Patricia Szobonya, Esq. is a Professor and Program Director of Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies, and Criminal Justice at the State University of New York (SUNY) Rockland Community College. She is a licensed attorney in New York and New Jersey and holds a Juris Doctor from New York Law School. Professor Szobonya also serves as the SUNY COIL Campus Coordinator and has extensive experience designing and leading international Virtual Exchange and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiatives.
As Co-Chair of the RCC Global Institute and an American Council on Education Lab Leader, she promotes internationalization, intercultural learning, and global engagement across higher education. Her virtual exchange collaborations have connected students and faculty with institutions in Morocco, China, Mexico,
Professor Szobonya has co-authored publications and delivered presentations at numerous national and international conferences on topics including virtual exchange, social justice, human rights, culturally responsive teaching, intercultural education, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her scholarship explores the intersection of law, global citizenship, and international education, with a particular focus on fostering intercultural competence and civic engagement.
She serves as Faculty Advisor to the RCC Model United Nations Club, which participated in the 2026 National Model United Nations Conference in New York City. In addition to her leadership roles within the college, she has established international academic partnerships that support collaborative learning and global engagement. In 2024, she was selected to participate in the Overseas Faculty Development Seminar in India, sponsored by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers and the American Institute of Indian Studies. In 2026, Professor Szobonya was selected for the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Program in France, where she will deepen her understanding of French higher education while fostering future collaborations in teaching, research, and internationalization this October.