Binghamton student with passion for business law earns SUNY Chancellor’s, University President’s awards

Sarah Crawford once envisioned herself on Capitol Hill, tapping into her dual fascination with the workings of government and the nuances of the law by collaborating with legislators, conducting legal research or helping to lobby for new regulations.

However, the more she delved into her experiences at Binghamton University’s School of Management, the more she discovered just how much collaborating with companies in aspects of business law was where she truly thrived. Now, she envisions herself in a different setting: the financial markets and regulations industry, where she is eager to discover more about how to blend her passions into an increasingly complex but vital career.

If there’s been one constant throughout Crawford’s time as a Binghamton student, it’s her determination to accomplish whatever it takes to make her goals a reality. For her leadership abilities and accomplishments in the classroom and beyond, Crawford has earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and the University President’s Award.

“I’m so honored because you don’t necessarily go into college expecting that kind of recognition – at least, I didn’t,” said Crawford, a senior with a dual major in business administration and philosophy, politics and law. “With all the changes going on in the world, there are so many opportunities to open new doors through the business and legal fields, and I’m excited to be part of that.”

“Crawford has proven herself as a standout student with a talent for connecting classroom discussion topics to current events or financial principles not included in the textbook,” wrote SOM Adjunct Professor Anthony Del Vecchio in a letter nominating Crawford for the Chancellor’s Award.

But equally as important, he added, has been her commitment to community service, whether through fundraisers or other projects as part of Binghamton’s Emerging Leaders Program. She has also raised money for campus programs, including Fall Fest and Spring Fling, as the fundraising and collaborations director for the Student Association Programming Board.

“Stated simply: Sarah is an academic and community leader,” Del Vecchio wrote. “She is someone any program or organization would be fortunate to call a member.”

During her internships in 2021 and 2022 for the office of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, Crawford played key roles by keeping her team looped in with Binghamton-area local and regional news coverage the senator might need to address, as well as monitoring American Rescue Plan funding allocations to municipalities to keep tabs on the funds’ intended use.

Her internship in 2022 centered on monitoring national press coverage, such as news about major Supreme Court decisions or significant legislation, to keep the senator’s teams aware of public sentiment in the event any statements would be needed on Schumer’s behalf.

“That element was a very interesting experience, working under regulations and learning more about some of the lobbying that goes into enacting those regulations or changing them,” Crawford said. “I thought for a while that I was going to be in politics, but since there’s often a lot of ‘red tape’ involved in that work, I realized there could be more of an opportunity for me to combine the business world and the legal world to navigate through many changes we’ve been going through in our society.”

Crawford founded the University’s 25-member Moot Court team to tap into that interest. The team simulates various aspects of appeals court proceedings, and getting it off the ground ranks among her favorite accomplishments as a Binghamton student.

Similar to other case competitions, teams are given a particular legal scenario from the American Moot Court Association and practice writing legal briefs or making oral arguments in front of judges. In a regional tournament at the end of the fall 2023 semester, Binghamton’s team placed in the top half of 46 teams participating.

Crawford credits the mentorship she received from SOM faculty like Del Vecchio and Associate Professor Kimberly Jaussi with guiding her toward the best way to bring her interests into focus. The hands-on experience provided through her SOM classes has also helped her navigate her evolving path.

One of Crawford’s favorite class projects has been through her leadership course, performing consulting work for the Addiction Center of Broome County by reviewing its financial information and compiling 10 recommendations the center can use to help transition its operations into a new facility.

As a student, she never imagined having the chance to perform this type of consulting work, which produced visible results in the community. As she looks ahead to earning her Master of Business Administration at Binghamton, she is eager for new opportunities to make her mark.

“All this experience opened my eyes to how to start applying things that I’ve learned in the classroom before I’ve even graduated,” Crawford said. “One of the best things I’ve learned you can do as a student is to make sure you’re always reaching out to people, opening as many doors for yourself as possible, and never closing yourself off to any new ideas.”