Each year, the Fleishman Center recognizes Binghamton University faculty and staff members who have played a role in our students’ career and personal growth. We receive an outpouring of nominations every semester from students who are more prepared for post-graduate life as a direct result of the Career Champions’ efforts. Read a few testimonies below.
Dr. Mohammad Khasawneh
SUNY Distinguished Professor and Department Chair
Department: Systems Science and Industrial Engineering
Years nominated: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Student Nomination: Dr. Khasawneh has made a huge impact on my professional career since I’ve joined the SSIE department. Although he is not technically an advisor, I’ve found that he has given me advice on numerous occasions and has guided me towards my professional goals. He has also helped me with networking assistance and I was able to obtain an internship last summer because of him. Dr. Khasawneh is the nicest professor at Binghamton and is always there for all students in the department. I have not even taken a class with Dr. Khasawneh as my professor and he’s already made such a big impact on my life. He’s a very busy man, yet always has time for anyone who is asking for assistance. Lastly, he has helped me find my passion in the Industrial Engineering field. There are not enough nice things I can say about Dr. Khasawneh and how he helps and guides his students to where they want to be; he is very much deserving of this award.
Dr. Khasawneh’s Testimony: I am truly very honored and humbled to hear that my efforts to provide support have had a significant impact on our students’ future professions. That I have been recurrently recognized as a “Career Champion” is a truly overwhelming source of joy. In my view, being in academia is one of the noblest lines of work in today’s world, not only because it gives you the opportunity to impact others, but also to literally change their lives in so many different ways. To me, this recognition received from our students is the ultimate badge of responsibility to continue my journey of making an impact on the lives of our students and society at large.
Dr. Surinder Kahai
Associate Professor
Department: School of Management
Years nominated: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022
Student Nomination: Professor Kahai has been one of the most crucial people to boost my knowledge of the world not just from an academic perspective, but also a realistic one. As I took his classes in Management Information Systems and E-Business, I gathered information that I initially believed would be much like all the others – simply academic views that would not be used in the real world. I was terribly mistaken. Now that I have begun my career in cyber-security, I am more than inclined to say that Professor Kahai’s words of wisdom have rung in my ears each day, whether it is hearing about new technology innovations or using his interpersonal skills and advice within my day-to-day life.
Dr. Kahai’s Testimony: I see myself as being in the business of developing people. That role does not end in the classroom — it extends to students’ professional lives outside the classroom. I am very grateful for the privilege that my students give to me to play this role in their lives.
Dr. Lori Sprague
Assistant Director of the Innovative Simulation and Practice Center/Clinical
Department: Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Years nominated: 2016, 2020, 2022
Student Nomination: Professor Sprague was my first teacher in the nursing program, and as a senior she continues to educate and help us nursing students. Professor Sprague taught us nursing students valuable clinical skills and information, and the basic nursing skills she taught me in the Fall of Junior year, are still in my mind today. Her compassion and love of nursing is infectious, and she is a fantastic teacher that we nursing students are lucky to have.
Dr. Sprague’s Testimony: As a participant in this process it is a humbling experience. Being a career champion means to be a motivator, making an impact on someone’s career and professional trajectory
Dr. Susan Flynn
Research Assistant Professor
Department: Biomedical Chemistry for First-year Research Immersion; Chemistry
Years nominated: 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022
Student Nomination: Dr Flynn is always extremely friendly and caring about others, no matter if they want to stay in the biomedical chemistry field or not. For example, I expressed my interest in environmental science to her one day in the lab and not only did she encourage my exploration of research, she even gave me a couple of useful links to aid in my search! She is always ready to talk, whether it be about how your day or week is going or whether or not one should go to graduate school. Within her own field, she is also extremely knowledgeable and helpful in teaching other techniques relating to our project. She allows for independence yet is always willing to lend a helping hand if needed, creating the perfect mixture of an optimized learning environment!
Dr. Flynn’s Testimony: I truly believe it is a special gift to be a mentor. In my teaching practice, I strive to impart the importance of ethics, empathy, comfort in creativity, belonging, persistence, and scholarly excellence. I am humbled to see that my mentees have shared their appreciation in my efforts to communicate clearly, invest time into following career trends in respective disciplines, and understand the latest research in a way that benefits students through networking with industrial leaders. I am thankful that my students trust I have their best interests at heart and are receptive to my mentorship style; I aim to foster an engaging environment that motivates them to be both better scientists and human beings. I am honored to be recognized and grateful for this program. I hope they will consider being a mentor in the future and continue the legacy as a career champion.”
David Archer
Instructor and Education Minor Coordinator
Department: Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership
Years nominated: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022
Student Nomination: I went into Professor Archer’s class undecided with my career goals but thinking that I had an interest in the Education field. Although my career goals have changed since I’ve taken the class, he has shown and taught me the importance of Education in not only schools but in every career field out there and has taught me skills, information and advice that I will take with me wherever I end up in life.
Dave Archer’s Testimony: It is humbling to be recognized for doing something that I love to do. I think it is important to know and understand your students and help them assess their skills and goals. Next is to enhance a students’ belief in themselves and their talents. Lastly, motivate the student and then get out of the way!!!
2020 & 2022 Career Champions Event
- Speakers
Susan Ryan
Susan Ryan, an Adjunct Faculty member in the Environmental Studies Program. Susan is a 1991, Binghamton University Alumna of the Geology program and a native of Binghamton. For over 30 years, Susan has worked to protect the environment in both government and non-profit institutions and also as an Adjunct Faculty member at Binghamton University since 2017. As both an educator and an industry professional she provides her students with opportunities to explore real-world environmental issues and empowers them to find sustainable solutions. She sees her students as teams of consultants – where everyone learns, even herself.
Jazmine Powell
Jazmine Powell,an Academic Counselor with the TRIO program. Jazmine was born and raised in Binghamton and received her BS in Human Development and MS in Student Affairs Administration from Binghamton University. She was inspired to pursue her master’s degree after completing an internship during her undergrad working with at-risk students at Binghamton High School. Through this experience, Jazmine discovered her passion for helping students in their pursuit of higher education. After working with TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) as a graduate student for two years, she recognized the impact SSS had on their students and valued the connections made during her time there. After graduation in 2019, she committed to becoming an Academic Counselor and truly enjoys her work.
