The Marilyn Goodman Commuter Assistant Program

The Commuter Assistant Program was renamed The Marilyn Goodman Commuter Assistant Program to honor Mrs. Goodman for her key leadership role in supporting commuter students at Stony Brook.

About Marilyn Goodman

Marilyn Goodman received her B.A. degree, cum laude, and M.S. degree from Brooklyn College. After starting her career as an elementary school teacher, she then spent much of her professional life working at Stony Brook University. She began as a “teacher of teachers,” participating in an education seminar and supervising student teachers in local schools when the University had a Department of Education. She was the administrator of the first distance learning course in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and then a Research Assistant on a gender-identity project in the Department of Psychiatry, which resulted in a co-authored journal article and a presentation at a professional conference.

Marilyn’s most significant contributions to Stony Brook University came from her next two positions. She served as Assistant to the Dean of the School of Social Welfare for Admissions and Student Services, where she devoted herself to helping students through the admissions process and then ensuring that they received the services needed to successfully complete their academic programs. She capped off her contributions to Stony Brook University by helping to create what is now called the Office for Commuter Student Services and Off-Campus Living, and serving as the first Advisor to these students.

Her outstanding performance in each of these positions led to Marilyn receiving the President’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service, and the United University Professions’ (UUP) Award for Professional Service. Marilyn is married to Norman Goodman, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor and SUNY Distinguished Service Professor; they have three children and two grandchildren.