Career Center’s Urszula Zalewski Receives SUNY Career Services Lifetime Achievement Award

For more than two decades, Urszula Zalewski has helped Stony Brook University students connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, guiding them as they explore careers, internships and professional opportunities.

That dedication to student success has earned her one of the highest honors in her field.

Zalewski, associate director of experiential learning and employer engagement in Stony Brook's Career Center, received the 2026 Career Services Lifetime Achievement Award from the SUNY Career Development Organization (SUNYCDO). The award recognizes active, retired and emeritus SUNYCDO members who have demonstrated at least 15 years of excellence in career services, experiential learning, lifelong learning and sustained impact on the profession.

Although Zalewski was unable to attend the SUNYCDO Conference in person, Associate Vice President for Career Readiness and Experiential Education Marianna Savoca accepted the award on her behalf.

Thirteen nomination letters were submitted on her behalf from colleagues, former students and university partners to the SUNYCDO selection committee. The letters praised her commitment to advancing experiential learning opportunities and her ability to help students discover pathways to success both during and after their time at Stony Brook.

"Over the last 22 years, few on the campus have done more for career development through experiential education than Urszula Zalewski," said Savoca. "I don't say this lightly."

Many of the students Zalewski has worked with remain in contact long after graduation, often returning to the Career Center to share career milestones and personal achievements. Those ongoing relationships reflect her reputation as a trusted mentor and lifelong advocate for student success.

During the awards ceremony, organizers also recognized Zalewski's vision and leadership in developing programs such as Pathways to Healthcare and Future Ready, initiatives that have expanded experiential learning opportunities and helped prepare students for success in a rapidly changing workforce.

Throughout her career, Zalewski has received numerous honors for her contributions to higher education, student development and community engagement. Her recognitions include the 2025 Outstanding College Campus Award from the American Red Cross, the 2023 Stony Brook Community Award, the 2015 SUNYCDO CAPSTONE Award for Excellence in Programming and the 2010 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

In addition to her work at Stony Brook, Zalewski has provided leadership and service to numerous professional organizations, including SUNYCDO, the Mid-NY Career Counseling and Placement Officers Association, the Society for Experiential Education and NY Campus Compact; however, the greatest impact can be measured in the students she has mentored throughout her career.

"Hundreds of thank you cards fill her shelves from students, alumni and former interns and staff, expressing deep gratitude for the way Urszula cared about them, mentored them and helped them become," Savoca said. "She is a force for good and a dedicated career coach."