Presidential Lecture: A Conversation With John L. Hennessy
Friday, April 17, 2026
Stony Brook University, Main Campus
Charles B. Wang Center, Theatre 1 pm–2 pm
Join President Goldsmith in conversation with Stony Brook Distinguished Alumnus John
L. Hennessy — former president of Stanford University and an internationally recognized
leader in higher education — as they reflect on leadership, institutional transformation
and the future of the academy.
A reception and book signing celebrating Hennessy's memoir will follow from 2 pm–3pm
Leading Matters: Lessons From My Journey offers personal reflections on leadership, service and lessons learned across a distinguished
career in higher education. Tickets to the reception are not required.
Biography
John L. Hennessy, MS ’75, PhD ’77, is co-founder and director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, the largest, university-wide, fully-endowed graduate fellowship in the world. He is chairman of the Board of Alphabet and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Hennessy has been on the faculty of Stanford University since 1977 and previously served as the president of the university for 16 years after roles including chair of Computer Science, dean of the School of Engineering, and university provost. He co-founded MIPS Computer Systems and Atheros Communications. He and Dave Patterson were awarded the ACM A.M. Turing Prize for 2017 and the National Academy of Engineering Draper Prize in 2022.
