2024 President’s Excellence Awards Conferred

The president and provost flank a group of 16 people standing in two rows, smiling and holding tear-shaped glass awards.
President Rodríguez and Provost Carol Kim pose with many of the winners of the 2024 President's Excellence Awards. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

Albany, N.Y. (April 9, 2024)—At his annual Spring University Address, President Havidán Rodríguez announced the winners of the 2024 President’s Excellence Awards.

Honorees were celebrated for outstanding service above and beyond their respective positions.

Excellence in Professional Service

Angelina Díaz-Myers, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

Sheena Loughlin, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

Debernee Privott, College of Arts and Sciences

Kristen Swaney, Undergraduate Education

Stacey Zyskowski, School of Criminal Justice

Excellence in Academic Service

Edmund Stazyk, associate professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

Excellence in Teaching

Susanna Fessler, professor of Japanese studies, Department of East Asian Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

Federica Francesconi, associate professor, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences

Paul Stasi, associate professor, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences

Allison Craig, lecturer, Writing and Critical Inquiry Program

Mary Avery, teaching assistant (now an instructor) and PhD candidate, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences

Arzana Myderrizi, teaching assistant (now a research assistant at SUNY RF) and PhD candidate, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

Excellence in Librarianship

Amanda M. Lowe, associate librarian, reference and research services, University Libraries

Excellence in Classified Service

Heide Horan, Residential Life

Sandra Peterson, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration

Excellence in Research and Creative Activities

Fangqun Yu, senior research faculty, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts and Sciences

Julia Hormes, associate professor, Department of Psychology, and associate dean for faculty affairs and research, College of Arts and Sciences

Justin Pickett, professor, School of Criminal Justice, Rockefeller College of Public affairs and Policy

Matthew Szydagis, associate professor, Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences

Meredith Weiss, professor, Department of Political Science, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy

Ryan Torn, professor, Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences