Congratulations to the 2026 Alumni Award Recipients

The Sr. M. Denis Donegan Award for Long Term Service to Marywood is the most prestigious award bestowed by the Marywood Alumni Association. It is bestowed on alumni of Marywood who have provided a minimum of 25 years of service to Marywood and who, through their personal and professional contributions, have visibly embodied Marywood's mission by using their Marywood education in ways that demonstrate the University's call to live responsibly in a diverse and interdependent world.

Barbara Spellman Shuta ’68 has woven Marywood into every chapter of her life. A Theatre Education graduate, she has used her training to promote the arts, strengthen communication, and build confidence in generations of students. Just eight years after graduating, she became President of the Scranton Alumni Chapter and later served four terms on the Marywood Alumni Association Board, now holding emerita status. She has been a driving force behind alumni engagement, chairing major reunions—including her class’s 20th, 25th, and 50th—and leading the Marywood Fund Drive.

Her career included public relations roles with the Pennsylvania Ballet Company and Temple University Music Festival before returning to Scranton to teach and direct drama. She welcomed Marywood student teachers and championed the liberal arts as essential preparation for an ever changing world. In 2000, she founded the Educators on Campus Program, building a seven county network that connected alumni educators and their students with campus events for two decades.

A member of the Presidential Society, Barbara has supported scholarships, Giving Day challenges, and established both annual and endowed scholarships for Theatre Education majors. Her service extends to the NEPA Alumni Chapter, Leadership Celebrations, the Northeast Philharmonic, and the NEPA Youth Shelter. Beyond Marywood, she initiated the Diocese of Scranton’s project to digitize sacramental registers and is active in regional historical societies, coordinating genealogy programs and teaching Irish heritage research.

The Sister M. Denis Donegan Award for Long-Term Service to Marywood honors Barbara’s decades of dedicated involvement, her inspiring leadership in alumni engagement, and her enduring commitment to the University.

The Faculty and Staff Alumni Impact Award is awarded to a current (10 years or more), retired, or emeritus member of the Marywood faculty or staff, in recognition of their contributions to student success and their demonstration of the institution’s core values. Recipients have made a significant impact on the Marywood community and have worked to mentor future alumni leaders, advance the University’s mission, and enhance the integrity of the University.

Sheryl Lynn Sochoka ’92 has devoted her 34-year career to Marywood University, guided by a deep commitment to its mission and community. As Director of Communications and Middle States Accreditation Liaison Officer, she shapes the University’s institutional voice, strengthens its communications, and ensures accuracy and compliance across major initiatives. During the recent Middle States Self Study, she worked closely with colleagues across divisions to gather evidence, refine documentation, and present a clear picture of Marywood’s operations and strategic vision. Her encouraging, steadfast leadership was central to the University’s successful reaffirmation of accreditation for the next eight years.

Across more than three decades, Sheryl has helped maintain Marywood’s identity and values, working with four University presidents and supporting more than half of the Board Chairs in the institution’s history. Colleagues praise her professionalism, collaborative spirit, steady presence, attention to detail, dry sense of humor, and ability to bring structure to complex projects, often providing calm during demanding periods. A proud alumna, she earned her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Religious Studies and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Higher Education Administration at Marywood.

Sheryl’s service extends beyond her formal roles. She is a commissioned IHM Associate and participates in parish and community initiatives that reflect the IHM charism. Her family, including her husband, Jay, her son, Julian ’23, and her dog, Boswell, named for her favorite Pittsburgh Steelers kicker, remains a source of encouragement and pride.

The Faculty Staff Alumni Impact Award recognizes Sheryl’s longstanding service, her thoughtful and reliable leadership, and the significant role she continues to play in strengthening Marywood University.

The Alumni Community Achievement Award is bestowed by the Marywood Alumni Association upon alumni who have made an impact in their community through service, philanthropy, and/or advocacy.

Becky Staab Jacobs ’06 serves as Senior Director of Workforce Development for the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, where she built the organization’s workforce development program from the ground up. With more than 15 years of experience in healthcare recruitment and talent development, she previously worked as a Senior Nurse Recruiter and as Recruitment and Retention Manager for a statewide home-based care provider.

At PHA, Becky leads a comprehensive workforce strategy that integrates training, retention, and career advancement. She oversees My Learning Center, a free caregiver training platform that has supported more than 400,000 learners and issued over 6.5 million certificates. She also directs statewide educational programs for home‑based care providers and manages the Direct Care Worker Job Quality Grant, which has distributed more than $260,000 to caregivers who complete training and remain in the field.

Becky holds CCSP, GCDF, and CWDP certifications and is recognized nationally for her leadership. In 2025, she was named to The Advocacy Association’s Top 20 Advocacy Awards and City & State Pennsylvania’s Trailblazers in Economic and Workforce Development list. Her volunteer work with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s has been honored by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Becky credits Marywood with instilling her belief that work should serve people first—a principle that continues to guide her efforts to strengthen and elevate Pennsylvania’s home-based care workforce.

The Outstanding Recent Alumni Award will be given to an alumna/us, within 15 years of graduation, who has demonstrated significant achievements that embody the core values of Marywood.

Desiree Zielinski ’12 is a graphic designer and filmmaker whose career bridges commercial creative work and independent storytelling. A Marywood graduate with a BFA in Graphic Design, she has spent 14 years in the field and currently serves as a Graphic Designer at Posture Interactive, where she brings brands to life through thoughtful, strategic design. Alongside her agency work, Desiree has built an accomplished filmmaking career. She wrote and directed the short film Fallout, which screened at festivals from 2024 to 2026, and recently served as Location Manager for the feature film Hold Her Hand. Her freelance credits span nearly a decade and include roles as script supervisor, art director, poster designer, and graphic designer on independent productions. She also co produces and hosts the Scranton Talks podcast with Luz Cabrales.

Desiree is a driving force in the region’s film community. She has served as Film Commissioner for the Lackawanna County Film & Multimedia Commission since 2024, founded the NEPA Film Society in 2019, and co founded the Independent Film Creative Hub in 2021. She sits on the Northeast Pennsylvania Film Festival planning committee as Social Media Director and organizer of the Mystery Box Film Challenge and is an active member of Northeast Pennsylvania Women in Film & Television.

Desiree is being honored with the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award for her leadership, mentorship, and commitment to strengthening NEPA’s independent film community.