SUNY Research Leadership Academy Empowers Next Generation of Inclusive STEMM Leaders

Stony Brook University and the State University of New York (SUNY) are launching the SUNY Research Leadership Academy, a year-long SUNY-wide initiative designed to cultivate a new generation of research leaders.
These leaders will strengthen SUNY’s research enterprise by engaging the public, driving innovation, and championing inclusion across Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) fields from every corner of New York State.
Grounded in the Alda Method®, participants will receive hands-on training in inclusive leadership practice, science communication, and public engagement focused on growing research capacity and building a stronger SUNY-wide network. The Academy was made possible through the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation.
To support faculty participation, applicants’ home campuses must provide $5,000 in funding plus travel support. Applications will require a CV, statement and a letter of institutional support. Applications are now open and available online, with a deadline of August 15, 2025.
The inaugural cohort will begin the program in Fall 2025, with a kickoff meeting at Stony Brook University. The Academy is led by Stony Brook University’s Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, the School of Communication and Journalism, the Office for Research and Innovation, and the Office of DI3, in partnership with the SUNY System Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development.
Participants selected to the Academy will develop their own skill set, enabling them to grow and create impact in five areas, working with experts and facilitators to:
- Strengthen audience-centered communication skills
- Deepen their capacity for inclusive and community-engaged leadership
- Gain tools to address gender and systemic biases in STEMM
- Build public trust through effective engagement
- Foster a SUNY-wide leadership network grounded in shared purpose

“For fifteen years, the Center for Communicating Science has enabled women and men in STEMM to be better communicators. It’s made them better leaders,” said Alan Alda, founding member of the Center. “The new Research Leadership Academy is the perfect way to bring our training to all of SUNY. We’re excited to get started on this wonderful project.”
The Academy builds on the Alda Center’s legacy of advancing science communication for institutional impact and public understanding. Developed in partnership with the School of Communication and Journalism, it trains researchers and professionals in STEMM to apply audience-centered communication as a core strategy for driving civic trust in science.
“We are seeking visionary researchers prepared to lead, challenge conventions, and operate at the critical juncture where scientific insight informs public discourse,” said Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation at Stony Brook University. “With essential support from SUNY and the Henry Luce Foundation, the Leadership Academy will provide our faculty with the leadership capabilities and a dynamic collaborative network to pursue groundbreaking, multidisciplinary research that truly moves us ahead, accelerating progress in science and enhancing the quality of life for all.”
While the Academy builds leadership capacity, it also tackles a deeper challenge in STEMM: helping researchers communicate in ways that inspire action, build trust and support gender equity.
“Effective communication is at the heart of leadership. Research that serves society demands leaders who listen, connect and respond to people’s needs and concerns,” said Laura Lindenfeld, executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and dean of the School of Communication and Journalism at Stony Brook. “Science thrives when we include the widest possible range of ideas and perspectives. To grow research, we have to find new ways to elevate those leaders and the ideas that they bring to the table. The Alda Center is so central to this effort because the method we have developed to help people communicate more effectively builds genuine connections, fosters trust, and invites creativity, all of which are essential for growing STEMM.”
The program will support up to 30 STEMM faculty from across SUNY campuses to adopt a paradigm shift where leadership is rooted in audience-centered communication. Leaders will actively address gender and other implicit biases to forge deep connections that foster more collaborative, inclusive and empathic environments.
The program is open to full-time STEMM faculty at the rank of associate professor or higher throughout SUNY. Applicants must be actively engaged in research and committed to advancing equity, communication and collaboration in their fields. In addition to immersive workshops and mentorship, participants will design a capstone project that aligns with the Academy’s mission of equity-driven research leadership that addresses pressing community needs.
“This is a powerful opportunity to expand leadership pathways for faculty across SUNY, providing bi-directional outcomes for the individual program participants and for research across the SUNY system” said Judith Brown Clarke, vice president for equity and inclusion and chief health equity officer at Stony Brook. “We are especially excited about the Academy’s potential to uplift different voices and build a culture of inclusion across our research communities. I’m thrilled to work with Dr. Gardner and Dr. Lindenfeld on this initiative.”
For more information about the Academy, visit the website or contact research_academy@stonybrook.edu