Stony Brook University honored 10 distinguished faculty members during its annual investiture ceremony on Friday, October 24, at the Charles B. Wang Center Theater. Held during Homecoming weekend, the event formally installed the faculty into their endowed positions — one of the highest academic honors a university can bestow.
Endowed positions are among the most powerful tools to provide support for top faculty. They enable the university to attract the best and brightest minds — those who educate future leaders, deliver exceptional healthcare and drive breakthrough research. These positions also serve as lasting tributes to the generous philanthropists whose vision and support make them possible.
“Today we recognize our distinguished faculty whose groundbreaking work defines Stony Brook’s excellence,” said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith. “We are deeply grateful to our remarkable supporters and the transformational impact of the endowed chairs they have created. Because of their partnership, we are accelerating discovery, building our faculty to educate and advance the frontiers of knowledge in more dimensions and catalyzing research excellence by empowering the remarkable people who drive it.”
The endowed faculty members — and their philanthropists — are equally passionate about their research, which ranges from neurological, cardiovascular and infectious diseases to artificial intelligence and economic policies, as highlighted throughout the ceremony.
“This celebration is about more than titles or accolades — it’s about honoring the heart of our university: the faculty whose dedication to teaching, research and mentorship shapes lives and drives progress,” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl W. Lejuez, PhD. “These scholars are not only advancing their fields, they’re inspiring the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers. I’m deeply grateful for their commitment to Stony Brook, and for the generosity of our donors, whose investments make this work possible.”
The ceremony featured a keynote address from Ellen K. Pikitch, PhD, endowed professor of ocean conservation science, whose pioneering work in marine policy and sustainability has influenced global conservation efforts.
Both faculty members and philanthropists in attendance were presented with a medal for their work and dedication to the university. The 10 endowed faculty come from across the university, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Renaissance School of Medicine.
Among the philanthropists in attendance were John Ricotta, MD, Peter Tsantes and Vincent Della Pietra, PhD, as well as members of the Knapp Swezey Foundation, including William Knapp ’78 and Jane Knapp ’78, Michele and Dave Knapp and Danielle Knapp-SanGiovanni ’20.
Dr. Ricotta served as chair of surgery at Stony Brook for more than a decade, during which he took pride in enhancing the quality of the surgical residency training program and expanding the vascular training program. He has enjoyed watching the department grow over the years and established the Dr. John J. Ricotta Endowed Professorship in Vascular Surgery to help sustain and accelerate that growth. “Having exceptional faculty elevates the overall academic culture of an institution,” explained Dr. Ricotta in an interview earlier this year. “By supporting a faculty member, it’s a sort of force multiplier — as I know that faculty members will, in turn, impact the future of possibly generations of medical students and residents.”
Tsantes, with matching support from George Tsunis and his family, established the Peter V. Tsantes Professorship in Greek Literature and Language in 2013 to advance academic excellence in teaching, education and research related to Hellenic studies. The gift is in honor of his parents and in gratitude to the family who brought him to the United States in 1951. “Peter Tsantes is deeply invested in the promotion and future of modern Greek studies,” said Simos Zenios, PhD, who holds the endowed professorship. “His support and presence in the community sends a strong message to our students that what they study matters and that he and the community care deeply about their personal academic journeys.”
Over 30 years, the Knapp family has established several endowed positions as well as supported programs within the Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and its pediatric emergency department expansion as well as the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Two of those endowed faculty members were included in the induction ceremony. “The Knapp family is one of the finest resources we have,” said Knapp Endowed Chair in Pediatrics and SUNY Distinguished Professor Sharon Nachman, MD. “There are four generations who are all uniquely suited to see what we’re doing and make a difference not just at Stony Brook but also in the community.” Knapp family members also contribute their time to Stony Brook by participating on the Stony Brook Foundation Board, the Stony Brook Medicine Advisory Board, the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Advancement Council, the Women’s Leadership Council and the Alumni Association.
Longtime Stony Brook supporters Stephen and Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra and Vincent Della Pietra and his family established a cohort of four Della Pietra Infinity Chairs. This first initiative enables Stony Brook to advance excellence in artificial intelligence, particularly by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across campus related to AI. “Artificial intelligence offers extraordinary opportunities for innovation, and I’m thrilled to help build the AI Innovation Institute at Stony Brook,” said Lav Varshney, PhD, who holds this infinity chair. “Thanks to the generous support of the Della Pietra family, we can advance AI in ways that strengthen economic, societal and educational progress while ensuring that human creativity remains at the center.”
Through their long-term transformational support, Jim and Marilyn Simons and the Simons Foundation have established many endowed positions at Stony Brook University. Some of those endowments have now had several holders, including the Lina Obeid Chair in Biomedical Research and the endowed chair of neurology, both of which were celebrated at the ceremony. “Thanks to the visionary support of Jim and Marilyn Simons and the Simons Foundation, I’m able to translate my research on neurological diseases and aging into meaningful clinical practice,” said Endowed Chair of Neurology Joe Verghese, MD. “This endowment bridges clinical education and research, advancing our efforts to improve the well-being of the communities we serve.”
As part of the personal philanthropy of Marilyn Simons ’74, PhD ’84, her support of the Department of Economics has allowed several endowed positions to be established, two of which were formally installed at the ceremony. “The support from Marilyn Simons motivates my students and allows them to be more ambitious in their research,” said Endowed Chair for Applied Economics and Public Policy Juan Carlos Conesa, PhD. “As an alumna of the economics department, she understands what is important for the success of graduate students and has helped strengthen the life of the graduate program.”
Henry and Marsha Laufer’s support of the Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology includes endowed positions for their permanent faculty. This year, one of those endowed faculty members was included in the induction ceremony. “The Laufers are fully invested in the success of the Laufer Center,” said Gábor Balázsi, PhD, the Henry Laufer Endowed Professor of Physical and Quantitative Biology. “I am grateful for their support and encouragement. It has allowed me to dive deeper into facilitating new ways to understand and treat cancer.”
The faculty members who were invested include:
- Gábor Balázsi, PhD — Henry Laufer Endowed Professor of Physical and Quantitative Biology
- Rabih Chaer, MD — Dr. John J. Ricotta Endowed Professor in Vascular Surgery
- Juan Carlos Conesa, PhD — Endowed Chair for Applied Economics and Public Policy
- Susan Hedayati, MD, MS — Lina Obeid Chair in Biomedical Research
- Peter Igarashi, MD — Knapp Endowed Dean of the Renaissance School of Medicine
- Mihai Manea, PhD — Endowed Professor for the Department of Economics
- Sharon Nachman, MD — Knapp Endowed Chair in Pediatrics
- Lav Varshney, PhD — Della Pietra Infinity Chair
- Joe Verghese, MD, MS, FRCPI — Endowed Chair of Neurology
- Simos Zenios, PhD — Peter V. Tsantes Professor in Greek Literature and Language
See more about the newly invested faculty and their pursuit of innovative ideas.
For more information on the endowed faculty members, visit https://www.stonybrook.edu/endowedfaculty
-Written by Christine McGrath
-Photos by John Griffin
View more photos from the ceremony and reception.
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