Alumnus Chris R. Vaccaro, MA ’11, has incorporated his passions — civil engagement, journalism, baseball and Italian American heritage — into everything he does. And he attributes many of his professional successes to the skills he developed at Stony Brook University.

Whether it’s been analyzing budgets at The Topps Company and Altice USA, getting involved in his local community and school district, teaching at Hofstra University, running the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame or founding the Italian American Heritage Society of Long Island (partnering with Stony Brook’s Center for Italian Studies), Vaccaro believes Stony Brook prepared him to make a difference as a leader, organizer and community advocate.