Stony Brook University’s Division of Student Affairs (DoSA) has received four Outstanding Student Affairs Program (OSAP) Awards from the State University of New York (SUNY) system for 2025, making it the most awarded campus in the SUNY network this year.
The recognitions include the Robert A. Bonfiglio New Professional Award, John Graham Award for Mentorship, and two Outstanding Program awards. The university highlighted these achievements as further evidence of its commitment to supporting students through effective programs and dedicated staff.
“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.”
Simran Kaur, survey research analyst on DoSA’s CRAFT Team, received the Robert A. Bonfiglio New Professional Award. This honor is given to up to three new professionals each year who have worked in student affairs roles for less than four years and shown excellence in integrity, innovation, inclusion or inquiry, with impact also considered. Kaur was recognized for her published works, presentations at conferences, and her key role in developing the Campus Pulse Survey—a brief tool designed to collect actionable student feedback while minimizing survey fatigue.
Deborah Britton-Riley was named recipient of the John Graham Award for Mentorship. Only one individual across all SUNY state-operated campuses is selected each year for this award, which honors a professional with at least eight years’ experience who demonstrates mentorship alongside other core values. Britton-Riley’s contributions include founding and advising the Black and Latino Initiative at Stony Brook University (SBU), creating programs for first-generation students, and advancing initiatives focused on inclusion.
The Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO) won an OSAP award for its Upstander Program. This initiative consists of four training sessions addressing public health and safety topics such as hands-only CPR; alcohol or drug overdose response; mental health distress; suicide prevention; and violence prevention strategies. Students completing all trainings are recognized at an Upstander Gala event with certificates and graduation cords. In 2025 alone, 550 students completed all components—representing a significant increase from 50 completions when the program began in 2019.
The Career Center was also honored with an Outstanding Program award for “Diversity Dialogues: Shining a Light on Unconscious Bias in the Workplace.” The program uses group activities, discussions, and lectures to help students identify bias in professional settings and develop strategies to address it. During this period covered by the awards, 131 students participated; assessments showed that most gained practical knowledge about recognizing bias and ways to mitigate it. The workshop will become an annual offering but will remain available upon request throughout campus.