Florida State University (FSU) held its 2026 Leadership Awards Night on Tuesday, April 7. The event recognizes those on campus who display leadership through achievement, service, or organizational involvement. The Office of Student Organizations and Involvement hosted the awards. Among the categories are student, faculty/staff, organization, and other departmental awards.

College of Communication & Information Dean Michelle Kazmer shared her pride in the college’s nominees and winners.

“We are incredibly proud of these students and faculty for the leadership they’ve demonstrated across our university,” Kazmer said. “These award winners highlight the excellence of the College of Communication & Information and I’m extremely excited to see what they do next.”

Award winners included the following:

• Akansha Kharkwal – Dean of Students Award: The Dean’s Cup
• Alyson Mizanin – Outstanding Leadership and Service Award
• Mylah Tate – Sean A. Pittman Award
• Snailey Dol – Bob E. Leach Award
• Yasamin Khosh – Outstanding Leadership and Service Award
• Ebrahim Randaree – The Spotlight Award: Advisor of the Year
• STARS Alliance at FSU – Mary B. Coburn Organization of the Year

Kharkwal, a doctoral candidate in Health and Environment Communication, took home the Dean of Students: The Dean’s Cup award, which is awarded to up to three students who displayed commitment to the FSU community, strength of character, and alignment with the University’s mission. Her work focuses on health informatics, artificial intelligence, social media, digital health intervention design, media effects, strategic communication, and persuasion and behavior.

Two CCI students, Alyson Mizanin and Yasamin Khosh, were awarded the Outstanding Leadership and Service Award. Mizanin, a third-year Presidential Scholar, is currently the director of social media for the Florida State University Government Association, co-founder and editor-in-chief of PULSE at FSU, and the historian and social media manager for Presidential Scholars at FSU.

Khosh is a senior pursuing a dual degree in political science and media/communication studies. Her experience spans across strategic communications, spanning agency, fintech, and government environments.

Political science and media/communication studies double major Mylah Tate was awarded the Sean A. Pittman Award,which is given to a student for outstanding leadership to the FSU and Tallahassee communities, having significantly supported African American students. Tate is the Political Education Coordinator with the Black Student Union at FSU.

Snailey Dol, an undergraduate student pursuing a Science in Information Technology degree, won the Bob E. Leach Award, which is presented to a student for service-oriented leadership with a commitment to benefiting the lives of others. Dol has earned recognition on the Dean’s List and been awarded the CARE Student of Excellence Award in the past.

Among FSU faculty, CCI Associate Dean of Finance and Administration Ebrahim Randeree was awarded The Spotlight Award: Advisor of the Year. The honor is given to a volunteer employee advisor to recognize their dedication, mentorship, and guidance to a student organization. Randeree is the advisor to 12 student organizations within the College.

“Student success is a core goal of the university and the college and that starts with engagement on campus,” Randeree said. “Getting involved beyond the classroom and in the community is what makes FSU successful.”

The STARS Alliance at FSU was awarded the Mary B. Coburn Organization of the Year honor, which recognizes a registered student organization that significantly impacted the University through leadership, innovation, and service. The mission of STARS is to increase participation in information technology (IT) and computing. Their work focuses on projects and programs that start at the elementary level and progress through graduate school and into IT/computing careers. This year they completed over 175 events reaching 9,000 students on campus and in K-12.