The State University of New York Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to name Andrea Goldsmith, Ph.D., currently dean of engineering and applied science at Princeton University, as the seventh President to lead Stony Brook University.
Dr. Goldsmith’s appointment – which is effective August 1 – was announced following a special SUNY Board meeting. She becomes the seventh president of Stony Brook, following an esteemed career as a dean, researcher in engineering, technology company founder, and faculty member at Princeton and previously at Stanford University and Caltech.
During today’s meeting, the SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor King thanked Dr. Richard McCormick for serving as Stony Brook University’s interim president during the leadership transition.
"As one of New York State’s flagship institutions, Stony Brook University is a vital asset for our economic growth and prosperity,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “Stony Brook is known for its groundbreaking research and exceptional academic programs, ensuring that New Yorkers have access to affordable, high-quality public higher education. I would like to congratulate Dr. Goldsmith on her appointment as the next president of this prestigious university as I believe she will undoubtedly serve Stony Brook admirably."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Stony Brook University is a world-class institution known for its academic excellence and groundbreaking research. The institution is an economic driver, an accessible and extraordinary academic institution, and a renowned engine of research and innovation. Dr. Goldsmith is the perfect choice to lead Stony Brook University's next chapter, and we commend the search committee for bringing such an excellent candidate to serve Stony Brook and SUNY.”
“Dr. Andrea Goldsmith’s impressive experience as a dean, faculty member, and researcher at R1 universities, as a successful innovator, and as a committed educator and academic leader makes her an extraordinary choice to lead this esteemed SUNY institution to new heights,” said SUNY Chancellor King. “From the arts and humanities to artificial intelligence, engineering, and quantum physics and so much more, Stony Brook University has helped more than 220,000 alumni launch their careers, and we are excited to have Dr. Goldsmith lead the university to help more New Yorkers achieve their dreams and lead the future.”
Stony Brook University was named by Governor Kathy Hochul as one of SUNY's flagship institutions and serves as the anchor institution for the development of The New York Climate Exchange, a world-leading climate solutions center on Governors Island in New York City’s harbor. The renowned R1 university is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), which places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America.
Stony Brook is a national leader in creating upward mobility, ranking second among all 71 AAU institutions for its share of students who receive Pell grants. The University is also a partner in the management and operation of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and has more than 75 joint appointments. The SUNY campus joins Princeton, Stanford, and the University of Chicago on the list of major institutions that have a role in running federal research laboratories.
As chief executive for Stony Brook, Dr. Goldsmith will also oversee Stony Brook Medicine, Long Island's premier academic medical center, encompassing five health sciences schools, three hospitals, a skilled nursing facility, and more than 200 community-based healthcare settings. According to Healthgrades, 2025, which ranks hospitals on clinical performance, patient outcomes, and specialty care, Stony Brook Medicine is ranked as one of America’s 50 Best for 2025. This places Stony Brook among the top 1% nationwide for overall excellence in care and is the only one on Long Island to be ranked among America's 50 Best.
Dr. Goldsmith said, “Stony Brook’s commitment to academic excellence, research innovation, and social mobility resonates profoundly with my values, and I am deeply honored to join this remarkable institution. I look forward to getting to know the Stony Brook community and to working alongside Stony Brook’s exceptional faculty and staff to serve our students and build upon the university’s upward momentum to achieve new heights of success in education, research, service, and global impact. My thanks to Chairman Tisch and the entire SUNY Board of Trustees, and Stony Brook Chairman Law for this opportunity.”
Representative Nick LaLota said, “Congratulations to Dr. Goldsmith on being selected as Stony Brook University's next President. I look forward to working together to ensure her leadership drives innovation, advances groundbreaking research, and strengthens the university’s pivotal role in shaping our future.”
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “As a proud Stony Brook University alum, I’d like to congratulate Dr. Andrea Goldsmith on her new role as president of SBU. Dr. Goldsmith’s impressive career and experience will serve her and the students at Stony Brook well. I look forward to seeing her guide both students and the university to a bright future.”
Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Higher Education, said, "I want to congratulate Dr. Andrea Goldsmith on her appointment as the next president of Stony Brook University. As a trailblazer in engineering, research, and entrepreneurship, she brings a wealth of experience that will undoubtedly shape the future of Stony Brook and its students. Her career is a testament to the power of innovation and education, and I am excited to see how her leadership will inspire the next generation of thinkers and changemakers. I look forward to working with her to strengthen higher education in New York and ensure our students have the opportunities they need to thrive."
State Senator Monica R. Martinez said, “As a proud alumna of Stony Brook University, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Andrea Goldsmith on her historic appointment as the next president of this esteemed institution. I look forward to seeing Stony Brook University continue to thrive under her leadership, and I am excited for the future of my alma mater as it embarks on this new chapter. Congratulations, Dr. Goldsmith—welcome to the Seawolf family!"
State Senator Anthony Palumbo said, “Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Goldsmith on her appointment as President of Stony Brook University. I look forward to working with her and her team to support our Flagship University and its students and to ensure that Stony Brook continues to receive critical state resources. I would also like to thank Interim President Richard McCormick for his stewardship and leadership throughout this transition process. Dr. McCormick has been a tremendous partner and advocate for the University.”
Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay said, "Hats off to the search committee for identifying and securing such an accomplished and high-caliber leader for Stony Brook University. As New York State works to stay on the cutting edge of advancing technologies, the expertise and leadership of Dr. Goldsmith is most welcomed at this celebrated SUNY research institution. My office is most grateful for interim-President McCormick's collaboration and service to the University and looks forward to working with Dr. Goldsmith."
Kevin Law, Chairman, Stony Brook Council and Presidential Search Committee, said, “The search for Stony Brook’s next president was a rigorous and comprehensive process, and the exceptional caliber of candidates reflected the university’s growing prominence. Dr. Goldsmith stood out as a leader with the vision, expertise, and dedication to take Stony Brook to new heights. We are confident she is the ideal choice to lead us into an exciting future.”
Stony Brook Foundation Chair Richard L. Gelfond ’76, Hon. ’04 said, “The selection of Andrea Goldsmith as the next president ensures that Stony Brook continues on its path to excellence and delivers as a flagship university of the state of NY. She has all the right qualities, intellect, and ambition, and understands what it takes to continue our momentum forward. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Marilyn Simons '74, '84, who provided the largest endowment in the history of Stony Brook University said, "I’m thrilled by the announcement that Andrea Goldsmith will be the next head of Stony Brook University. Her commitment to public education, the high quality of her academic research experience, and the success of her entrepreneurial endeavors qualifies her uniquely to lead Stony Brook at this time. Andrea Goldsmith will think strategically and build community and serve all of Stony Brook’s constituencies. The energy and enthusiasm she brings to SUNY’s mission is wonderful to see and will enhance her presidency's success."
Stony Brook University Senate President Brenda Anderson said, “Andrea Goldsmith is a great fit for Stony Brook University! She brings high energy with a deep and broad understanding of higher ed institutions. President Goldsmith understands what is needed to support research. I personally appreciate her demonstrated commitment to shared governance.”
Kimberly Jean-Pierre '07, Presidential Search Committee Alumni Representative and Former New York State Assemblymember said, “Andrea Goldsmith's appointment as President marks an exciting new chapter for Stony Brook University. With her extensive background in research and technology, particularly in wireless communications and innovation, I am confident that she will drive groundbreaking opportunities in the AI space. Her unique ability to bridge academia and industry will undoubtedly create valuable collaborations that push the boundaries of both research and education. Looking forward to seeing the visionary leadership and innovative strides she will bring to the field of AI and beyond!"
Siya Gandhi, senior at Stony Brook University in the University Scholars Honors Program, said, “As the Undergraduate Student Representative for Stony Brook University’s Presidential Search Committee, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Goldsmith and congratulate her on becoming the new President of Stony Brook University. I am confident that Dr. Goldsmith will lead us to new heights, and I am excited about the bright future for the Stony Brook community.”
Matt Cohen, President and CEO of the Long Island Association, said, “As the next President of Stony Brook University, Dr. Goldsmith has the expertise, forward thinking, and diverse skill set to take SUNY’s flagship institution to even greater heights. As the largest single site employer on Long Island, Stony Brook is an economic powerhouse at the forefront of scientific and technological discovery, and under the strong leadership of Dr. Goldsmith and through its collaboration with the LIA and world-renowned research assets like Brookhaven National Laboratory and others, our region will enhance its economic competitiveness and spur new growth.”
Brookhaven National Laboratory Director JoAnne Hewett said, “I am excited for the appointment of Dr. Goldsmith as the next President of Stony Brook University. She is exceptionally qualified and has the talent and drive to enable transformational change. We served together on the faculty senate at Stanford University, and we will work together to further strengthen the collaboration between Brookhaven Lab and SBU to the benefit of both institutions as well as science and technology on Long Island.”
Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber said, “Andrea Goldsmith is a bold, visionary, and entrepreneurial leader who is committed to academic excellence and to facilitating education and research that enhances people’s lives. I am grateful to Andrea for her many achievements at Princeton, and I wish her every success as she takes the helm at another of America’s leading research universities.”
Former Stanford University President John L. Hennessy said, “Dr. Goldsmith is an outstanding leader in higher education, and it brings me great pride to see her at the helm of my alma mater, Stony Brook University. Her accomplishments as a researcher and entrepreneur are exceptional and reflect her commitment to creating and promoting innovative ideas. Having had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Goldsmith for many years, I am confident that she is an excellent choice for the university's presidency. I wish her continued success as she embarks on this significant chapter in her distinguished career."
About Dr. Andrea Goldsmith
Dr. Goldsmith is the Dean of Engineering and Applied Science and the Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University. She was previously the Stephen Harris Professor of Engineering and Professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University, where she is now Harris Professor Emerita.
Her research interests are in communications, control, and signal processing, and their application to wireless communications, interconnected systems, and biomedical devices. She founded and served as Chief Technical Officer of Plume WiFi (formerly Accelera, Inc.) and of Quantenna (QTNA), Inc, and she serves on the Board of Directors for Intel (INTC), Medtronic (MDT), Crown Castle Inc (CCI), and the Marconi Society. She also served on the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) from 2021 through 2025.
Dr. Goldsmith is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has received several awards for her work, including induction into the Wireless History Foundation Hall of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the Marconi Prize, the IEEE Dresselhaus Medal, the IEEE Education Medal, the ACM Sigmobile Outstanding Contribution Award, the WICE Mentoring Award, and the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal’s Women of Influence Award.
She is author of the book “Wireless Communications” and co-author of the books “MIMO Wireless Communications,” “Principles of Cognitive Radio,” and “Machine Learning and Wireless Communications,” all published by Cambridge University Press, as well as an inventor on 38 patents. She received a B.S. in engineering math as well as M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from U.C. Berkeley.
Dr. Goldsmith was the founding Chair of the IEEE Board of Directors Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. She served as President of the IEEE Information Theory Society, as founding Chair of its Student Committee, and as founding Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Information Theory. She has also served on the Board of Governors for both the IEEE Information Theory and Communications Societies. At Stanford she served as Chair of Stanford’s Faculty Senate and for multiple terms as a Senator, and on its Academic Council Advisory Board, Budget Group, Committee on Research, Planning and Policy Board, Commissions on Graduate and on Undergraduate Education, and Task Force on Women and Leadership.
About Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University is New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university according to U.S News & World Report. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 26,000 students, more than 3,000 faculty members, more than 220,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system, and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize, Fields Medal, and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $8.93 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X @stonybrooku.
About The State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu.