Enjoy the Spotlight
LICSPA recognizes the outstanding achievement of member institutions and individual higher education professionals each year at the Annual Conference.
November 14, 2025 | SUNY Old Westbury
We are now accepting nominations for awards:
Each award has a separate nomination form.
You may submit multiple nominations, but one form per nominee.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Winners announced at the conference on November 14.
2025 LICSPA Founders Award – This recognize individuals who encourage work between college campuses through webinars, socials, or professional development that benefit the Long Island/NY Metro Higher Education community.
https://forms.gle/SLMQLsRsrFpQdQ6e7
Individual Excellence Awards - seeks colleagues who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, helped build bridges, showed empathy for students and colleagues, and is the epitome of professional excellence.
Individual Awards for each of the following:
Individual Excellence - Graduate Student/Masters and or Doctorate
Individual Excellence - New Professional - 1-5 Years of Experience
Individual Excellence - Mid-Level - 5-10 Years of Experience
https://forms.gle/UDahrifG7RWiHraV9
Innovative Award - seeks to recognize individuals or programs that have changed the landscape of higher education on campus.
https://forms.gle/anEvfLv8DSeXA65F7
We look forward to celebrating the amazing work of our colleagues!
November 1, 2024 | Long Island University
2024 Individual Excellence Awards
Graduate Student: Rosanna Cuttone, Grad Student Coordinator for Multicultural Activities & Administration, Stony Brook University | Maxie DeBiso, Graduate Assistant for Commuter Student Programs, Hofstra University
New Professional: Doreen Dacilas, Area Director, Hofstra University
Mid-Level Professional: Joseph Williams, Senior Associate Director of the Center for Student Success & Coaching, Long Island University
Senior-Level Professional: Jerilyn Marinan, Director of Career Planning & Development, SUNY Old Westbury
2024 Innovation Award
Program: Winter Fest, Stony Brook University
2024 Founder’s Award
Dr. Sean A. Fanelli, Program Director, Hofstra University
November 9, 2023 | Adelphi University
Individual Excellence Awards
Graduate Student: Antonia Sora, Graduate Assistant at Hofstra University
New Professional: Michael Mohr, Stony Brook University
Mid-Level Professional: Michael Cavalli, Five Towns College
Senior-Level Professional: Nicole Sheehan, New York Institute of Technology
Innovation Award
Individual: Christine Szaraz, Associate Director of the Center for Prevention and Outreach at Stony Brook University.
Founder’s Award:
Joanne West, New York Institute of Technology
November 11, 2022 | Stony Brook University
2022 Individual Excellence Awards
Graduate Student: Danielle Sconzo, Graduate Assistant for Fraternity & Sorority Life, Hofstra University
New Professional: Paul Ferrante, Assistant Director for Student Leadership & Engagement, Hofstra University
Mid-Level Professional: Stefano Caruso, Operations & Event Manager, Stony Brook University
Senior-Level Professional: Mercy Mathew, Assistant Director for Residential Life, SUNY Old Westbury
2022 Innovation Award
Individual: Tadiyos Gebre, Director of Academic Success & Enrichment, New York Institute of Technology
Program: Stony Brook University Division of Student Affairs Fellowship
2022 Founder’s Award
Wendi Mathews, Director of Student Accessibility Support Center, Stony Brook University