A Bold Finish to an Extraordinary Year
May 12, 2026
Dear Stony Brook Community,
With the academic year drawing to a swift and exciting conclusion, I wanted to share some reflections on the extraordinary journey we have been on together since I joined Stony Brook University last August as your seventh president. This leadership opportunity of a lifetime has brought me profound professional and personal joy and has offered a chance to make a meaningful and positive difference to our community, our country, and the world. Your warm embrace of me as your president means more than I can say, and your support and excitement about our future fuel my passion and energy every day to take our university to new heights of excellence and impact.
Over this past year we have advanced groundbreaking research, provided excellent, accessible, and affordable education, delivered outstanding and compassionate healthcare, and served our communities locally, regionally, and globally in impactful ways, as befits our standing as the number one public university in the great state of New York. Our exceptional contributions across all dimensions of our mission have elevated Stony Brook’s visibility in our region, across the nation and around the world. We have an extraordinary story to tell about the past, present, and future of this exceptional university, and more people are hearing our story than ever before.
At my recent investiture I spoke about the power of saying yes to pursuing a fearless vision, embracing all the unknowns that journey entails. Over the past year we have collectively said yes to the “infinite possibilities” of our great university by framing a shared vision for Stony Brook’s next chapter. The hundreds of conversations, town halls, and focus groups that you have engaged in around strategic planning this past year culminated in the introduction at my investiture of ASPIRE 2035, a bold set of aspirational goals we will pursue over the next decade.
I hope you share my pride in all we have accomplished together this past year and the strong foundation it provides for our bold aspirations. May the next few months offer you time to recharge, reflect, and return refreshed for the new academic year in August. Please ‘save the date’ for my State of the University address on September 14, when I will outline the work taking place this summer to transform our ASPIRE 2035 goals into an actionable strategic vision for Stony Brook’s future.
To our students, I want to offer my very best wishes as you finish your final exams, projects, and wrap up the semester. I have often learned the most from my classes in these end-of-semester activities despite them being quite stressful. You have worked incredibly hard, and I am confident that you will finish the semester strong. I wish you all a safe, restful and fulfilling summer however you are spending it.
To the Class of 2026, I am filled with enthusiasm and excitement to celebrate your achievements, alongside your families and friends, at Commencement on May 22. Commencement is always my favorite day of the academic year given what that day means for our graduates and their loved ones. This commencement will be especially meaningful to me as the first of my presidency. There are so many wonderful commencement events planned for the week that I hope you will take advantage of to celebrate this monumental moment in your life as you close this door of your personal and professional journey and open the door to your next chapter.
To our faculty and staff, thank you for the exceptional dedication and resilience you bring to your work every day. Whether you are teaching in the classroom, conducting life-changing research, providing world-class clinical care, or keeping our campus running smoothly, I am deeply appreciative of your contributions and commitment to making Stony Brook a place where our community can thrive.
I look forward to the exciting future ahead for Stony Brook as we set the highest aspirations for our excellence and impact and achieve them together! I know that the future will include many more special shared memories yet to be created. Hearing your stories and experiences that reveal what is so special about Stony Brook: why people come here, why they stay, and the transformative impact this university has on people’s lives continues to inspire me every day.
With all of my heart, I believe that Stony Brook, the number one public university in the great state of New York, is a model for the future of American possibility and progress. It is an honor to be on this journey toward our highest aspirations with all of you.
Sincerely,
Andrea Goldsmith
President