About Us

Honors ★ Scholars ★ WISE

Experience life at New York's #1 public univeristy, where an affordable top-tier education meets world-class research. The University Honors Programs at Stony Brook University provide a vibrant, interdisciplinary community designed to enrich the academic and personal experiences of high-achieving students. Our programs foster intellectual curiosity, leadership, and community engagement, offering students opportunities for deep exploration across disciplines.

With programs including the Honors College, WISE Honors, and University Scholars, each honors track is uniquely crafted to support students' academic aspirations, from STEM to the humanities. Our students benefit from small, discussion-based classes led by top faculty, personalized advising, and access to research, internship, and study-abroad opportunities.

We are committed to cultivating well-rounded, critical thinkers equipped to address complex issues and make a positive impact on the world. Through our core values of Leadership, Service, Academic Excellence, and Community, the University Honors Programs at Stony Brook aim to empower students to grow as scholars, leaders, and active citizens.

Join us and be a part of an inclusive community that values excellence, innovation, and purpose-driven learning.

Discover Stony Brook: Tours, Events & Info Sessions

Kayla Cohen

Operations ManagerUniversity Honors ProgramsExpertise Bio coming soon!
Jessie Frevola, MA

Program DirectorUniversity Scholars ProgramExpertise Jessie Frevola, MA, serves as the Director of University Scholars, where she provides program leadership and renders holistic advising and support to students. Jessie has had the pleasure of working at Stony Brook since 2015 in a variety of professional roles, including with the Undergraduate Colleges and Residential Programs, and values Stony Brook's commitment to student success. She earned her BA in Psychology and Sociology and her MA in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University and loves that she gets to continue at Stony Brook as a "forever Seawolf.” When Jessie isn't working, she enjoys reading, Zumba, creative arts (painting, writing, etc.), hiking with her husband and her dog, and community service.
Jacquelyn Gatta, MSW

Program DirectorWISE HonorsExpertise Jacquelyn received her Masters in Social Welfare with a specialization in Student Community Development in Higher Education from Stony Brook University in 2013. She has coordinated two WISE programs for middle and high school female students-STEM Tech and TechPREP. In addition to her work with WISE, she has facilitated STEM programs for Girls Inc. of Long Island. Jacquelyn earned her B.A. in Philosophy from Marist College in 2010.
Kirshani Gunaratnam, MA

Lead Academic Advisor & Thesis CoordinatorHonors College Expertise Bio Coming Soon!
Jessica Klare, EdM

Program DirectorHonors College Expertise Jessica Klare was born and raised in Southeastern Massachusetts. She attended Boston University and received both a B.A, in International Relations and an Ed.M in Higher Education with a concentration in Policy, Planning, and Administration. In September of 2006, Jessica moved to Long Island where she worked as Associate Director of Graduate Admissions and Processing at Adelphi University. Jessica joined the Stony Brook community in January of 2008 and has worked with the University Scholars, Living Learning Centers and URECA programs. Jessica serves as the Director of the Honors College and thoroughly enjoys working with these students. It is her goal to foster new initiatives and to continue developing the program, providing support and encouragement to all.
Margaret M. Puglisi

Sr. Staff AssistantUniversity Honors ProgramsExpertise Bio Coming Soon!
Catherine Sherman, PhD, MFA

Assistant DeanUniversity Honors ProgramsExpertise
Catherine Sherman, PhD, MFA, is the Assistant Dean for University Honors Programs in the Division of Undergraduate Education. In this role, she provides strategic oversight for Honors College, University Scholars, and the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program.

Dr. Sherman deeply values honors education and has over twenty years of experience in the field of higher education. She brings expertise in academic advising and administration, educational policy, and student services to her role and has taught and held leadership positions in colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and Ohio. She is a member of the National Academic Advising Association and National Collegiate Honors Council.