Welcome to Stony Brook - Fall 2025 Welcome Letter
On behalf of all faculty and staff at the Stony Brook University Graduate School, I would like to officially welcome you to the Fall semester and the 2025-6 academic year.
The choice to pursue a graduate degree demonstrates that you have decided to commit yourself to personal and professional development. Choosing to continue your education in an area you are passionate about will allow you to stand out as you advance throughout your career. Now, more than ever, our country and world need thinkers and doers: people who tackle the challenge of acquiring advanced knowledge and contribute to understanding our history, the natural world, and technological advances that can enhance the future of our planet. I am proud to be your dean and of the work you will do and are already doing.
It is an exciting time for the Stony Brook community as we welcomed our new President, Andrea Goldsmith, to campus earlier this month. President Goldsmith has been a dedicated mentor of graduate students throughout her career, and she is profoundly invested in driving upward mobility, groundbreaking discovery, and societal impact locally and globally. If you have the opportunity to meet President Goldsmith, I know you will appreciate her warmth and passion. Please tell her about your academic journey as she loves to hear from and about our students.
As your dean, I serve as an advocate and support for you throughout your studies. The Graduate School works collaboratively with departments across campus to provide professional development resources and create a sense of community for our students.
Graduate Student Resources
- Graduate Student Advocate | Donal Thomas - Assists graduate students in finding solutions to challenges and works closely with other units such as the Graduate Student Organization, the Graduate Dean and the Ombudsman.
- Graduate Writing Support - The Graduate School offers writing support through a Graduate Writing Assistant who hosts writing sessions during the semester to aid graduate students in writing.
- Graduate Student Organization (GSO) - The GSO offers a variety of social eventsthroughout the year that are organized by students, for students.
- Student Health Services - Supports student preventative health and comprehensive wellness while integrating primary care with other student needs. This includes Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)and TimelyCare, a free virtual 24/7 service providing access to medical and mental health services.
Providing access to these resources and services is at the core of the mission of the Graduate School. Whether you are pursuing your degree at the Manhattan Center for Creative Writing and Film, the Stony Brook Southampton campus, or at the East or West Campus in Stony Brook, you have access to an extensive array of resources and facilities designed to support your academic achievement. Please browse our Professional Development website to learn about programs and opportunities that build your skills, support your mentoring relationships, and fund career exploration.
Connect with us on the Graduate School Website and social media to stay up to date on exciting events and offerings and check out our monthly newsletter, Happening @ The Graduate School on the last Wednesday of each month.
We are confident that you will thrive at Stony Brook, and we are here to help you from application to graduation. Have a productive and rewarding academic year!
Sincerely,
Celia Marshik
Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education