Moving Forward
May 29, 2024
Dear Stony Brook University Community:
I am writing to share that I will be stepping down at the end of June to become president of Yale University.
This opportunity arose unexpectedly. To a great extent, it is a direct result of the work that we have been doing at Stony Brook and the high regard nationally in which our university is held.
Academically, Stony Brook has never been stronger. Its stature, visibility and impact have grown, from our designation as a SUNY flagship campus to our selection as the anchor of the New York Climate Exchange. Alumni and donor confidence is high, buoyed by the $500 million donation for endowment support from the Simons Foundation. Thanks to support from the governor and the New York legislature, state support is at its highest level in more than a decade. And Stony Brook Medicine and Stony Brook University Hospital are leaders in research and medical education and the provider of choice in Suffolk County.
We have achieved all this while demonstrating that excellence and a commitment to diversity and inclusion can — and must — go together. We have one of the highest proportions of Pell-eligible students of all major research institutions, and achieved the highest ranking of all AAU institutions in the recent New York Times College Access Index. Our first and second cohorts of the Simons STEM Scholars represent the highest levels of academic excellence nationally. Over the past three years, our sponsored research has grown by 18 percent, from $205 million to $241 million.
These achievements, and the momentum we have built together, are being noticed in higher education and beyond, enabling Stony Brook to continue its upward trajectory while attracting high-achieving students, stellar faculty and an outstanding staff. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and confident in Stony Brook’s future.
I want to express my deep appreciation not only for the support you have given to me, but for the passion and commitment you show for our mission and for your work. You have been an inspiration to me, and I have every confidence that you will continue to propel Stony Brook to even greater heights.
An interim president will be named shortly to ensure a thoughtful and seamless leadership transition consistent with SUNY processes and protocols. A national search for Stony Brook's next president will begin immediately to deliver New York State the truly great flagship it deserves. With your commitment and collaboration, I am certain Stony Brook is well positioned for continued excellence.
Maurie McInnis
President