Posted by Chloe Van Caeseele on March 9, 2023
March is Women’s History Month, dedicated to recognizing the contributions and achievements of women, past and present, despite the obstacles they face. We asked our campus community to nominate women who they believe make a positive impact on Binghamton. Here are some successful women on campus who are an integral part of our university.
Leslie Torres
In a male-dominated field, Leslie Torres designs race cars from the ground up as a project manager on the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Motorsports Formula team. With 70+ team members and thousands of parts in their assembly, integration is one of the most critical aspects of the project and this bachelor senior ensures everyone is on the same page every step of the way, from design to competition even.
Erin Cody
Erin Cody helps Harpur College students develop their professional edge. As the director of Harpur Edge, Cody leads a team that offers programming from crash courses in Python to alumni mentoring programs to introductory language workshops and more! Cody is about ensuring that students complement their academic skills with their personal skills. She makes Binghamton’s largest college feel tight-knit and connected.
Hannah SEO
This bachelor’s senior with a business major is the President of Binghamton’s chapter of Delta Sigma Pi. The professional blended business connection builds relationships with students, alumni and employers to help students develop their professional skills and network. That year she was recognized with the 2023 Niagara Regional Collegian of the Year award for maintaining a high standard of professional development and achieving the highest chapter GPA in Greek life.
Suzanne McLeod
Suzanne McLeod, Educational Leadership Coordinator for the Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership, leads with the responsibility to equip schools with outstanding educational leaders. Her role on campus allows Binghamton University’s high standards of education to benefit future educational leaders across New York State – from construction supervisors to principals – and prepares them for opportunities for new and needed leadership roles, such as: B. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Directors.
Kniya Duncan
Many Binghamton students are future scientists! For example, Kniya Duncan, a student at Harpur College, has her eye on a career as a polar scientist. A summer research experience helped her imagine what that would be like.
Aheon Koh
Ahyeon Koh is a biomedical engineer at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science who recently won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award. Their research aims to create better biosensors. She develops devices that produce real-time data to improve health and well-being. Learn more about their research!
Kelly Smith
Major offices and student support programs, including the Center for Civic Engagement, Fleishman Career Center, Student Transition and Success Emerging Leaders Program, Transfer Student Services, Binghamton Advantage Program (BAP), and the Speaking Center are all staffed Allows the Division of Student Affairs. As Assistant Vice President for Student Success, Kelli Smith is committed to providing students with opportunities to grow and thrive. Additionally, Smith is a mother of three who is committed to both her career and her family.
Jennifer Seibert
This senior with a major in computer science and a member of the Binghamton University Scholars Program is working to close the gender gap in STEM subjects. Jennifer Seibert is President of Girls Who Code, an outreach program teaching young women how to code. As a member of Alpha Omega Epsilon, the professional and social sorority for women in engineering and technical sciences, she builds a community with her college-level programmers.
Lina Begdache
Across campus, Lina Begdache shares her quest to improve human health. Her research examines the links between diet and well-being, examining gender and age-specific dietary needs and introducing other factors.
Jolie Cancer
Our students pave the way for successful female athletes. Jolie Krebs, captain of the Women’s and Non-Binary Club Ultimate Frisbee Team, is a junior with an English major and a minor in Spanish. When she’s not in the classroom, Cancer creates a welcoming environment for women of all skill levels to explore a fun, fast-paced, competitive sport that’s all about athleticism.
Alexa Silva
For the past 20 years, Alexsa Silva has kept the Department of Chemistry running at Binghamton, even successfully transitioning the program to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department’s Director of Instruction and Public Relations is responsible for all fundamentals, staff training, course development assistance, budget oversight and more. Additionally, she invests in the future as Chair of the Chemistry Outreach Program, reaching over 300 K-12 students each semester.
Caitlin light
This research assistant professor has been studying bacterial biofilms for almost a decade! Caitlin Light is currently leading the First-Year Research Immersion Program (FRI) stream on Microbial Biofilms in Human Health. Dedicating her career to teaching and training others, Light has also directed summer research programs, mentored students as a faculty advisor for clubs, and even served nationally on the American Society for Microbiology’s Undergraduate Education Committee.
Jessica Treadwell
Jessica Treadwell is currently Assistant Director of Student Services for Residential Life. Treadwell works with residential students to provide case management services through advocacy, providing empathy and understanding, connecting students with resources, and providing direct mental health interventions to help students navigate their college experience in ways that are beneficial to it feels supported, understood and beneficial.
Keri Mastro Dwyer
At the Binghamton School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, this first-year graduate of the school’s students has already made her way back to faculty. Keri Mastro Dwyer helps educate the next generation of pharmacists.
Tracy Brooks
Tracy Brooks, Vice Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, works with aspiring pharmacists from undergraduate through senior year. Brooks is a mother of five who helps her students develop a work-life balance like hers, in addition to conducting cancer pharmacology research, counseling and mentoring, and serving as a faculty advisor for Relay for Life.
Jennifer Wegman
Working closely with students majoring in Health and Wellness Studies, Jennifer Wegmann led a program called Mindset Mentors. Wegmann studies and teaches about stress awareness in her stress management classes and has provided students with an opportunity to use what they learn in class to help other students.
Jennifer Hirschi
Chemist Jennifer Hirschi is relatively new to the Binghamton faculty, but she is already researching the mechanisms of catalytic reactions.
Tracy Hookway
Tracy Hookway, also a CAREER Award winner, plans to study the interplay between the sympathetic neurons that speed up the heartbeat and the parasympathetic neurons that slow it down. Learn more at BingUNews.
Sherry Towfigian
Watson mechanical engineer Sherry Towfighian is developing the next generation of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Check out her contribution in our Faculty Focus video series.
Johann Fiore Conte
Johann Fiore-Conte is the University’s Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Health and Wellness Officer, and with great title comes great responsibility. It oversees health and counseling services, health promotion and prevention services, campus recreation services, services for students with disabilities, and the Admissions Office. Additionally, Fiore-Conte has been instrumental in the on-campus response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mandy Quall
This employee makes health care more accessible to students. Health Promotion Coordinator Mandy Qualls oversees the Safer Sex and Menstrual Products program and provides free internal and external condoms, lubricants, tampons, pads and other items throughout the Binghamton campus.
Sue O’Brien
As our university expands its academic offerings, it needs top-flight faculty to bring it to life. Sue O’Brien is Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and part of the inaugural Doctor of Physical Therapy program welcoming its first cohort of students in June 2023. She also won an award for transdisciplinary areas of excellence.
Karen Sauer
Biologist Karin Sauer leads a multi-institutional team that studies infections associated with implanted medical devices and prepares students to conduct research related to biofilms.
Genevieve Vallerga
Genevieve Vallerga started as a student assistant at the Information Technology Services (ITS) Help Desk in 2003 and is now Associate Director of Client Resolution at ITS. She is the person who oversees Brightspace, Binghamton’s Learning Management System that students can’t live a day without, as well as the Help Desk and Residential Consultant (ResCon) program to ensure the campus’ technology needs are being met.
Deborah Schechter
As director of the Graduate Biomedical Anthropology program, Deborah Schechter ensures students have internship and job opportunities. Working with the Fleishman Career Center, Schechter offers a series of professional development workshops, provides one-on-one mentoring to students to understand their postgraduate goals, and builds the Biomedical Anthropology Alumni Network to help students make meaningful connections .
Rose Hasset
As an office assistant in the business office, Rose Hassett has been keeping the university running behind the scenes since 2007. Hasset handles bills, reimbursements, relocation expenses, consultants, and educates the campus on the proper processes and procedures for managing their NYS funds for tax purposes with a smile.
Chloe Van Caeseele is an intern in the Office of Media and Public Relations and a senior with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Linguistics. She is also the campus tour guide and resident assistant at Hinman College. In her free time, she loves to ski, take spin classes, and watch (too much) reality TV.
Do you have any questions, comments or concerns about the blog? Email us at social@binghamton.edu.
