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HomeFrom the President ReportsPresident's Report to the Stony Brook Foundation

President’s Report to the Stony Brook Foundation

 

June 24, 2025

Executive Summary

State Government Relations Update

  • State Budget: The State Budget was approved on May 8, 2025 and provided a third-straight year of operating aid increases to SUNY, which fully covers our labor contracts and what would otherwise be a 3% tuition increase, as well as $360 million in capital for research facilities at the University Centers. 
  • Housing Authority Approved by the Legislature: On June 6, 2025 the Legislature approved a ground lease that will enable Stony Brook to develop up 1,900 units of housing for students (undergraduate and graduate), junior faculty, medical residents, and Simons STEM Scholars.  The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law in the Fall. 
  • State Supported Research Funding: In light of federal research cuts, NY State is considering pathways for it to fund research, particularly in the healthcare space.  There are active discussions among the Medical Schools of NYS, as well as the public and private universities.  Funding mechanisms have not been identified – it is likely a bond vote would be needed to raise the amount of revenue needed. The higher education committee and industry partners will begin formulating a plan to present to the Governor and Legislature in the coming months. 

Federal Government Relations Update

  • Advocacy: Working closely with our Office of Federal Relations in Washington, DC and SUNY, Stony Brook leadership, faculty, and students continue visits to our nation’s capital to advocate for Stony Brook’s federal priorities including providing robust federal funding for research, higher education, student financial aid, and public safety-net hospitals. 
  • Grant Cancellations: We are aware of at least 25 Stony Brook federal grants that have been rescinded or terminated, with the majority having a tie to DEI research. We are working closely with our congressional representatives, including Congressman LaLota and Senator Schumer, in addition to SUNY, to restore critical research grants and formally file appeals when appropriate.

Student Visa Interviews: In May, the State Department announced a pause in student visa appointment as well as aggressive action to revoke visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. In collaboration with our higher education colleagues at AAU, APLU, and ACE, Stony Brook has expressed concern about these actions to policymakers. Developments in trade negotiations may influence the disposition of both issues.

 

Academic Affairs

    • AI Innovation Institute inaugural director named: Lav Varshney, faculty at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will be the inaugural director of the AI Innovation Institute and hold the inaugural Della Pietra Infinity Chair. Varshney’s background blends work in industry, academia, government, think tanks, and national laboratories. At Stony Brook, he will leverage work begun by a 40-member committee of faculty and staff to set the research direction for the Institute and facilitate innovative interdisciplinary collaboration. Learn more about Dr. Varshney.
    • International Student Recruitment: Federal immigration and visa regulations continue to change, and our offices of Global Affairs and Enrollment Management and the Graduate School are working together closely to support international students and scholars, and to continue to shape the incoming class of undergraduate and graduate students. 
  • Peer Rankings Outreach: In collaboration with Marketing and Communications, we’ve undertaken a mailed awareness campaign to presidents, provosts and enrollment management directors sharing Stony Brook accolades and accomplishments in compelling, branded messaging. These audiences every year are asked to complete university rankings; the mailings help Stony Brook ensure these individuals are aware of our institution. The effort is part of a broader campaign to increase Stony Brook’s national rankings.

 

Advancement

  • We have secured $90.6 million in gifts and pledges (+14%) this fiscal year to-date, including 168 major- and principal-level gifts of $100,000 or more (+66%). Controlling for last year’s $500 million Simons Infinity Investment and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ $50 million gift to the New York Climate Exchange, we recorded $79.4 million in gifts and pledges at this time last year, 101 of which were $100,000 or more.
  • This year’s $90.6 million in gifts and pledges includes $50.2 million in endowment commitments, earning $25 million from the New York State matching program and an additional $75.2 million in unrestricted endowment funds from the Simons Foundation and New York State combined.
  • Since the New York State and Simons Infinity Investment matches were announced in FY23, we have raised a total of $114.3 million in endowment gifts.  The final deadline for recording qualifying pledges for the NYS match is April 1, 2026.
  • Notable gifts closed since the last update include: 
    1. $305,000 to support the Pre-Law Scholars Endowed Fund
    2. $100,000 to support graduate fellowships in Biochemistry
    3. $105,000 to support undergraduate biology research
    4. $100,000 to support radiation oncology
    5. $100,000 planned gift to support the Renaissance School of Medicine

 

Athletics

  • Stony Brook student-athletes earned a 3.36 GPA for the Spring 2025 term. This ties a program record for the highest term GPA in athletic department history. Of 470 Seawolf student-athletes, 325 earned a 3.0 or higher while 199 earned a 3.5 or higher.
  • Stony Brook Athletics had eight of its 16 programs earn a multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) at or above the national average within its respective sport, with seven programs earning perfect single-year scores.
  • Women’s Lacrosse claimed its third straight CAA championship and 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance while extending its nation-leading conference winning streak to 87. The team defeated Loyola Maryland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing a hard-fought 10-7 contest to No. 2 Boston College. Senior Avery Hines was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year while sophomore Isabella Caporuscio earned CAA Midfielder of the Year honors. 
  • Sophomore track and field student-athlete Collin Gilstrap defended his CAA title in the 1,500 meters to qualify for the NCAA regional championship meet in Jacksonville, Florida.
  • Following a legendary 35-year career that included leading Stony Brook to the 2012 College World Series, head baseball coach Matt Senk announced his retirement. Senk has 967 career wins and is one of just 27 coaches in NCAA history to record 960 or more victories at a single school.

 

Human Resources

  • This spring we conducted Stony Brook’s first ever staff and faculty engagement survey, which was administered by our external partner ModernThink.  This survey will provide us with valuable insights on our work environment, total rewards, and levels of employee satisfaction and engagement, which will be used to help shape future strategies and efforts to retain and support faculty and staff.  This summer we will review and share the results, and establish an approach for addressing the opportunities surfaced in the survey.
  • The national search for a permanent VP of HR is progressing well, and a small group of finalists will be visiting campus and meeting with key stakeholders in the coming weeks.  We are hoping to complete the search and appoint a new VP of HR over the summer.

 

Marketing and Communications

  • Advertising, Media & Brand Campaign Strategy: Managing a $200K enrollment ad budget; developing paid media campaign strategy to support Athletics ticket sales; executed Commencement “brand takeovers.” Preparing to host and facilitate a Message Strategy Workshop in partnership with the Provost and the office of Enrollment Management.
  • Digital, Social & Editorial Services: Oversaw all SBU digital channels and major website updates; developing accessible homepage code; edited commencement speeches and website content. Latest edition of the Magazine successfully produced and distributed in hard copy and digital form. 
  • Strategic & Crisis Communications: Developed several strategic communication plans (e.g., Southampton, Seawolves Village, research developments across climate and quantum); supported campus crises and protests including media responses and community message development; coordinated media coverage for Commencement.
  • Creative & Branding Services: Designed and produced major creative assets for events and facilities (e.g., SOMAS bus wraps, signage, scala signage); finalized Admissions materials and began branding for several upcoming campus events including Homecoming and New Faculty Orientation.
  • Leadership, Research & Compliance Support: Supporting presidential transitions and current president communications, media engagements and speeches; guided AAU-level research storytelling and SUNY initiatives; supporting ADA compliance and campus-wide communication planning for new economic framework and master planning among others.

 

Research

  • The federal environment remains very dynamic with daily changes in the landscape of federal grants and contracts. The Office of Research and Innovation continues to provide guidance and support to navigate this challenging time for our faculty and in collaboration with SUNY central and RF. Our university relies heavily on federal grants and contracts to support our research enterprise that creates economic development, develops critical technologies for the security of the US, saves and improves lives, and ensures the US leads the world technologically. Research is also closely related to graduate education which provides the advanced technological workforce for businesses here on LI and throughout NYS.  We are holding bi-weekly town halls for the research community to keep them informed   
  • We have seen a number of grant terminations for various reasons. The total count as of today is 17 grants terminated or that stop work orders have been received. NIH awards have been the majority of these but most agencies and most colleges have been impacted. One of the major impacts from these actions has been loss of funding for graduate students and postdocs. The current count of those who have lost their funding is 12 PhD students and 23 postdocs. We have put into place an emergency funding plan to help support students and postdocs as they get re-aligned with new sources of extramural support and are working with advancement to help support this important effort to not lose these students at a critical juncture in their education and training. 

 

Stony Brook Medicine/Health Sciences

  • The Renaissance School of Medicine’s Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME) has received Accreditation with Commendation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). To be eligible for Accreditation with Commendation, CME providers must demonstrate compliance with the Core Accreditation Criteria, Standards for Integrity and Independence, and required policies, in addition to eight criteria within the AACME’s Menu of Commendation Criteria. Fully accredited since 1979, the Office of CME’s “Commendation” status—the AACME’s highest performance ranking—means that its accreditation term will last six years, as opposed to four for full accreditation.
  • Joe Verghese, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology, has been accepted to the prestigious Association of American Physicians (AAP). Election to the AAP—by nomination and seconding from current AAP members—is extended to physicians for accomplishments in basic or translational biomedical research. Membership is limited to only 70 persons annually and reflects preeminence in physician‐led science and leadership. Dr. Verghese was formally introduced at a formal AAP dinner on April 26, during the 2025 Joint Meeting in Chicago.
  • The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has selected Anissa Abi-Dargham, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, to receive the 2025 Award for Research in Psychiatry, recognizing her influential contributions to schizophrenia research. Established in 1949 as the Hofheimer Prize, the Award for Research in Psychiatry honors an outstanding body of work or a lifetime contribution that has significantly impacted the field or clinical practice. Dr. Abi-Dargham was nominated for the award by Dr. Nina Kraguljac of Ohio State University and will be formally recognized at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Los Angeles on May 19, where she will also deliver a lecture titled “Misfiring Signals: Dopamine Dysfunction in Schizophrenia – From Neural Pathways to Behavioral Manifestations.”
  • Grace Kennedy, a BSW junior, received a $400 grant through the Contribution Project to create self-care kits for the SSW Wellness Room. The kits, designed to promote mental and physical well-being, include items like stress balls, face masks, kinetic sand, and coloring pages. The initiative aims to support students’ wellness by encouraging relaxation, mindfulness, and stress relief during their academic journey. “Please feel free to check it out and take items as you need, I hope you all enjoy this new addition”, said Grace. The Contribution Project accepts applications from people ages 14-25 who are seeking to make an impact on their community, school, or neighborhood through contribution. 
  • On March 26th, the School of Health Professions celebrated its outstanding alumni with a joyous event that united faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends. The evening highlighted successful alumni making positive impacts in their fields. It was a night of pride, inspiration, and community spirit. Honorees included:
    • Nesheta Akhter '14, Applied Health Informatics
    • Christopher Caravella '09, Health Science
    • Nina DePaola '87, Physical Therapy
    • Leah Holbrook '07, Health Care Policy Management
    • Tazia Shaw-Harrison '08, Clinical Laboratory Sciences
    • Brian Mitra '01, Health Science
    • Sasha Russ '12, Respiratory Care
    • Christopher Stoebe '05, Physician Assistant
    • Luke Schiele '20, Occupational Therapy
    • Claudine Weiner '93, Athletic Training

 

Stony Brook Medicine/Clinical

  • Incoming President Andrea Goldsmith visited East Campus in April and was welcomed by Dr. Bill Wertheim and the Stony Brook Medicine leadership team.  Dr. Wertheim provided an overview of the Stony Brook Medicine System.  He and Carol Gomes, CEO/COO, Stony Brook University Hospital provided a tour of the hospital including the Emergency Department, Children’s Hospital, and Stony Brook Cancer Center.  
  • Stony Brook Medicine, Southampton Hospital Association, and the Southampton Hospital Foundation held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 5, to celebrate the late spring opening of the Stony Brook East Hampton Emergency Department.
  • Stony Brook Medicine Media Relations received 11 Hermes Creative awards for its work including three Platinum Awards,  four Gold Awards and four Honorable Mentions. The Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition honoring creative professionals in traditional and emerging media, and excellence in public relations. Hermes Creative Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, one of the largest, oldest, and most respected evaluators of creative work in the marketing and communication industry. Winners range in size from individuals to media conglomerates, and Fortune 500 companies. Over the years, the competition has drawn more than 100,000 entries from over 100 countries.
  • Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) has been designated as a Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) Center of Excellence for the second time. This prestigious status is awarded to institutions and programs that demonstrate the highest standards of obstetric anesthesia care. Stony Brook’s recertification shows the hospital's commitment to quality clinical practice and ongoing education in obstetric anesthesiology. SBUH is the only hospital in Suffolk County to be named a Center of Excellence.
  • Stony Brook’s Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center, part of the Department of Surgery‘s Division of Bariatric, Foregut, and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery, has been chosen as the Best Bariatric Practice on Long Island for the third consecutive year. The Best of Long Island (BoLI) awards are chosen by the Long Island public from 14 categories, including Health, Wellness & Beauty, in which Best Bariatric Practice is a subcategory.

 

Student Affairs

  • On April 28, Commuter Student Services and Off-Campus Living (CSS OCL) hosted its annual Off-Campus Living Expo featuring representatives from 12 local apartment complexes and various off-campus living-related services. The event attracted approximately 450 attendees, encompassing students across all academic levels, faculty and staff —including East Campus professionals. CSS OCL also launched a new Off-Campus Housing Platform that provides a user-friendly experience to help students, faculty, and staff navigate their off-campus rental search process and access crucial information to prepare for a successful off-campus living experience. 
  • On April 30, Stony Brook celebrated the third annual Pride Fest Block Party. While Pride Month is nationally recognized in June, Stony Brook’s celebration is held in April to allow students to participate before the academic year ends. This event featured carnival games, music, arts and crafts, giveaways and a drag performance.
  • More than 5,000 spectators gathered on the banks of Roth Pond on May 2 as Stony Brook students launched their homemade vessels for the 36th annual Roth Regatta, a campus tradition since 1989. We had a very successful Earthstock, Stony Brook’s Earth Day week-long celebration, which featured a wide variety of events focused on sustainability and environmental awareness and conservation. 
  • The Class of 2025 was celebrated with a special “Cap & Gown Brunch” on May 20. The assembled graduates took photos, shared laughter and celebrated their achievements.  
  • On May 22, the campus welcomed the Stony Brook University Landmark Letters. The large and bold S-B-U is now a permanent fixture on the campus and will serve as a background for major events, like school tours, orientation and graduation.

Events to highlight:

  • Seawolf Extended Connections: Starting June 13, New Student and Transitions Programs is hosting every week throughout the summer in-person sessions that provide incoming students with important information including campus tours and an opportunity to connect with academic advisors.
From the President
From the President