The Stony Awards

Lorre Cahill

Cahill is an HR business partner at Stony Brook University who partners with leaders across Finance and Administration and Marketing and Communications to support employees, strengthen workplace relationships, and develop practical HR solutions.

She is passionate about fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to the university’s mission.

Glenn Dausch

Dausch, Stony Brook University’s web accessibility manager and electronic and information technology accessibility officer, is a forward-thinking advocate for digital accessibility and inclusion.

With more than 20 years of experience, he has dedicated his career to removing barriers to digital information, guided by the principle that information is truly accessible only when everyone can perceive, understand and interact with it.

Chikako Nakamura

Nakamura is a lecturer in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies and serves as the assistant to the director of the Center for Multilingual and Intercultural Communication.

Drawing on 13 years of experience directing literary translations and anime releases at Kodansha International in Tokyo and New York, she coordinates Japanese courses and researches translation, multilingualism, online teaching and AI-enhanced pedagogy.

Robert Nocito, MD

Nocito is an emergency medicine physician, attending faculty member and residency program director at Stony Brook Medicine. After transitioning from a two-decade career in private business, he pursued medicine with a passion for patient care and education.

He founded the Pathways to Healthcare program, which connects undergraduates with clinical experiences and mentorship, and has received numerous teaching and educational awards.

William Caldwell, DO

Caldwell is a double-board-certified anesthesiology and pain medicine physician. Since 2017, he has practiced at Stony Brook University Hospital, serving as chief of the Chronic Pain Division and medical director of the Center for Pain Management since 2019.

A nationally recognized expert, he expands regional access to minimally invasive chronic pain procedures and publishes extensively on interventional safety.

Michele Cinelli-Corona

Cinelli-Corona is an ambulatory operations coordinator at Stony Brook Advanced Imaging, where she has dedicated the past nine years to helping patients navigate their healthcare journey with compassion and care.

She values teamwork, meaningful connections, and the power of kindness and empathy to make a lasting difference in a patient’s experience.

Heather Lawrence

Lawrence, who joined Stony Brook University Hospital’s Patient Advocacy team in 2022, serves as the patient advocate manager for the School of Dental Medicine’s Dental Care Center.

A licensed and certified rehabilitation counselor, she has extensive experience in disability advocacy and mental health. Lawrence is passionate about improving patient experiences, promoting equity, and fostering a culture of empathy and kindness.

Brittni Munn, PA-C

Munn grew up in Smithtown, New York, and earned her physician assistant degree from the New York Institute of Technology. For more than a decade, she has been a member of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Stony Brook Medicine working closely with Tara Huston, MD.

Munn exemplifies compassionate, patient-centered care through exceptional clinical expertise, empathy and unwavering dedication.

Michael Tufano

Tufano is an intensive care unit nurse on the neurosciences critical care unit at Stony Brook University Hospital. A Long Island native and University of Connecticut graduate, he always planned to return to the region.

Tufano founded and leads the unit’s research journal club to advance clinical knowledge. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing and spending time with family, friends and his dog, Henry.

Megan Aiello

Aiello, MPA, RN, is assistant vice president of Cancer Services at Stony Brook Medicine, where she has led enterprisewide oncology strategy since 2023. Her background spans critical care nursing to senior oncology leadership at New York-Presbyterian.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, she now researches digital health equity as a PhD candidate.

Rose Tirotta-Esposito, EdD

Tirotta-Esposito is the assistant provost of educational transformation and director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. With an extensive background in instructional design, pedagogy, academic technology, and strategic management across both K-12 and higher education, Tirotta-Esposito cultivates academic excellence and fosters innovation throughout the Stony Brook University community.

Rachelle (Shelley) Germana, PhD

Germana, senior associate provost for undergraduate education, oversees strategic efforts that advance student transition, retention and degree completion, including an applied research lab on student success.

A sociologist by training, she uses her background to drive data-informed, proactive approaches to supporting students. As co-chair of the Undergraduate Student Success Team, she champions a high-touch, one-student-at-a-time philosophy for large-scale initiatives and strategy.

Jamie Saragossi

Saragossi has been a member of the Stony Brook University community since 2015, serving as the associate dean for content services in the University Libraries.

She provides strategic leadership for teams that steward collections, expand access to information, foster innovation and accessibility, and build partnerships that strengthen the university’s mission of teaching, research and clinical excellence.

Emily Snyder

Snyder serves as director of the Department of Student Community Development. Her career is defined by a deeply student-centered philosophy and a commitment to building inclusive, connected communities.

She advances advocacy pathways for special student populations while championing staff development and mentorship. Through collaborative leadership, she cultivates environments where students and professionals thrive, grow and feel empowered to lead with purpose.

Rasheed Davis, PhD

Davis is a clinical associate professor, emergency department physician assistant and dedicated community advocate. Passionate about health equity, she champions Black maternal health, supports survivors of sexual assault and operates an aquatics program focused on water safety. She is deeply committed to empowering vulnerable populations and fostering a healthier, safer and more equitable community.

Eric M. Lamberg, EdD

Lamberg is interim vice provost for faculty development, leading initiatives for faculty excellence, leadership, mentorship and professional growth.

A licensed physical therapist, nationally recognized scholar and adaptive sport leader, his work focuses on rehabilitation, limb loss, service, advocacy and community engagement. He is president of the American Amputee Soccer Association and a board member of the World Amputee Football Federation.

Marshall Leonard, MD

Leonard is an attending emergency medicine physician and director of the Division of Health Equity and Advocacy at Stony Brook Medicine. He is deeply committed to advancing equitable care, mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals, and fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where patients, learners and colleagues feel respected, valued and empowered.

Daniel D. Singer, MD

Singer, FPD-AEMUS, is an emergency physician, educator and fellowship director at Stony Brook Medicine.

Recognized for his dedication to community engagement, he advances healthcare through outreach, mentorship, global medical education and innovative ultrasound training. His commitment to service extends beyond the emergency department, fostering healthier communities and empowering future generations of physicians and healthcare professionals.

Unity Watts-Bailey

Watts-Bailey serves as director of residential education for apartments, suites and the Southampton campus at Stony Brook University.

A nationally recognized higher education leader and doctoral candidate, she is passionate about cultivating belonging, developing future leaders and fostering a community where all Seawolves feel connected, supported, valued and empowered to thrive together.

Alfred DiVenuto

DiVenuto ’88, ’94 is the Procurement Office’s associate director of accounts payable at Stony Brook University. Since 1990, he has spent more than three decades managing financial operations, navigating complex budgets and ensuring efficient campus payment processing.

He has also served on numerous university committees and presidential task forces. A longtime staff member, he remains an avid Seawolves supporter.

Frank Imperiale

Imperiale is the associate director of Stony Brook Southampton, where he drives strategic initiatives, campus operations and community events.

Recognized for his collaborative leadership and commitment to helping others succeed, he solves complex challenges with creativity, compassion and collaboration. His dedicated outreach fosters a welcoming environment while helping the Stony Brook Southampton community continue to grow and thrive.

Karen Kernan

As director of URECA and a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service, Kernan champions faculty-mentored undergraduate research and creative activities.

For 25 years, she has organized annual campuswide symposia, expanded collaborative programming, amplified the stories of more than 400 researchers of the month and built upon Stony Brook’s premier record of student success.

Kathleen McGoldrick

McGoldrick is vice chair, clinical associate professor and director of interprofessional education in the School of Health Professions.

Her scholarship examines disability advocacy, social media sharenting’s impact on disabled people, and the role of interprofessional education in training future healthcare providers. She also serves on the Inclusion Done Right! conference planning committee to foster community partnerships.

Ashley Staples, PhD

Staples, director of external fellowships and scholarly development in the Graduate School, supports students seeking funding and offers professional development programming. She helps them tell compelling stories about their work, trajectory and future.

Staples was a Fulbright Scholar at Durham University in England and received her PhD in higher education from The Ohio State University.