To all Faculty and Staff,
I am very pleased to announce that Matthew Whelan, Ed.D., Associate
Provost for Enrollment and Retention Management at Stony Brook
University, has agreed to serve as Interim Vice President for
Strategic Initiatives effective immediately. In this position he will
report directly to me and serve as an adviser in the areas of long
term policy and strategic initiatives. This is a role in which he
will identify institutional priorities, facilitate planning and take
the lead in identifying and facilitating cross-functional academic
initiatives at Stony Brook. In addition, the Office of Institutional
Research will move from the Provost's office back into my office
under Matt's oversight. Matt will also continue to oversee the
Enrollment and Retention Management at Stony Brook through the spring
semester, directing and managing our current class of applications.
Matt brings a broad range of higher education experience and
leadership to this position. He spent the last 24 years working in
key positions in college admissions, financial aid and enrollment
management — the last 15 of which have been at Long Island
institutions. He joined Stony Brook in 2006 after serving in key
positions at St. John's and Hofstra respectively where he was notably
successful in advancing goals for enrollment and admissions in the
areas of applicant quality and yield by implementing more efficient
processes and systems - something he has also accomplished here at
Stony Brook. Indeed, under his leadership, Stony Brook Admissions has
become a paperless environment which has improved efficiency and led
to increased space availability campus-wide. Among other positive
effects, his cumulative efforts have resulted in the improvement of
the entering student class quality by more than 50 SAT points.
His work with and institutional knowledge of the pedagogical philosophy, policies and systems of the State University of New York will help him navigate this strategic initiative role with aplomb. As a first generation college student, he has an affinity for those from similar backgrounds, which gives him great perspective and aptitude to be successful in this position.
Matt is a member of several national organizations and groups, including the AAU Enrollment Managers and the Association of Chief Admission Officers for Public Universities (ACAOPU). He has presented at local, regional and national meetings on issues of enrollment planning, strategy and team building and recently presented a paper at the International Leadership Association on academic turnaround and presidential leadership.
Matt lives in the Three Villages with his wife Kathy and their three daughters, all of whom are avid Seawolves supporters.
Please join me in giving your full support to Matt as he takes on this new and exciting role.
Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD
President
