SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. will have a conversation with President Andrea Goldsmith April 11 at Stony Brook Southampton, kicking off Inauguration Week.
The State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook will launch the inauguration of Andrea Goldsmith, the institution’s seventh president, with two signature kickoff events on Saturday, April 11, at Stony Brook Southampton, setting the stage for a week-long celebration culminating in her formal investiture on April 18.
The opening event, “A Conversation with President Andrea Goldsmith and SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.,” will take place at 12 pm in Duke Lecture Hall, Chancellors Hall, at Stony Brook Southampton, and is free and open to the public.
Two of higher education’s most influential leaders will engage in a dynamic discussion on the future of public higher education, leadership, and the opportunities and challenges facing institutions in an era defined by rapid technological, economic, and societal change. The program will include audience Q&A, followed by a reception. Tickets are required.
This event marks the kickoff to a series of programs celebrating President Goldsmith’s leadership and vision for Stony Brook University, a globally recognized R1 research institution and the number one public university in New York State. The week of events reflects the university’s growing prominence as a global research powerhouse advancing discovery in areas such as quantum science, artificial intelligence, semi-conductors, biomedical technology, and climate innovation.
Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith
Under Goldsmith’s leadership, Stony Brook continues to expand its impact and worldwide standing. The university serves a vibrant community of 26,000 students across more than 200 undergraduate programs and 140 graduate and professional programs, while supporting more than 1,000 research faculty and thousands of active research initiatives. With over $325 million in annual research expenditures and nearly $9 billion in economic impact on Long Island, New York, Stony Brook is a driving force in innovation and economic growth. As co-manager of Brookhaven National Laboratory, the architect of America’s largest quantum network, and anchor institution of The New York Climate Exchange, the university is addressing some of the most complex challenges facing society while expanding access to opportunity and student success.
Goldsmith, an internationally renowned engineer, educator, and entrepreneur, assumed office in August 2025. A member of the National Academy of Engineering and recipient of the Marconi Prize, she is widely recognized for her pioneering contributions to wireless communications and her leadership in advancing interdisciplinary research and innovation. She also oversees Stony Brook Medicine, co-chairs Brookhaven Science Associates, and chairs The New York Climate Exchange.
Joining her for the kickoff event is SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., the 15th chancellor of the nation’s largest comprehensive public higher education system. A former U.S. Secretary of Education, King has led transformative efforts across SUNY focused on student success, expanding access, growing research, and advancing economic mobility, positioning the system as a national leader in public higher education. He is author of the 2025 national best seller, Teacher By Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives.
The opening day will continue into the evening with a special live performance by TONEWALL at the Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton from 7-8:30 pm, an immersive program exploring identity, resilience, and community through music and storytelling. A pre-show meet and greet reception ($15) will be held from 6-7 pm in the Avram Gallery. Tickets are $45 are available at stonybrook.edu/tonewall.
The April 11 conversation launches Inauguration Week, a dynamic, university-wide celebration that showcases the very best of Stony Brook’s faculty, staff and students through a robust lineup of academic symposia, global thought leadership conversations, research showcases, performances, and community engagement events. From the SUNY AI Symposium and presidential panels on innovation, entrepreneurship, and women in engineering and leadership, to health sciences demonstrations, arts festivals, and student-led celebrations, the week reflects the depth and breadth of excellence across the institution and its impact from Long Island to New York City and beyond.
President Goldsmith will be formally installed during her investiture ceremony on Saturday, April 18 at 11 am at Stony Brook Arena on the main campus.
Information and tickets for all inauguration events may be reserved at stonybrook.edu/inauguration.