Congratulations to the Recipients of the 2025-2026 SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence
SUNY Schenectady is pleased to congratulate three members of the College’s faculty and staff who earned the prestigious 2025-2026 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. The SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence were created more than 47 years ago to honor the distinguished performance of SUNY’s teaching faculty, librarians, and members of the professional and classified services. Recipients receive cast bronze medallions to be worn at Commencements, Honors Convocations, and other ceremonies. The College presented the awards during the Employee Service Awards & Retiree Recognition Program on May 22.
SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Carol Maimone, Associate Professor, Division of Math, Science, Technology and Health
Associate Professor Carol Maimone is the sole instructor for both the Medical Billing and Coding and Health Information Technician Certificate programs. She is entirely responsible for all of the positive outcomes in these programs, as evidenced by increased enrollment in both programs. She keeps the programs’ curricula continuously updated, ensuring that they remain in line with both the best practices in the field and best practices in pedagogy.
Many of Associate Professor Maimone’s students are nontraditional, balancing full-time jobs and caretaking responsibilities alongside their coursework. To support these students, she keeps work hours so that they feel seen and supported. In addition, she meets with students on Teams at flexible times, accommodating their often complicated schedules. She employs multiple modes of teaching to reach students with various learning styles. She has also embraced Open Educational Resources when available to cut down on costs for her students, recognizing that financial barriers can impede student success.
Associate Professor Maimone holds her students to very high standards. She uses real-world case studies including redacted patient records, simulations of professional healthcare settings, and tests of HIPAA compliance. Students regularly praise her for her supportive nature, noting that she fosters a classroom culture of persistence and growth. This ensures that her students are well-prepared for professional certification exams and are familiar with the professional standards expected of them when they enter the healthcare field.
Associate Professor Maimone remains active as a per diem medical coder and auditor, ensuring she is always cognizant of the current conditions in a rapidly-evolving field. She consistently updates her courses to reflect current healthcare standards and guidelines, and she updates her methods of course delivery to better meet student needs, often by adding guest speakers and real-world videos to enhance understanding of course material.
She regularly meets with advising staff to ensure that students receive accurate and helpful guidance from the moment they express interest in her programs. She has been instrumental in developing new educational offerings that serve both students and the community. She worked with her Dean and Workforce Development to create a micro-credential for Health Information Technology and a Foundations of Health Insurance non-credit course.
Associate Professor Maimone’s commitment to professional development is exemplary. She has participated in the SUNY grant project “Teaching with AI: A Cross-Campus Community of Practice,” enrolled in other SUNY AI courses, and is currently applying to two new AI grants for this coming year.
Associate Professor Maimone has contributed scholarly work to prominent professional publications such as the Journal of American Health Information Management Association and For the Record. She has authored and peer-reviewed academic materials for Elsevier and has presented at many local and state conferences. As a member of the New York Health Information Management Association, she served on multiple committees including the Education Committee. As a member of the Adirondack Health Information Management Association, she served as President and in multiple roles on its Board of Directors. She also serves as a Mentor as a member of AHIMA, and previously served in an educational leadership position with that organization as well.
SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service
Cayla Gaworecki, Associate Professor, Division of Math, Science, Technology and Health
Associate Professor Cayla Gaworecki’s service to the College, to students, and to the SUNY system has been sustained, mission-driven, and transformational. She leads with integrity, strategy, and a deep sense of responsibility for students and institutional improvement. She shows up, follows through, and elevates the work of others.
Associate Professor Gaworecki currently serves as one of the three Tri-Chairs managing the College’s upcoming reaccreditation. She also served as chair of the Curriculum Committee during the transition to the new General Education framework, which required both diplomatic skill and deep knowledge of academic programs and requirements. She has also led a comprehensive redesign of math pathways for SUNY Schenectady, including the development of an evidence-based corequisite model to replace traditional stand-alone developmental courses.
Her work with Achieving the Dream has been particularly noteworthy. As part of her involvement, she has planned and facilitated multiple workshops for faculty focused on teaching and learning. She developed a faculty orientation model to better support new faculty as they transition to SUNY Schenectady. She currently serves as Chair of the Teaching and Learning Working Group, and is a member of the ATD Steering Committee, the Adult Learner Working Group, and the First-Year Seminar Working Group.
Her commitment to students extends beyond the traditional as well. She was deeply involved with the College’s efforts to improve the adoption of Open Educational Resources. These enhancements are estimated to have saved an average of $107 per student per course. She consistently advocates for the continued adoption of OER across the College as a whole.
In her role as the SUNY Launch Years Initiative Corequisite Team Lead, she has coordinated a working group comprised of colleagues from across the state to draft recommendations for other SUNY colleges to implement and scale mathematics corequisites. She has shaped and advanced recommendations to scale evidence-based placement reform across SUNY community colleges. Like all of her service contributions, her system-wide service is grounded in classroom expertise, focused on practical implementation, and committed to the improvement of student outcomes.
She also contributes meaningfully to the greater mathematical community. She is a current member of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges and serves as the campus coordinator of the New York State Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges Math Contest. She presented a summary of the College’s process of redesigning its mathematics curriculum at the SUNY Strong Start to Finish Capstone Meeting.
Associate Professor Gaworecki has demonstrated a continuous commitment not just to her students but to the College, the ideals of the SUNY system, and education in general. Her commitment to meaningful, transformational service, her dedication to following through, and her willingness to take on significant responsibility above and beyond the call of duty sets an example that all faculty should aspire to.
SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service
John “JP” Ciejka, Senior Computer Systems Analyst, Information Technology
John “JP” Ciejka consistently demonstrates the exceptional qualities this distinction is intended to honor. His precision in managing and maintaining SUNY Schenectady’s complex database systems is unparalleled. He documents every modification with extraordinary thoroughness, ensuring full traceability and supporting the institution’s ability to diagnose and resolve issues efficiently. His near-photographic recall of historical system changes allows him to provide context and insight that benefit the entire campus community.
JP collaborates proactively with numerous departments, ensuring that all affected stakeholders are consulted before any system changes are implemented. His insistence on thorough testing in the TEST or DEVL environments reflects his dedication to institutional integrity and long-term stability. These actions constitute leadership far beyond the routine responsibilities of his role.
His involvement with almost every major IT system on campus requires adaptability, broad technical expertise, and innovative thinking. JP consistently identifies thoughtful and forward-looking solutions to complex challenges, demonstrating a deep understanding of both immediate needs and future implications for the College.
JP is widely regarded for his professionalism, patience, and willingness to assist all members of the campus community. Despite a demanding workload, he remains attentive, timely, and communicative. Even when immediate solutions are not possible, he ensures that users feel heard, informed, and supported. His follow-through is unwavering, and his reliability strengthens the trust that the campus places in the IT department.
Through his exceptional work ethic, broad contributions, and steadfast dedication, JP has become an invaluable asset to SUNY Schenectady. His performance, leadership, and commitment to excellence reflect precisely the attributes that the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service is designed to acknowledge.