Announcing two interim vice provost appointments

June 4, 2026

Dear Stony Brook Faculty and Academic Staff Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointments of our new interim Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. 

Eric Lamberg, professor of physical therapy and associate dean in the School of Health Professions, will step into the Faculty Development role, and Benedict Robinson, professor and chair of the Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences, will step into the Faculty Affairs role. These appointments are effective July 1.

Eric Lambert has been a member of the Stony Brook community for more than two decades, and has served as associate dean of the School of Health Professions since 2018 and preceding that, chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. While associate dean, he has overseen key administrative functions of the Dean's Office, including appointments, promotion and tenure, finances and budgeting, personnel, and faculty scholarship activity, while also supporting facilities, curriculum changes, faculty and chair mentorship, school-wide inclusive initiatives, accreditation across the multiple departments, and new program development. As a researcher and clinician, Eric's work focuses on prosthetics and orthotics, the person living with amputation or limb difference, and adaptive sport and recreation. Eric is a board member for the World Amputee Football Federation and president of the American Amputee Soccer Association.

The Vice Provost for Faculty Development will serve as a central hub for faculty growth, leading the design and execution of high-impact faculty development programming. From the point of hire through the transition to emeritus status, the Vice Provost delivers programs, best practices, and resources to support faculty excellence in teaching, research, and service. Additionally, in this role, Eric will serve as a liaison and advisor to strengthen alignment between West Campus and East Campus.

Benedict S. Robinson joined Stony Brook in Fall 2001 and has served as chair of the Department of English since January 2024. He specializes in early modern literature and culture, with a focus on Shakespeare. His essays have appeared in top-tier journals in literary studies, including PMLA, Critical Inquiry, and English Literary History. His most recent book is Passion's Fictions from Shakespeare to Richardson: Literature and the Sciences of Soul and Mind (Oxford, 2021); his new scholarly edition of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra is going into production with Arden Shakespeare and is due out in early 2027. During his term as chair, the department hired 10 new faculty and two new staff; underwent an external review that articulated crucial priorities for future development; conducted a comprehensive update and overhaul of all undergraduate programs, under the direction of Susan Scheckel and with the help of a Provost's Office Project Landscape grant; improved student-facing programming as well as communication with departmental leadership; and developed a new B.A. proposal (currently going through the SUNY approval process), which represents part of a vision for future growth.

The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs provides leadership and strategic oversight for the policies, processes, initiatives, and governance structures that support equity and excellence across the faculty life cycle of appointment, promotions, leaves, and retirement.

Thank you to all who supported this process by nominating your colleagues, and please join me in welcoming Ben and Eric to their roles.

Sincerely,

Carl

Carl W. Lejuez

Executive Vice President and Provost