Dr. Alexandra Szarabajko,’15 ’16 ’18, was awarded with the Young Alumni Award from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). The Best of Eastern Alumni Awards, presented annually during Homecoming weekend, celebrate excellence among EKU alumni. The Young Alumni Award recognizes individuals who graduated from EKU in the last 10 years and have demonstrated exceptional talent in their professions.
Born in Germany to Polish parents, Szarabajko grew up bilingual, athletic and unafraid of hard work. Track and field with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen taught her discipline and grit; an au pair year in the U.S. sparked a bigger dream. Recruited to EKU on a track scholarship, she found more than a team—she found a community that helped her see who she could become.
“Little did I know that my time at EKU would become one of the most transformative experiences of my life—shaping not only my athletic journey but also giving me the opportunities and connections that helped lead me to where I am today,” said Szarabajko.
What started as one degree became three: a bachelor’s in psychology (summa cum laude), a master’s in general psychology and a master’s in physical education. Mentors at EKU, student employment in the NOEL Studio and leadership as a student-athlete deepened her calling to teach and to study how people learn, move and thrive. That trajectory carried her to Oregon State University for a Ph.D. in kinesiology (with an added Master of Public Health), and then directly into a tenure-track role.
Today, Szarabajko is the program chair and assistant professor of exercise science at Columbia College in South Carolina, where she leads with a student-first, evidence-based approach and a steady commitment to mentorship. Her scholarship examines the role of physical education requirements in higher education and health promotion in underserved communities, with her publications spanning peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings that bridge research and practice. Her teaching has already earned high recognition, including receiving the 2025 South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities Excellence in Teaching Award.
Ask Szarabajko how she defines success, and she won’t list titles; she’ll talk about people—being remembered for how you treat others. For a first-generation scholar who earned three EKU degrees in her third language, that humility and impact say it all.
“As an educator and mentor today, my goal is to pay forward the guidance, encouragement and kindness that I was fortunate enough to receive from my own mentors. The professors at Eastern Kentucky University, along with the supportive community I found on campus, all played a major role in helping me believe in myself and pursue opportunities I never thought possible,” said Szarabajko. “Their influence continues to shape the way I approach teaching and mentoring my students, striving to create the same supportive environment that once helped launch my own success.”
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