CCPA student wins national award for LGBTQ advocacy at Binghamton University

Eddie Stakelum is the third student from Binghamton University to win the Outstanding Master’s Student Award from the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), and he attributes his success to his work as the LGBTQ Living Community graduate assistant and his role at the Q Center.

Stakelum — part of the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program at the College of Community and Public Affairs — began his academic career at SUNY Fredonia and graduated with a degree in psychology in 2023. Thanks to his position as a residential advisor, he gained a “particular interest in student conduct,” leading him to Binghamton’s Masters in Student Affairs Administration program (now known as HESA).

He admitted the program challenged and engaged him in ways he didn’t expect. He discovered a surprising interest in his Law and Education course, taught by Brian Rose – Binghamton’s vice president of Student Affairs.

“I wasn’t expecting to like a law course because I wasn’t interested in anything to do with law before,” he said.

In addition to his courses, Stakelum is a graduate assistant for the LGBTQ Living Community in Newing College and works at the Q Center. He oversees daily operations, hosts events on a biweekly basis and meets with students individually throughout the semester.

“When building community, he has been a role model for students by consistently encouraging them to get involved on campus, succeed academically, and referring them to resources when needed,” said Meryl Stromberg, assistant director of Residence Life.

As GA, he works to improve the community. One accomplishment is securing a name change to The Lavender Living Community. He is also “trying to get a mural for the living community, which has been really exciting.”

Upcoming events that Stakelum has planned include an educational discussion about hookup culture and dating apps in the queer community and a celebration for graduates of the living community in The Union’s underground bowling alley.

“Eddie has been a beacon of positivity and infectious energy in the Q Center where he has organized events, provided individual support to queer student leaders, and brought in numerous students living on campus that would not have known of the Q Center otherwise,” said associate director of the Q center Nicholas Martin. “As a first-year graduate student, Eddie took on a substantial amount of responsibility and work, all while delivering results.”

Being in student affairs and having a background in psychology “made me stronger in terms of self awareness,” Stakelum said. Being able to recognize a mistake and quickly grow from that “is something I cherish.”

He shares crucial advice for any current or incoming graduate students aspiring to make an impact on their community: “Communicate what your goals are, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and be kind to yourself.”

Recognizing how hard communication can be and has been for him previously, Stakelum said he hasn’t found this problem at Binghamton University because “the professors really care about the success of their students. They’re also working with you.”

“I don’t think I would be here or have won this award without networking,” he added. Talking with professors and getting involved with the community is the way to expand your horizons and is “a really exciting thing to have happen.”

Stakelum also advises people to “be kind, be patient, love what you’re doing.”

Growing in his academic and professional career has taught him to understand that “every day is a chance to learn something, no one is expecting you to come in and be perfect” and “the reason you’re in classes, and you have professors and supervisors is that they want you to grow.”

When reflecting on what this award means to him, Stakelum said: “To know that the people working with me respect me enough to put forth my name for this award means a lot. . To hear that my supervisors nominated me reaffirmed me that I was on the right track in terms of my current job and also career-wise.”