Meet Advancement’s New Student Writer

Viyang Hao (back center) and friends smile while having a celebratory dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. The dinner celebrated Viyang’s temporary return to Indiana as well as graduating high school.
Viyang Hao (back center) and friends enjoy a Cheesecake Factory dinner celebrating her high school graduation.

Hello! My name is Viyang Hao, and I’m the first dedicated student writer for Stony Brook Matters. I’m a double major in journalism and political science, a reporter for the Statesman, and involved in lots of other student activities on campus. I’ll have the pleasure of writing about those experiences, as well as my other exploits as a freshman (from the Class of 2026!) for this website and its many readers – especially Stony Brook University’s alumni and friends!

Viyang Hao poses for an unprompted photo taken by their friend in a local H&M store in California. The two were helping another friend search for a hat to purchase and turned into everyone trying on different types of hat.
Viyang Hao likes to help friends search for the perfect purchase.

Since I was in fifth grade, I’ve been interested in journalism as a potential career path. I’m excited by the idea of informing the public around me about current events, as well as giving voice to underrepresented communities. By writing for all of you, I can help make this dream come true.

Viyang Hao (middle) and their friends (left and right) pose for a photo after a long day of shopping at their local mall in Indiana. The shopping adventure was part of Viyang’s itinerary in their trip to Indiana in May this year.
Viyang Hao (middle) and friends pose for a photo after a long day of shopping.

As a junior and senior in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had a lot of time to digest what was happening in politics, both nationally and internationally. Since then, I’ve become very interested in social issues and U.S. politics, especially where they intersect. I think giving credit where credit is due is important, as is showing some sense of constructive criticism. And I want my writing to reflect that. During my four years at Stony Brook, I hope to dive deeper into my interests, providing a different perspective of what’s happening in campus life.

What’s school like from the point of view of a student in the School of Communication and Journalism? You can expect answers to that question in my monthly updates starting in October. I’m excited to share my experiences with Stony Brook graduates and others like me who have stepped onto campus for the first time. I’m also looking forward to getting to know you and the entire Seawolves community, wherever in the world you are, and whatever your story.

Viyang Hao ’26

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