Stony Brook University hosted the first session of the SUNY Research Leadership Academy, a new year-long program aimed at improving science communication and public engagement among faculty across the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The event brought together 34 faculty members from various SUNY campuses for three days, beginning September 17.
The academy is part of a broader SUNY initiative to train faculty in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields to become more effective research leaders and communicators. The next session will be held at the University at Buffalo in November.
Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik, SUNY’s senior vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development, opened the academy 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 academy's focus on leadership through communication: “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 added: “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 Alda Method uses improvisational techniques designed to help participants build trust and strengthen relationships across disciplines.
The initiative was co-led by Stony Brook’s Office for Research and Innovation along with its Office of DI3 (Diversity Innovation Incubator Initiative), working with partners including the SUNY System Office of Research as well as support from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation at Stony Brook University said that modern researchers must be able not only to lead but also communicate effectively: “visionary researchers prepared to lead, challenge conventions, and operate at the critical juncture where scientific insight informs public discourse.”
Gardner pointed out that universities have often struggled to convey how their research benefits society—especially important for publicly funded institutions—making communication training vital.
Judi Brown Clarke, vice president for equity and inclusion at Stony Brook University said: “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,” adding that it helps build teams reflecting diverse communities.
Participants expressed interest in improving their outreach skills. Christine Schaner Tooley from University at Buffalo stated: “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... 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 said: “I already realized the bottleneck of my research is communication,” explaining that exercises focusing on common ground help her explain complex concepts more clearly.
Lindenfeld noted that leveraging resources across all campuses can increase clarity about scientific work's impact statewide: “Focusing the leadership academy on communication will equip these remarkable researchers to clarify the impact of their work for New York and the nation... 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 will continue throughout this academic year with virtual sessions plus three additional meetings around New York State; there are plans for future expansion as part of efforts by SUNY—which serves nearly 400000 students—to boost its overall research influence.
Sara Hamideh from Stony Brook commented on connecting leaders statewide: “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.”