2024 Meet Your New Colleagues Stories
Aileen Galazin
Training and Talent Development Specialist, HR
Start Date: January 4, 2024
When meeting Aileen Galazin, you are instantly won over by her warm demeanor and outgoing personality. And that’s important, when your job is to train new and existing employees with the skills they need to improve their careers.
Meet Aileen
Daniel Donato
Nursing Assistant, Stony Brook University Hospital
Start Date: August 5, 2023
At first glance, Daniel Donato is serious and stoic in his green scrubs and Stony Brook Medicine logo. And he is. But, in his own words, one must not take anything at face value. In Daniel’s case, he is not just a healthcare worker. Underneath those scrubs is the spirit of an artist.

Ahmad Pratama
Data Literacies Lead, University Libraries
Start Date: June 20, 2024
As the University Libraries’ Data Literacies Lead, Ahmad Pratama is thrilled to be on campus by what he believes to be divine intervention.

Racine Topaloglu
Classification and Compensation Coordinator, Human Resource Services
Start Date: January 18, 2024
German-born Racine Topaloglu says she’s loving her time here at Stony Brook University, where she’s putting her HR experience, collaborative nature and friendly demeanor to work every day in an efficiency-oriented, exciting environment.
Ian Junge
Care Manager, Student Health Center
Start Date: August 7, 2023
As an undergraduate, Stony Brook student athlete alum Ian Junge started off thinking he wanted to become a physical therapist.

Michalina Witek
Recruiting Assistant
Start Date: January 2, 2024
As a recent Master’s graduate, Michalina Witek began her journey into Human Resources as an intern for a startup.
Oren Shefet, PhD
Associate Director, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Start Date: January 16, 2024
From the sunlight pouring through the window to the pastel rug and cushiony armchairs, stepping into Oren Shefet’s office is a breath of fresh air.
Sarah Arbuckle
Recruiter, Human Resource Services
Start Date: January 23, 2023
Sarah Arbuckle’s dream job is to help other people find theirs. In the process, she knows she’s helping employers grow and enhance their organizations, thanks to these talented individuals.
Musa al-Gharbi
Assistant Professor, School of Communication and Journalism (SoCJ)
Start Date: August 15, 2023
Having grown up in a small military town in Arizona, Musa al-Gharbi was delighted to trade the bustling borough of Manhattan, where he earned his PhD in sociology, for the tranquil suburb of Stony Brook.
Meet Musa
Gina Desio & Shannon Seymour
Office of Marketing and Communications, Stony Brook Medicine (SBM)
Start Dates: June 22 and December 7 (respectively), 2023
Both Gina Desio and Shannon Seymour came to Stony Brook eager to produce content that makes a positive impact. Today, the social media specialists are doing exactly that.
Hilary Noren & AnnaMaria Gounaris
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Office of the Dean
Start Dates: September 25 and October 2 (respectively), 2023
Hilary Noren and AnnaMaria Gounaris each have familial ties to Stony Brook – Hilary’s grandmother worked in Counseling and Psychological Services for many years, and three of AnnaMaria’s nieces have attended school here.