Named donors of the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development earn distinguished alumni award

Two of Binghamton University’s alumni, Judy Garczynski Fleishman ‘90 and Steve Fleishman ‘91, were awarded the Glenn G. Bartle Distinguished Alumni Award, the Alumni Association’s highest honor, at a May 4 Alumni Special Recognition Awards ceremony at the Penn Club in New York City. The Fleishmans were recognized for their professional accomplishments and their unwavering dedication to giving back to their alma mater. Their efforts to support the University have created a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of students.

As leaders in their respective fields, the Fleishmans serve as role models for the University community. Judy Fleishman holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Adelphi University, where she was an adjunct professor for eight years, and has researched the effects of competition and competence feedback on intrinsic motivation and quality of performance. She is also a former consultant for the Westchester Institute for Human Development. Steve Fleishman is a managing director, senior analyst and executive committee member at Wolfe Research. He covers the utilities, midstream and clean energy sectors and has been ranked #1 in the electric utilities sector for 15 years in the Institutional Investor All-America Research Poll. In 2011, he was named to the Investor Magazine Research Hall of Fame.

In 2014, the couple established the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development at Binghamton University. Steve Fleishman was an avid user of the career center during his undergraduate years, and the couple were passionate about bringing career services to the heart of campus to better support students. Their gift and advocacy spurred the exponential growth of the Fleishman Career Center. Since 2014, the center’s reach has expanded so that 70% of current first-year students have engaged in some way with its programs and services, not counting the connections made with all new students during Orientation. Connections with employers have grown as well, leading to an increase in employment and internship opportunities for Binghamton students (hireBING by Handshake, Binghamton University’s job board, posted more than 100,000 jobs and internships this year, compared to 3,000 in 2013–14). Additionally, CONNECT Employer Treks now allow students to visit employers in four major cities across the country each year.

These achievements have been noticed on the national and international level. The Princeton Review has ranked Binghamton University on the Top 20 Career Placement list for public schools for the last three years, and the Fleishman Career Center has won numerous national and global career services awards, including the top National Career Development Association’s Exemplary Career Center Award in 2017 and the Founder’s Award for Innovation at the Ernst & Young Global Career Services Summit in both 2018 and 2022.

The Fleishmans provided another generous contribution in 2021, which established the Fleishman Career Success Initiative. This fund supports students who face the most significant financial barriers by providing monetary aid that enables them to complete summer internships. It also includes a professional development component that enhances students’ career knowledge and development.

Jaden Beck, a senior studying chemistry and environmental science, received support from the Fleishman Career Success Initiative to complete an internship through the U.S. Department of Energy, conducting energy analysis research on the material and labor constraints to the deployment of sustainable aviation fuel.

“Coming from a chemistry background, I expanded my knowledge of market analysis and modeling, which are difficult to gain experience in as a student,” Beck wrote in a thank-you letter to the Fleishmans. “I grew immensely in terms of my professional and personal experience through this internship.”

Data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has continuously shown that internships are valuable experiences for college students that teach them career readiness, improve their job prospects and enrich their college experience.The Fleishman Career Center awarded over $200,000 in internship funds to 56 students during the summer of 2022, which would not have been possible without support from the Fleishmans. Internship funding helps students who would otherwise be financially unable to complete an internship by removing barriers and setting them up for long-term success.

Kelli Smith, assistant vice president for student success and the founding director of the Fleishman Career Center, nominated the Fleishmans for the Glenn G. Bartle Award, both for their gifts to the University and for their hands-on engagement and support of the students. Steve Fleishman has hired many Binghamton student interns at Wolfe Research who have since gone on to successful careers in the firm and on Wall Street. He also participates in the NYC CONNECT Employer Treks, inviting students to his office and educating them on the company, as well as serving as a judge in an annual student stock-picking competition. Judy Fleishman also has given her time as a member of the Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors for many years. Both visited campus during Homecoming 2022 and spoke with students to get to know them and answer career questions.

“Those working to ensure that our students are ready and prepared for lives of purpose and careers that help them reach their potential and dreams rely — heavily — on alumni and being able to leverage that commitment to their alma mater and current students,” Smith noted. “The Fleishmans are true difference makers. Beyond their exceptional generosity, they are humble, engaged and impactful. We hope we have made them proud to have their name associated with our work for Binghamton University students.”