Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith completed a series of high-impact meetings in Washington, D.C., in early December as part of the 2025 SUNY Advocacy Day event, a systemwide effort to elevate SUNY’s federal priorities. The event brought together presidents, campus leaders and government relations professionals from across the SUNY system to highlight the essential role New York’s public universities play in research, education and workforce development.
SUNY Advocacy Day began with a Capitol Hill reception the evening of December 3, and continued with a full day of coordinated Hill meetings on December 4.
The program’s success reflects the deep engagement of SUNY leaders with elected officials in Congress and the importance of SUNY to New York State and the country. President Goldsmith’s participation in the small-group congressional conversations highlighted the importance of Stony Brook’s critical priorities, including federal research funding, student financial aid and medical reimbursements, to ensure our continued excellence and broad impact in education, research, healthcare and workforce development.
“The DC meetings underscored the strong alignment of SUNY and Stony Brook’s strategic mission with the nation’s priorities — from scientific discovery to workforce development. The strong support we received on Capitol Hill and from the administration reflects the essential role public universities play in driving innovation and opportunity for all. I look forward to deepening these partnerships in the months and years ahead,” said President Goldsmith.
Capitol Hill Engagements – December 3
President Goldsmith’s Wednesday began with an energizing discussion with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who emphasized NIH’s strong support for the research mission of public universities. Their conversation underscored how federal–university partnerships drive breakthroughs that strengthen the nation’s scientific and medical landscape.
Following the NIH meeting, President Goldsmith went to Capitol Hill where many congressional leaders spoke with SUNY leaders before heading into individual meetings. President Goldsmith expressed deep appreciation for Senator Chuck Schumer’s unwavering commitment to Stony Brook and the SUNY system, noting the importance of having a steadfast champion for public higher education in a national leadership role.
Throughout the day, President Goldsmith and the Stony Brook team participated in SUNY’s small-group meetings with members of New York’s House delegation, including Rep. Nick LaLota, Rep. Tom Suozzi, Rep. Andrew Garbarino and the senior staff of Rep. Laura Gillen. These offices voiced strong support for SUNY and Stony Brook’s contributions to regional economic vitality, scientific innovation and workforce development.
The day concluded with a meeting between President Goldsmith, the Stony Brook team and Congresswoman Grace Meng of the House Appropriations Committee. The discussion centered on the critical importance of robust and sustained federal investment in science agencies that directly support breakthroughs at institutions like Stony Brook.
OSTP Meeting on National Quantum and AI Priorities – December 4
On December 4, President Goldsmith met with a senior official at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to discuss opportunities for deeper partnership on the administration’s priorities in quantum information science and its recently launched Genesis Mission, a coordinated national effort to unleash a new age of artificial intelligence (AI) aimed at accelerating innovation and discovery. The discussion highlighted Stony Brook’s strengths in these fields, including its deep partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory in both quantum science and AI. The discussion explored ways the university can serve as a resource to the administration in these and other areas of national importance to drive our country’s economic growth, ensure its security and preserve its innovation leadership. OSTP officials expressed enthusiasm for expanding collaboration with Stony Brook based on the discussion.
Strengthening SUNY’s Collective Voice
President Goldsmith’s meetings further strengthened Stony Brook’s national presence and underscored the university’s commitment to shaping the future of research and innovation in the United States. Stony Brook’s Office of Federal Relations supported the president’s visit and works to identify opportunities with the federal government to advance the mission of Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine. SUNY Advocacy Day showcased the impact of a unified system engaging directly with federal policymakers. With participation from campuses across New York State, the event highlighted SUNY’s position as a national leader in public higher education and reinforced the vital role of federal partnerships in advancing its mission.
Great article and wonderful to see Andrea Goldsmith represent Stony Brook in Washington DC. This story represents a perfect example of why Stony Brook needs its own law school. This encapsulates the power of influence and the need for lobbying on behalf of SUNY and the flagship campus Stony Brook. The missing link is so obvious…Stony Brook Law…the finishing touch on a great university.