Welcome to Spring 2026 at Stony Brook University
January 26, 2026
Dear Members of the Stony Brook Community,
Welcome to the start of the spring semester, and Happy New Year. While the extreme winter weather has impacted our planned first day of classes, it is wonderful to wish our entire university community a great start to 2026 and to our spring semester. I hope everyone is staying safe and warm. I also hope the winter break offered time to relax and recharge. To our colleagues who kept our university and healthcare system running during the break and throughout the current storm, thank you. Your dedication is critical to our university’s success and is greatly appreciated.
I was grateful to spend meaningful time with my family over the break before traveling to East Africa, where I spent 10 inspiring days visiting two of Stony Brook’s remarkable research institutes that included the Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya and Centre ValBio in Madagascar. Meeting our faculty, students and global partners who are advancing the frontiers of science in conservation, climate change, biodiversity, ecology, agriculture and human-wildlife interactions was profoundly educational and reaffirmed the extraordinary impact of Stony Brook’s global mission.
Coming back to campus this week is truly energizing, especially as our community returns to its vibrant rhythm. I’m especially happy to welcome our first year, transfer and international students beginning their Stony Brook journey this spring. We all can remember what it feels like to be new. Learning the campus, meeting new people and finding your place can be exciting and at the same time overwhelming. Let’s support one another, especially our newest Seawolves, showing them they’ve joined a welcoming, warm and inclusive community.
There is so much to look forward to this spring, from major academic events, like the SUNY AI Symposium hosted here at Stony Brook in April and Commencement in May, to beloved student traditions such as the Roth Regatta. And of course cheering on our athletics teams with Wolfie, the most spirited and adorable mascot in the country. As plans for my inauguration on April 11-19 continue to take shape, I am honored by this moment and I hope you will join me and our university community for this celebration.
Throughout this semester we will continue the work we began in the fall to advance our shared vision for Stony Brook’s future. Together we will envision our greater presence and greatest possibilities clearly defining the steps to achieve our highest ambitions. Your ideas and partnership in these efforts are essential.
This past fall showed me extraordinary Seawolf pride through traditions that brought our campus community together. For me, one of the most inspiring and important characteristics of our Seawolf community is our desire to engage with and learn from people who hold viewpoints that differ from our own. I encourage everyone to review the university policies that guide our shared commitment to this principle
We carry our Seawolf spirit forward this spring, supporting one another and building a campus culture defined by excellence, bold ambition and compassion. Thank you for everything you do to expand our excellence and impact across all dimensions of education, research, clinical care and service to our community.
Sincerely,
Andrea Goldsmith
President