Stony Brook University leaders, students and community members gathered on the Academic Mall to plant a magnolia tree, symbolizing growth and the beginning of a new era for the university.
Held alongside the Shirley Strum Kenny Arts Festival and in tandem with the Inauguration of President Andrea Goldsmith, the April 15 ceremony brought together a large crowd on the warm spring afternoon. While the festival provided spirit and movement, the tree planting offered a quieter, more intimate moment between the new president, student leaders and the campus community.
President Goldsmith framed the ceremony as a personal milestone marking her excitement and dedication to Stony Brook, as well as a symbolic act for the university, connecting her own presidency to the legacy of former president Shirley Strum Kenny.
“Standing side by side with you to plant a magnolia together, we are continuing President Kenny’s vision to make our campus more beautiful,” Goldsmith said.
She connected the planting of the native tree to her anticipation that her time at Stony Brook will not be short lived.
“To me, this tree represents the growth, legacy and enduring impact that we create everyday on our campus,” she said. “I am certain as I pass this spectacular tree in the months and years ahead, I will think of this day, and all of us together, and the legacy and impact at the heart of this exceptional university and its people.”
The magnolia tree was chosen for its symbolic meaning as well as its connection to campus history. Kenny, who served as president from 1994 to 2009, was known for her appreciation of magnolias and her role in shaping the physical and cultural landscape of the university.
Aneil Persaud, assistant director of Student Affairs Events and Initiatives, said the planting represented a clear moment of transition and renewal.
“Planting a tree really shows the start of something,” Persaud said. “President Goldsmith began her term a year ago, but she’s already done so much for us. It really shows something new on campus. It feels like a breath of fresh air.”
Persaud added that the magnolia carries a deeper meaning within the Stony Brook community. He noted the Shirley Strum Kenny Steel Magnolia Award, “for people who show a steadfast presence and are always helping out, so the tree has a tie to her legacy.”
During the ceremony, students and university leaders gathered around as soil was placed around the base of the newly planted tree. Positioned on the Academic Mall, the tree will remain a visible reminder of the inauguration and the values of the Stony Brook University community.
— Lily Miller
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