, Dr. Chard-Wierschem’s favorite activities are spending time with her two Shih Tzus and working on obtaining her 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwando.  
 

Ráchael Powers, PhD ’12  

Ráchael Powers is an associate professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. She received her BA in Psychology/Sociology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (2005), her MA in Criminology from the University of Maryland (2008), and her PhD in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany (2012).

Her main research interests lie in the areas of violent victimization, with a focus on gender-based violence (IPV, sexual assault), hate crime, and bystander behavior. Much of her recent work centers on victim and bystander agency, what victims and bystanders do during and after victimization, including the use of the criminal justice system. Dr. Powers also has experience in evaluations of campus- and community-based violence prevention programs. Ráchael Powers's recent work has been published in Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Justice Quarterly, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, among other outlets. Her research has been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Population Affairs, and Bureau of Justice Assistance.
 

Cara Pace, BA ’93

Cara Pace joined United Hospice’s Executive Team in 2019 as Chief Operating Officer and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in June 2020. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors, Governance, Finance and Legislative/Regulatory Public Policy Committee for the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS). She has extensive experience working in the nonprofit, healthcare and government sectors. Cara has served in key executive leadership roles in nonprofit organizations successfully managing large, complex and diverse portfolios. During her career, Cara has developed more than $100 million in new business revenue for the organizations she has served totaling more than $1 billion in contracts. To date, she has secured $1 million in grant revenue for United Hospice to expand end-of-life care to Hispanic/Latino and underserved communities.

Ms. Pace consistently receives high recognition from her partners in government and the private sector for her innovative and compassionate approach to serving communities in need. She is a well-respected leader in the Greater New York Metro Area nonprofit community and has strived to achieve the highest standards throughout her professional career. She received special recognition from City and State New York by being included in the 2024 Responsible 100.

Ms. Pace received her undergraduate degree from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany and earned her Master of Public Administration at the Marist College School of Business. She currently serves on the Rockefeller College Advisory Board and previously served on the Advisory Board for Marist College School of Business. In addition, Ms. Pace has also taught graduate courses at the Marist College School of Business.

Alex Peña, BA ’10

Alex serves as Executive Vice President at the Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit organization founded by David Rockefeller that enables business leaders to collaborate with government and civic groups on the city's pressing economic and social challenges. With nearly fifteen years of experience spanning local, state, and national politics, senior federal government legal roles, and private practice at international law firms, he brings a robust background to this role.

Prior to the Partnership, Alex steered statewide voter protection in Pennsylvania for the 2024 Biden and Harris presidential campaigns. His background also includes service in the prior Administration, spending 2.5 years within the General Counsel's Office at the U.S. Department of Transportation, where he helped manage its legal affairs and 450+ attorneys. He currently sits on the national board of the Hispanic National Bar Association.
 

Jermaine Privott, BA ’97, MPA ’04, MBA ’07 

Described as a student-centered leader with a passion for access, opportunity, and affordability in higher education, Dr. Privott specializes in student success, service-learning, and initiatives that drive retention and persistence through graduation. Dr. Privott is a highly resourceful, strategic, and results-driven higher education administrator with over 20 years of progressive experience in leading and transforming student affairs programs. Recognized throughout his career for being a visionary leader with the ability to develop, optimize, and implement educational opportunities to prepare students within a progressing society, Dr. Privott’s overall goal is to expand his career brand where his experience can be utilized to maximize student success, enhance campus life, and drive institutional excellence.

During his time as a student in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at the University at Albany, Dr. Privott was mentored by Dr. Carson Carr Jr. and encouraged by his work ethic and genuine concern for students.  An explorer by nature, Dr. Privott has traveled the world over. He has served in the United States Peace Corps in the Eastern Caribbean and led groups to serve in various countries in Africa as a member of Operation Crossroads Africa. He continues to support students in their goals of international travel, specifically for the purpose of serving and learning in the respective locations, as he has done, including in the Executive Mayor’s Office in Germiston, South Africa, where he completed a needs assessment for the district following the dismantling of a system of apartheid.  One of Dr. Privott’s most rewarding experiences abroad was during his Peace Corps experience, building a school that still stands and educates students in Anse La Raye, St. Lucia.

Education has been the focus of the vast majority of Dr. Privott’s work, including as past College Coordinator with the NYC Youth Action Programs & Homes, Inc.  Engaged in education, Dr. Privott brings the lessons learned in real life into his work with students.  He understands that education is not limited to the classroom and takes learning beyond the classroom intentionally to enhance students’ learning.  As a former Project Manager with the City of New York Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Dr. Privott has extensive knowledge of both State and Federal housing programs, and he has utilized this knowledge when working with local economic officials, property owners, and other community stakeholders, to address concerns related to housing, identifying ways to work together for the mutual benefit, including for the benefit of the community. Dr. Privott understands the importance of creating and nurturing working partnerships both inside and outside of organizations within and beyond education while ensuring that students understand the same. His subsequent professional and international community development experiences have been useful in his ongoing work with students to ensure that they understand such complex dynamics while aiming for a better world.

For over a decade, while serving as Executive Director of the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program at Russell Sage College, Dr. Privott also served as co-Founder/Faculty Advisor of the Leaders In Service Program with his wife of over sixteen years, Dr. Deb Privott, also a graduate of the University at Albany, where they met.  Together they have three children. The family has a passion for lifelong learning through travel and study.

Dr. Privott holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA), and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA), all from the University at Albany, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the Esteves School of Education, Russell Sage College, where his research focused on persistence through graduation, including a special emphasis on the impact of HEOP administrators.

When asked about his most important achievement, Dr. Privott responded: "One of my most important achievements outside of my family is graduating from the University at Albany as a member of the EOP program."  Dr. Privott looks forward to continuing to bless students with similar opportunities that he has been abundantly blessed to receive.  The best is yet to come.

Joseph Popcun, MPA ’14

Joseph (Joe) Popcun has served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) since November 2021.  In this role, he was elected to be Northeast Chair of the National Criminal Justice Association's Board of Directors, where he helps guide federal and state policies on criminal justice and public safety.  Prior to joining DCJS, he served as Director of Policy and Practice at the Rockefeller Institute of Government and Executive Director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium.  At the same time, in partnership with the New York State Department of State, Joe was the Executive Director of the Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration.  

Between 2020 and 2021, he advised the New York State Governor's COVID-19 response and recovery operations.  Joe previously served as Assistant Secretary and Policy Advisor for Public Safety in the New York State Governor's Office, as well as Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning at DCJS.  He began his state service as an Excelsior Service Fellow in the Governor's Office in 2013.  He holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.  He is a current Doctoral Candidate in Political Science at Rockefeller College and lives in the City of Albany with his wife, Meghan, and their three children.

President's Excellence in Teaching Award
Caitlin Udas    
Jennifer Dodge    

President's Excellence in Academic Service Award 
Ellen Rubin    

President's Excellence in Professional Service Award
Renee Wallingford