Stony Brook University leaders took part in a national discussion at the 2025 Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Council on Governmental Affairs and Council on Research Joint Summer Meeting. The event was held the week of July 27 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation, and Lauren Brookmeyer, associate vice president for federal relations and head of the D.C. Office, represented Stony Brook as featured speakers during a session titled “Powering Research: SRO & Government Relations Partnership.” The session brought together senior research officers and federal relations professionals from universities across the country to discuss collaboration between these roles.
Gardner and Brookmeyer joined representatives from Oregon State University and Colorado State University to describe how Stony Brook aligns its research and federal relations offices. They explained that this partnership helps the university respond to challenges, pursue funding opportunities, and participate in national conversations about research policy.
“Our strategic partnership with Federal Relations is a force multiplier for our research mission,” said Gardner. “It allows us to compete for critical federal funding and ensure that our faculty’s work is recognized and helps shape national priorities. This collaboration is key to translating our science and innovations to drive the U.S. economy and technological advancement.”
Panelists offered strategies such as joint advocacy planning and coordinated outreach to policymakers. They discussed ways to address current federal funding challenges, communicate research impact, and create internal processes for more effective advocacy.
“In today’s federal environment, strong coordination between our research operations and our federal relations work isn’t just helpful — it’s essential,” said Brookmeyer. “At Stony Brook, we prioritize this internal synergy because it allows us to be more impactful externally. Our ability to secure congressional support, anticipate policy shifts, and elevate the visibility of our research depends on these partnerships.”
The panel emphasized that building frameworks for collaboration can help universities address immediate policy issues while also strengthening long-term research capacity.
Gardner serves on APLU’s Council on Research Executive Committee, while Brookmeyer chairs the Council on Governmental Affairs. Their roles reflect Stony Brook’s involvement within APLU as well as its efforts in higher education advocacy in Washington, D.C.
