Stony Brook University hosted the first session of the SUNY Research Leadership Academy, a new program aimed at improving science communication and public engagement among faculty across the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The three-day event, held from September 17 to 19, brought together 34 faculty members from various SUNY campuses for training that will continue throughout the academic year.
The academy is designed to help researchers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields become more effective leaders and communicators. The next session is scheduled to take place at the University at Buffalo in November.
Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik, SUNY’s senior vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development, opened the event by saying: “It is inspiring to see 34 of SUNY’s most accomplished faculty come together in this year’s SUNY Research Leadership Academy cohort. These scholars are already driving discovery and transforming lives through their research. This program, grounded in the proven Alda Method, equips them with new tools and connections to further amplify their impact — especially by strengthening how we communicate science and engage with the public.
“With Chancellor John B. King, Jr.’s leadership, we are building on SUNY’s commitment to advancing research excellence and public engagement. Looking ahead, we see the potential to expand this program to match the scale and scope of SUNY’s research enterprise, reaching even more experts across our campuses. I am deeply grateful to our partners and the Stony Brook team for making this possible.”
Laura Lindenfeld, executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, discussed the importance of communication skills in leadership: “While you can be a good communicator without being a good leader, you cannot be a great leader without strong communication skills. True leadership isn’t about simply being the point-person in a room — it’s about actively engaging, guiding conversations, and inspiring others to embrace a shared mission and vision that drives meaning.”
She continued: “Good leaders take full ownership of outcomes while empowering others to lead alongside them. The Alan Alda Center’s science communication experience is about planting those leadership seeds in scholars, researchers, and professionals across industries, then cultivating them for sustained growth. This Academy, in partnership with SUNY, is about taking the transformative power of that Alda essence to a much bigger stage.”
The academy uses methods developed by actor Alan Alda’s center that focus on improvisational techniques intended to improve trust-building between people from different backgrounds.
Stony Brook University led this initiative along with partners including SUNY’s Office of Research as well as support from organizations such as the Henry Luce Foundation.
Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation at Stony Brook University said: “visionary researchers prepared to lead, challenge conventions, and operate at the critical juncture where scientific insight informs public discourse.”
Gardner also pointed out that universities have often struggled to explain how their research benefits society—especially important given taxpayer funding—making these kinds of programs necessary.
Judi Brown Clarke from Stony Brook added: “Training leaders to actively listen to the range of viewpoints and concerns of various perspectives creates a direct path for innovation that aligns with people’s real-world needs while also advancing cutting-edge science,” she said. “It enables our researchers to effectively build teams that genuinely reflect the communities they aim to reach and are equipped to meaningfully address their needs.”
Participants welcomed opportunities both for skill development and networking within New York State’s higher education system.
Christine Schaner Tooley from University at Buffalo noted: “I think now we are all looking for a sense of belonging so building scientific understanding with the public is going to be more and more vital,” she said. “I hope the academy will help me find my voice within my department and think of better ways to reach out to the community.”
Jingyun Wang from SUNY College of Optometry observed: “I already realized the bottleneck of my research is communication,” adding that simple exercises helped her explain complex ideas more clearly.
Lindenfeld emphasized expanding collaboration across New York State through this program: “Focusing the leadership academy on communication will equip these remarkable researchers to clarify the impact of their work for New York and the nation,“ she said.
“Building strength across SUNY is essential to advancing scientific discovery and that their power depends on communication: the glue that builds trust bridges divides and ensures all voices are heard.”
The academy plans additional virtual sessions as well as meetings around New York State during its inaugural year; organizers intend future expansion as part of efforts by SUNY to increase its research influence statewide.
SUNY operates 64 campuses serving nearly 400000 students along with thousands of faculty members involved in research throughout New York State.
Sara Hamideh from Stony Brook concluded: “It’s incredibly important to connect to strong leaders across SUNY who are now in the room,” she said. “The unique benefit of being part of a statewide program is seeing yourself in that bigger context and in the bigger mission of the whole system which I think is very powerful because it gives you more relevance and meaning.”
