Stony Brook Celebrates Its Unstoppable Momentum

Thought Leaders Share What’s Ahead for Stony Brook

The Stony Brook community — students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends — continues to demonstrate that together, we are unstoppable. On October 25, campus leaders hosted a celebration of the university’s remarkable impact around the world.

The event, held at the Charles B. Wang Center, resonated with inspiring stories of how Stony Brook University is transforming lives and building a brighter future for our students, our community and the planet. 

“Stony Brook exemplifies all the best characteristics of American higher education,” said Stony Brook University Interim President Richard L. McCormick. “We have a growing and diverse student body. We have a robust research enterprise that has made Stony Brook a leader in promoting health aging, addressing the global challenge of climate change, and many more areas of knowledge upon which the future of humankind depends. And, not least, we advance the economic prosperity of Long Island, New York, and the nation.”

Compelling TED-style talks showcased how the university community is fueling bold ideas, accelerating solutions, catalyzing new knowledge and inspiring the human spirit — and what’s next for New York’s number one flagship university:

• Tom Manuel ’16, DMA, Endowed Artist in Residence, nurtures the next generation of creative minds with enrichment through arts and culture. “We’re not just teaching students how to be better musicians, we’re inspiring them to dream big.”
  
• H. Andrew Schwartz, PhD, associate professor of computer science, drives research that reaches real people. “By creating human-centered AI models, we can improve mental health assessment tools and expand healthcare beyond what is possible today.”
  
• Josephine Connolly-Schoonen ’07, PhD, RD, chief of the nutrition division, promotes healthier communities near and far. “Our food environment has changed so dramatically in our lifetime that it is contributing to poor health. We aim to reconnect people to a whole-food, plant-based style of eating.”
  
• Kevin Reed, PhD, associate provost for climate and sustainability programming,leads in measurable climate progress. “As the New York Climate Exchange anchor and home to the Collaborative for the Earth, Stony Brook is set to lead global climate solutions in education, research and scholarship.”
  
• Merrill Leventer Silver ’75 and Andrew Silver ’75, PhD, exemplify Stony Brook’s commitment to pivotal student experiences through the Andrew and Merrill Silver Scholarship. “I think we can see a little of ourselves in these kids — first-generation college students with a desire to be independent and to put their mark on the world.”

Following the talks, guests joined with deans from across campus to gain insights into the impactful work happening within Stony Brook’s schools and colleges. The event also served as a call to action, encouraging everyone to continue to fuel Stony Brook’s collective unstoppable momentum.

Watch the entire event below.

Please visit unstoppable.stonybrook.edu to learn more about how you can make a difference in the areas that matter most to you. 

See photos from Unstoppable Momentum below.

-Christine McGrath
-Photos by Kristy Leibowitz