Starr Career Development Center Wins Multiple Awards in 2026

Starr Career Development Center Wins Multiple Awards in 2026

May 19, 2026

This year, Baruch's Starr Career Development Center earned five national, regional, and local awards, recognizing its leadership in career readiness, experiential learning, and innovative student success initiatives.

The honors reflect Starr's work to weave career development throughout a student's Baruch experience-from first-year programming to partnerships with faculty, staff, employers, and community organizations-to help more than 16,000 undergraduates from all backgrounds build their successful careers.

"These awards highlight the Starr Career Development Center's long record of success in integrating career readiness throughout the Baruch undergraduate academic journey," said Dr. Linda Essig, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

"Whether it's actively collaborating with the Office of New Student Programs to embed career exploration and planning into new student orientations or working with faculty from across the College on career-focused pedagogy, the Starr Career Development Center is advancing Baruch's mission to provide transformational educational experiences."

Career-Focused Pedagogy Brightspace Site

Starr received the 2026 Excellence in Program Development & Innovation Award from the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers. This award celebrates innovative career services programs that demonstrate impact and long-term value to an institution or organization.

The Brightspace resource hub provides Baruch faculty with tools, resources, and asynchronous training designed to help integrate career readiness into the classroom experience.

"This Is How I Embed Career Readiness"

This faculty blog series features Baruch faculty who have made career readiness a meaningful part of their teaching. In each post, faculty share how they bring that focus into their courses. Stories showcase diverse approaches, personal insights, and practical tips.

Two awards recognize this faculty-driven resource:

• Alva C. Cooper Award in Technology from the Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officers Association
• Best Practice Award for Career Readiness (in the Age of Intelligence Programs) from the Career Services Association of CUNY.

Experiential Learning Recognition

The Starr Career Development Center team also won the 2026 Experiential Learning Institutional Award from EAB and Forage, an education services company that helps schools improve student success and strategy. The award recognizes colleges and universities that help students explore career pathways for professional success through industry-designed virtual job simulations and skills-based training.

Individual Learning Educator Award

Clemente Diaz, associate director of the Starr Career Development Center and adjunct faculty member, secured the 2026 Forage & EAB Experiential Learning Educator Award.

Recipients were evaluated on student engagement, institutional advocacy, and advancing best practices in experiential learning. In recognizing Diaz, EAB cited his "clear commitment to student success and career discovery" and his efforts to "expand experiential learning opportunities across Baruch College for both students and colleagues."

Explore: The Starr Career Development Center is dedicated to the lifelong professional development of Baruch College undergraduates. Learn more about its programs, resources, and career readiness initiatives.