President’s Report to the University Senate

October 6, 2025

Executive Summary

University News

• Stony Brook Ranks #1: The State University of New York at Stony Brook, New York’s flagship public university, for the fourth year in a row, continues to rank as the #1 public university in New York.
• SBUH Named One of the Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care: Stony Brook University Hospital has been named one of the Best Hospitals for Pediatric Care in 2025, earning the number one spot in New York and ranking number seven nationwide. 
• Enrollment: Stony Brook received the largest number of applications ever with more than 64,000 first-year applications and over 71,000 total undergraduate applications. This represents a 15 percent total application growth in one year and a 64 percent growth since 2021. In addition, with 27,200 students, Stony Brook has achieved its highest enrollment ever.
• State of the University Address: President Goldsmith delivered her first State of the University Address on Monday, September 29th, reflecting on the journey that led her to become Stony Brook’s seventh president and articulating her vision for the university’s future.  
• Accelerating Excellence and Impact: In her address, President Goldsmith invited attendees to imagine a bold vision of what Stony Brook will look like in 2035. Members of the university community are invited to share their ideas at an open session in mid-October and to watch for additional ways to help shape the vision for Stony Brook’s future. 

State Government Relations Update

• $300M Quantum: In September, the Governor announced a transformative $300 million investment to build a quantum internet hub at Stony Brook. In the FY2026 State Budget, the Legislature approved $360 million in research related capital, and Stony Brook was fortunate to receive a majority of that investment. 
• Housing Ground Lease: At the same event, the Governor also signed the ground lease necessary to enable Stony Brook to build student and workforce housing on the main campus. This is a critical step on this major infrastructure project. The university has already been in discussions with the Governor's Office about a ground lease on the Southampton Campus to be taken up in the next legislative session in January.
• CPMP Legislation: The Governor recently signed legislation that will enable the Stony Brook Clinical Practice Management Plan (CPMP) to build up to four additional advanced speciality care facilities (like the Lake Grove and Commack facilities) with DASNY financing. This will enable CPMP to get debt issued by the State rather than in the market at much lower interest rates.
• CommUniversity Day: Recently, the university held the annual CommUniversity Day, and it was the largest and most successful one to date. Thousands of community members came to campus to explore many of the university’s departments, interact with local businesses and nonprofits, and further the goal to continuously improve town-gown relationships. 

Federal Government Relations Update

• Government Shutdown: Congress’s failure to pass a funding measure has resulted in a government shutdown as of October 1. Many federal agencies have reduced operations, leading to delays in grant processing, new awards, and regulatory reviews.
• Research Priorities: The Administration has released its FY2027 research and development priorities, with a strong emphasis on mission-driven areas including artificial intelligence, quantum, national security, energy, biotechnology, and space. Researchers should expect upcoming solicitations to align with these focus areas.
• Executive Orders and Higher Education: Recent executive actions are reshaping federal approaches to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Title IX, and accreditation. Several agencies have paused or are re-examining DEI-related award terms, and institutions should anticipate additional guidance and closer oversight.
• H-1B Proclamation: Following the recent Presidential Proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, the university’s Office of Global Affairs (OGA) has been in regular contact with visa-holders, deans, chairs, and other affected community members. There are still a lot of unknowns, but OGA will continue to keep community members apprised. 
• Compliance Risk: Federal agencies have signaled stricter enforcement on civil rights, accreditation, and program integrity. Universities may see more audits, compliance reviews, and challenges to federal funding.
• Big Picture: Operational disruptions, immigration uncertainty, and shifting research priorities highlight the need for proactive advocacy and clear communication. The university community can best prepare by staying informed, aligning research proposals with federal priorities, and continuing to demonstrate the public impact of higher education.

Leadership Updates

• John Hill was named interim director of Brookhaven National Laboratory.

 

Advancement

• Since the start of this fiscal year on July 1, 2025, we have closed $31.3 million in gifts and pledges, including six transformational gifts of $1 million or more, and 33 major gifts of $100,000 or more. This year’s total includes $14.2 million in endowment commitments.
• Since the New York State and Simons Infinity Investment matches were announced in FY23, we have raised a total of $133.6 million in endowment support toward our $200 million multi-year goal.
• Notable gifts closed since the last update include: 
  • $1.5 million for Stony Brook Women’s Health
  • $330,000 in scholarship support for CEAS students
  • $286,000 to advance research at the SoMAS Molecular Imaging Lab
  • $250,000 to benefit the Staller Center for the Arts
  • $150,000 for the Department of Psychology 
  • $125,000 to expand STEM outreach and engineering programs

 

Athletics

• Stony Brook Football will return home for the annual Homecoming game at LaValle Stadium on Saturday, October 25. The Seawolves defeated Merrimack 35-10 in their last home game on September 27.
• The first phase of the revitalization project for Joe Nathan Field and University Field started in August. Thanks to a $2.5M lead gift, the homes of Stony Brook’s baseball and softball teams will see significant upgrades to the playing surfaces and surrounding areas.
• Four Seawolves highlight the 2025 Stony Brook Athletics Hall of Fame class, which was enshrined on September 26. The 2025 Hall of Fame class is comprised of Michael Bamiro '13 (Football), Shayla Giosia-Brown '15 (Softball), Sean Chamberlain '07 (Men's Lacrosse) and Erica Keller-Meyer '99, '03 (Women's Soccer).
• Defending CAA champion Stony Brook Women’s Soccer is unbeaten in eight of their last nine contests.
• Three-time defending CAA champion Stony Brook Men’s Cross Country has won their first two meets of the season, including last weekend's Ted Owen Invitational in New Britain, Connecticut. The team was led by junior Collin Gilstrap who crossed the line first with a time of 25:19.30, earning CAA Runner of the Week honors. 

• The annual Stony Brook Basketball Meet the Team Night will take place at Stony Brook Arena on Tuesday, October 28.  

 

Human Resources

• Jane Savage has joined Stony Brook University as the new Vice President for Human Resources on September 22, 2025. She brings extensive experience from her previous role as Associate Vice President for Human Resources at Yale University, where she led significant HR transformation initiatives, including improving service delivery, talent management, and union relations.
• A focus for HR in the coming year will be to continue work on ongoing HR NOW and WolfieONE initiatives, enhancing talent acquisition and total rewards, and supporting employee well-being and professional development.

 

Marketing and Communications

• Managed paid, earned, shared and owned (PESO) communications strategies for several major announcements including the $4M NSF Quantum grant, $300M state quantum investment, the Green Patriarch award ceremony, Homecoming and CommUniversity Day.
• Continue to direct issues and crisis management support related to ongoing challenges facing higher education and the SBU campus climate, including new executive orders and national and geopolitical events.
• Supported 28+ presidential writing projects, managed development of the 2025 State of the University address with rehearsals underway; designed full suite of SOU collateral, opening video and slide presentation and have begun to develop the marketing plan for the President’s Inauguration.
• Continue to oversee the creative and paid media campaigns across Athletics and Enrollment and production of publicity videos and photography to support the daily social media strategy for both the President and the University.  
• Launched the MARCOM Fellows internship program and welcomed our first cohort of 10 interns; issued ADA compliance guidance to 1,100 editors to support SBU’s compliance mandate deadline of April 2026.

 

Research and Innovation

• Despite continued challenges at the federal level, Stony Brook faculty continues to compete at the highest level as demonstrated in our recent awards. In July, SBU received the largest number of awards in a single month ever. Also, throughout FY25 SBU received the largest value of large awards in its history. 
• The Office of Research and Innovation has been working on improving our ability to quickly and efficiently work with industry on applied research and has just announced a new program to streamline industry-sponsored research called CLEAR-IP. You can expect a significantly more efficient contracting process to support your work with business and industry!

 

Strategic Initiatives and Southampton Campus

• Southampton Facilities – For the first time, the Southampton campus is fully integrated into the University’s Facilities Master Plan. Asbestos abatement is underway in the condemned dormitories in preparation for long-awaited demolition. The $25 million renovation of laboratory space for SoMAS, including Chris Gobler’s research labs, is currently in the design phase. Campus beautification projects continue, including new irrigation and landscaping at the former Montauk Avenue entrance, with updated signage now in planning. A significant increase in the campus’s base facilities budget will ensure these projects move forward and continue to enhance the campus environment.
• Southampton Personnel – On-site leadership has been strengthened with the appointment of a new Associate Director of Southampton to support the Executive Director, a Director of Facilities and an Associate Director of Facilities, and a new Associate Director of Student Life to enrich the student experience. In partnership with the Dean of Students, the Executive Director is also forming a Student Advisory Committee to provide input on how best to improve student life in Southampton.
• Southampton Academic Programs – The campus is broadening its academic portfolio with several new initiatives: a bilingual/bicultural MSW program in development; an Early College Initiative in partnership with Suffolk County Community College; annual youth summer programs, including the Dream, Speak, Live camp for children who stutter; and the FoodLab’s first credit-bearing course, launching this fall in collaboration with SoMAS.
• Southampton Community Engagement – The campus welcomed thousands of visitors through a vibrant slate of programming. Highlights included the reopening of the Avram Theater; the launch of the Jazz Loft @ Southamptonconcert series, continuing through the fall; the annual Hamptons Food & Wine Festival in July; NPR’s Selected Shortslive podcast celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Southampton Writers Conference; a public conversation with Joy Reid (former MSNBC host); and the FoodLab’s Taste of the Trades program, introducing underserved youth to sustainable farming. We were especially honored to host Oceans of Hope, welcoming His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Green Patriarch, to the Southampton campus.

 

Student Affairs

• On the week of August 18, new students (first years and transfers) participated in the New Seawolf Welcome Week, a series of events that acclimated students to the Stony Brook campus community.  Each student had a unique schedule of workshop opportunities to learn more about campus resources; build relationships with faculty, staff, and classmates; and participate in robust, high energy evening programming including nightly shows and activities.
• Four family events were held to welcome new Seawolf families and acquaint them with student resources and programs: Welcome BBQs on Monday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 19; International Families Info Session on Tuesday, August 19; and Transfer Families Meet and Greet on Thursday, August 21.  
• About 2,800 first year students moved into their new homes at Campus Residences. Returning students moved in over the weekend. 
• The Career Center hosted Community Service Day, on Saturday, August 23, an annual event during New Seawolf Welcome Week that provides an opportunity for new students to participate in service activities both on and off campus and make a positive difference. 
• The Red Book is a website (stonybrook.edu/redbook) that serves as a guide on how to best help students in need. It includes signs to look for and how to respond to student situations including emotional distress, disruptive behavior, medical emergency, or other concern that require support or intervention, as well as contact information for campus resources and services.