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HomeNews and EventsDifference You MakeThe Difference You Make 2026

The Difference You Make 2025 Awards and Recognition Ceremony
may 12, 2026

This annual event celebrates excellence in our community. This year, we honored  IDEA Grads, Guiliano Fellows,  and members of the the Dean's Student Leadership and Advisory Council, as well as recipients of the Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Awards, John S. Toll Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching,  Staff Excellence Awards, and those retiring from the College this year. 

View Photos from the Difference You Make

Faculty and staff retirees

  • Bernadette Holdener, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  • Pamela Wolfskill, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  • Shikaripur N. Sridhar,  Asian and Asian American Studies
  • April Musano, Chemistry
  • Susan Scarf Merrell, Creative Writing, Film and Television
  • Amy Hempel, Creative Writing, Film and Television
  • Shirley Lim, History
  • Antonio Toscano, Languages and Cultural Studies
  • Robert Lazarsfeld, Mathematics
  • William Collins, Neurobiology and Behavior
  • Catherine Costanzo, Neurobiology and Behavior
  • Peter Carravetta, Philosophy
  • Lorenzo Simpson, Philosophy
  • Dmitri Kharzeev, Physics and Astronomy
  • MaryAnn Duffy, Department of Writing and Rhetoric
  • Thomas Tousey, Department of  Writing and Rhetoric

Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Awards/john S. Toll Endowed award for teaching excellence 

Students from across the College were invited to nominate faculty for the Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Award, named in honor of our longtime colleague, the late Aaron (Bill) Godfrey, whose 53-year career at Stony Brook impacted the lives of so many students. A student panel selected our 2026 recipients, one in each of five areas, from numerous nominations.

The John S. Toll Endowed Award for Teaching Excellence at Stony Brook University is presented to a faculty member based on their exceptional teaching and passion for their field of study, as well as for the mentorship of students. Recipients are selected by the Dean’s Student Advisory Council among current and previous years’ recipients of the Godfrey Excellence in Teaching Awards.

  • Jennie Allen 
     A smiling woman wearing eyeglasses stands amidst trees in a park
    Godfrey Excellence in Teaching - Fine Arts  and John S. Toll Endowed Award for Teaching ExcellenceDepartment of Creative Writing, Film and Television
  • Joy Bolger
    Headshot of Joy Bolger
    Godfrey Excellence in Teaching - Social SciencesDepartment of Psychology
  • Daniela Flesler
    A smiling woman with chin-length hair wearing a tshirt and necklace with a large red stone
    Godfrey Excellence in Teaching - HumanitiesDepartment of Hispanic Languages and Literature
  • Evrydiki (Evita) Nestoridi
    A woman sits at a table in a restaurant
    Godfrey Excellence in Teaching - Physical SciencesDepartment of Mathematics
  • Natasha Vitek
    A smiling person wearing eyeglasses stands in front of fossils that lay on a table, with her hands under her chin
    Godfrey Excellence in Teaching - Life SciencesDepartment of Ecology and Evolution 

Staff Excellence Awards

Our staff are an integral part of the College, providing exceptional support and service to our community. These individuals are the backbone of the College, recognized for the excellence demonstrated in their positions and their extraordinary dedication and commitment. 

IDEA GRADS  AY 2025-26

Guiliano fellows

Dean's Student Leadership and Advisory Council 2026 Graduates

a smiling person stands on the front porch of a house

Faizah Armfield-Bility

BS Psychology  

 

 


 

Person smiling and standing in a parking lot, wearing a suit and tie

Siddhant Desai

MBA

Scholars for Medicine BS/MD 

 

Person smiling and standing with their hand on a tree

Rebecca Gabrielsen

BS Biology, minor in Health, Medicine and Society

A smiling person stands in front of a fountain outdoors

Sophia Goodkin

Psychology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies double major

A smiling person with their hand on their hip stands in front of a fountain

Lana Gouda

Political Science and Economics double major, minor in Philosophy 

A smiling person stands outdoors, arms folded, in front of a mountain

Shriram Hegde

Biology and Spanish Language and Literature double major

 

Portrait of a smiling person with shoulder-length curly hair, wearing glasses, a red tie, and a dark jacket.

Matthew Jacob

MA in Public Policy 


 

Headshot of Mariami Kochiashvili

Mariami Kochiashvili

Biology and Psychology double major

Person standing in front of a fountain outdoors

Laiba Rajput

Political Science; minor in Globalization Studies and International Relations

Headshot of Anuva Wardah

Anuva Wardah

Political Science and Sociology double major

 

A smiling person takes a selfie while sitting in a car

Sophie Zarate

Honors College; History and Political Science double major 

 

Headshot of Eleftherios Zoumpanidopoulos

Eleftherios Zoumpanidopoulos

Biology and Hellenic Studies double major

a smiling person wearing a formal dress sits on a chair in a banquet hall

Alexa Zuckerman

Multidisciplinary Studies (Anthropology, History, and Linguistics)