Leadership Transition Update
August 25, 2026
Dear Stony Brook Campus Community,
I am writing to share the news that Wendy Pearson will be departing Stony Brook University effective September 25. Since 2023, Wendy has served as our vice president for strategic initiatives and executive director of Stony Brook Southampton.
During her tenure, Wendy has been a driving force behind our efforts to revitalize Stony Brook Southampton, leading the charge in strengthening community ties and helping to position the campus as a vibrant hub for education, research, and community engagement. Her accomplishments include bringing the performing arts back to campus and reinvigorating the Avram Theater, which hosted its first major theatrical performance in nearly 20 years in January 2025. She also partnered with The Jazz Loft to launch the successful The Jazz Loft @ Southampton Concert Series, bringing an outstanding lineup of artists to the Avram stage.
Additionally, Wendy formed and worked closely with an advisory committee of key stakeholders to help chart a vision for the Southampton campus’s future. That work, alongside planning efforts led by an internal task force, ensured that igniting the Southampton campus is prominently featured in Stony Brook's bold new strategic plan for the university, ASPIRE 2035.
Going forward, each strategic initiative within the plan will have a designated leader responsible for its implementation. I will personally lead our strategic efforts to ignite the Southampton campus, and the point person for any questions will be my chief of staff, Jennifer Almquist.
Wendy’s extensive higher education experience and the deep connections she has formed
have been invaluable assets to the entire Stony Brook community. I am grateful for
her service, leadership, and dedication to our university and the communities we serve.
While she will be greatly missed, we wish her every success in her next chapter.
Please join me in thanking Wendy for her lasting contributions to the Stony Brook
community.
Sincerely,
Andrea Goldsmith
President