Stony Brook University

Professor Jennifer Cano. John Griffin/Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy Jennifer Cano was named a Chancellor’s Horizon Award for Faculty Research and Scholarship. This inaugural award from the State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John B. King, honors early career tenured and tenure track faculty whose scholarly or creative activities have already achieved significant recognition and crucially, hold strong promise for field-defining impact in the future. This award was given to 10 professors throughout the SUNY system.

Professor Cano is a theoretical physicist whose research focuses on the emergent properties of quantum materials; specifically, topological phases of matter. This includes study of the fundamental principles such as classification, as well as predicting new material platforms to realize exotic quantum phases. Professor Cano developed the theory of topological quantum chemistry, which combines group theory, topology and chemistry, to predict new topological materials.

“I am so pleased to see Professor Cano and her work recognized as one of the top early-career researchers in the SUNY system,” said Carl W. Lejuez, executive vice president and provost. “Professor Cano’s ongoing research is a critical part to building a quantum future, and I am proud to say that many of our Stony Brook faculty, across disciplines, are part of this significant ongoing effort to uncover the secrets and possibilities of quantum technologies.”

“While I am exceptionally delighted that Jen is recognized by the SUNY Chancellor’s Horizon Award for her outstanding work in condensed matter physics, I am not surprised by the recognition,” said Chang Kee Jung, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “Jen’s brilliance is so evident that I fully expected she would receive this award. Her work is already shaping and leading her research field and I have no doubt that it will continue doing so. Jen also excels in teaching, mentoring and her presentation at the Stony Brook  Discovery Prize competition was one of the best academic presentations I have ever seen. It is truly a pleasure to have Jen as a colleague and she is an inspiration for all.”

Candidates’ portfolios were reviewed by Distinguished Academy faculty who made recommendations to the SUNY Provost. Going forward, up to 10 awards will be conferred each year.

Professor Cano was also the winner of the Stony Brook University’s Discovery Prize 2025 for her research proposal, “Theoretical Framework for the Discovery of Topological Moiré Materials.” The Discovery Prize is an early-career faculty prize given to those at Stony Brook pursuing innovative and potentially groundbreaking scientific research. It was established and is funded by the Stony Brook Foundation.

The East Setauket resident earned her PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2015. She subsequently was a postdoctoral fellow at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science. She came to Stony Brook in 2018 as an assistant professor and holds a visiting scholar appointment at the Flatiron Institute.

 

Photo from Stony Brook University Athletics
Erik Paulsen tallied his 19th multi-hit game of the season as the Stony Brook baseball team fell to UNCW, 10-0, on May 9 to open the weekend series in Wilmington, N.C.

After the Seawolves went down in order to start the game, right-hander Eddie Smink took the mound for Stony Brook. The junior tossed a clean first inning, retiring the side with a pair of groundouts.

Chanz Doughty led off the second with a walk and advanced to third following a double by Johnny Pilla down the right field line. UNCW responded with three straight outs to keep the Seawolves scoreless.

Smink worked around a one-out walk in the bottom half of the inning, picking up a strikeout and finishing the frame with a dropped third strike that resulted in an out at first.

Erik Paulsen delivered a two-out single to left center in the third, but the inning ended on a strikeout. Smink returned in the bottom of the frame, striking out the first batter and stranding two Seahawks on base with a flyout to Chris Carson to maintain a 0-0 game.

After another scoreless inning by Stony Brook in the top of the fourth, UNCW capitalized in the bottom half by loading the bases on two hit-by-pitches and an error. The Seahawks plated four runs in the frame on two hits and a pair of Seawolf errors to jump ahead 4-0.

Stony Brook went down 1-2-3 in the fifth, and UNCW followed with a three-run homer to extend its lead to 7-0. Vincent Mariella entered with two outs and two runners on, striking out the next batter to end the inning.

Paulsen sparked the sixth with a one-out single, and Doughty was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with two outs. A groundout back to the mound ended the frame.

Mariella worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth, retiring the top of the Seahawks’ order to keep the deficit at seven.

The Seawolves went down in order in the top of the seventh before UNCW scored three more runs to close out a 10-0 win in seven innings.

The team continues its weekend series against UNCW on Saturday, May 10. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and the game will stream live on FloCollege.

Photo from Stony Brook University Athletics
For the 12th season in a row, the No, 18 Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team is headed to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a 11-8 victory over No. 17 Loyola Maryland on May 9 in Chestnut Hill, Mass.. The Seawolves improved to 10-0 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with the win.
Stony Brook was paed by three goal scorers in Courtney Maclay, Isabella Caporuscio, and Alexandra Fusco. Maclay led all scorers with a career and game-high six goals, as Caporuscio notched a hat trick, and Fusco recorded a pair for the Seawolves.

It was a complete team effort on the defensive end as Avery Hines, Allie Masera, Abby Sabella, and Alexa Constant ran a tight ship, causing 14 turnovers and collecting 15 ground balls. Natalia Altebrando made eight saves in the cage, earning her 13th win of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Through the first nine minutes of play, the Seawolves and Greyhounds traded shots but were unable to score. Stony Brook then opened scoring at 5:11 as Maclay notched her first of the day. Loyola responded with two of their own before the Seawolves’ found the back of the net, twice, with 15 seconds remaining in the quarter to take a 3-2 lead.

It was a quiet third quarter as Loyola scored a pair to start the half and Maclay got the Seawolves’ lone goal with 11 seconds to go, holding a 7-8 lead heading into the fourth.

Momentum was on Stony Brook’s side, scoring three more goals from Caporuscio, Maclay, and Fusco as the Greyhounds scored the final goal of the contest and the Seawolves went on to win, 11-8.

QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES

Up next, the team  advances to the NCAA Tournament Second Round to face No. 3 seed and host, Boston College, on Sunday, May 11 at noon. The game will be played at Alumni Stadium and air on ESPN+. This marks just the sixth time in program history that the Seawolves and Eagles will go head-to-head. The teams last met in the 2018 NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals where Boston College emerged victorious 12-11 in overtime.

Scuderia Scooteroni at the 36th annual Roth Regatta. Photo courtesy Stanley Zheng

By Mariam Guirgis

Stony Brook University students summoned the power of the Greek gods for the 36th Annual Roth Pond Regatta on May 2.

The long-standing tradition invites students to put their creativity, engineering skills and teamwork to the test. With final exams approaching, the Regatta offers a chance to step away from classes and take part in a spirited race across Roth Pond using only cardboard, duct tape and paint.

The Spirit of Stony Brook Yacht the 36th annual Roth Regatta. Photo courtesy Stanley Zheng

This year’s theme, Greek Mythology, encouraged participants to draw inspiration from gods, heroes and legendary creatures. Students reflected that spirit in their boat designs, whether it was through representing the wisdom of Athena, the speed of Hermes or the strength of Ares. Many participants blended humor with mythology in inventive ways, and the theme was evident in boat names, costumes and design details.

Boats were built to carry two to four team members across the 200-yard pond. Some groups spent weeks designing their boats, while others made last-minute improvements to ensure they stayed afloat. Once boats were in the water, the biggest challenge mentioned by many competitors was the ability to row. As boats started to fill up with water mid-race, success depended on coordination and timing.

The Motorsports Club, racing with their boat Noah’s Chariot, managed to win their heat despite the unexpected obstacle mid-race. 

“I was in the middle of rowing, I felt my paddle jiggle a little, but I was like ‘I should be fine’ and I kept going. Two strokes later it snaps on me,” rower Jason Jiang said. 

Judging was based on a variety of categories including Most Original, Best Titanic (for the most dramatic sink), Best Showcase, Most Team Spirited, and others. The titles of Best Speedster and Best Yacht were reserved for the final heat winners. This year’s Speedster trophy went to Scuderia Scooteroni, while The Spirit of Stony Brook took home the Yacht title.

Scuderia Scooteroni at the 36th annual Roth Regatta. Photo courtesy Stanley Zheng

This was Scuderia Scooteroni’s third consecutive win at the Regatta which continues their winning streak that has spanned for three years. The team credits one key factor: cardboard sourcing. 

“We’ve been building the same boat for the past three years and clearly the design is effective,” the team said. “The trick is to contact warehouses because they have old waste of piles and piles of cardboard.”

For The Spirit of Stony Brook, they attributed their win to the improvements made to their boat design. “We made [the boat] too big [last year, so] we cut down on the size [and it was] perfect.”

Attendees were also able to participate by voting for Wolfie’s Favorite, selecting their top three boats in both the Speedster and Yacht categories. The entries reflected wide campus involvement, including residence halls, student organizations, academic departments and cultural groups. Some notable entries included The Sisyphus (Climbing Club), Cerberus (Douglass Hall), Apollo 11 (Aerospace Engineering Club), Poseidon’s Wave (Keller Hall), and Hydracraft (Marine Science Club).

Academic departments also joined the fun, with entries like The Organic Odyssey by the Molecular Science Teaching Assistants and Langmuir’s Chariot from the Langmuir Hall Council. The event was as much about participation and school spirit as it was about competition.

Wolfie boat at the 36th annual Roth Regatta. Photo courtesy Stanley Zheng

Beyond the races, attendees enjoyed a lively atmosphere around Roth Pond. Spectators gathered to watch as boats battled to stay afloat, while sampling food and exploring displays from various campus departments. The event served not only as a showcase of student creativity but also as a celebration of campus-wide community and spirit.

The Regatta was broadcast live on YouTube in collaboration with the School of Communication and Journalism, making it accessible to viewers beyond campus. 

Now in its 36th year, the Roth Pond Regatta remains one of Stony Brook’s most distinctive traditions. By combining creativity, collaboration, and a bit of chaos, it continues to bring the campus community together in a uniquely memorable way.

Mariam Guirgis is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

Photo from Stony Brook University Athletics
Erik Paulsen led the way with three hits on May 6, but the Stony Brook baseball team fell to St. John’s, 8-4, in Queens.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Erik Paulsen tallied a one-out single in the first, and Chanz Doughty followed with a two-out walk to give the Seawolves two runners on. However, the Red Storm escaped the threat with a strikeout to keep the game scoreless.Matt Sgambati got the start for Stony Brook and retired the first two batters of the game before stranding a runner on first to end the inning.Scott Gell led off the second with a single, but a flyout and double play erased the baserunner. In the bottom half, St. John’s struck for three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Alex Jankowski entered and closed the inning with a strikeout.

After a 1-2-3 top of the third, Aidan Colagrande came on and worked out of a jam, inducing a double play to strand two runners.

Stony Brook threatened in the fourth, as Doughty singled to left and advanced to third following an error and a groundout by Johnny Pilla. But once again, the Red Storm ended the inning with a groundout to first, preserving their lead.

St. John’s extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three more runs to make it 6-0.

Following a scoreless top of the fifth, Vincent Mariella kept the Red Storm off the board in the bottom half, ending the frame with a caught-stealing from Gell.

Paulsen collected his second hit of the day with a one-out single in the sixth, but St. John’s turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning. The Red Storm then added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on one hit and two Seawolves errors to push the lead to 8-0.

Stony Brook went down in order in the seventh. Ryan Dieguez entered and stranded the bases loaded with a flyout to right, keeping the Red Storm scoreless in the inning.

The Seawolves broke through in the top of the eighth, scoring three runs on two hits. Brett Davino, Cam Santerre, and James Schaffer each drew walks to load the bases. Paulsen drove in Davino with a single to right, and Nico Azpilcueta followed with a two-run single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 8-3.

In the bottom of the eighth, Dieguez stranded two more runners in scoring position with a swinging strikeout to end the frame.

Stony Brook added one more run in the ninth, but St. John’s closed it out to secure the 8-4 victory.

The team heads to Wilmington this weekend for a three-game series against UNCW. The opener is set for Friday, May 9 with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. on FloCollege.

Photo from Stony Brook University Athletics

Stony Brook softball fell to No. 4 Campbell and No. 6 Hofstra on day one of the 2025 CAA Championship at Buies Creek, N.C. on May 7 to end the season.

GAME ONE: CAMPBELL 13, STONY BROOK 7

Stony Brook scored twice in the first inning after Campbell committed a pair of errors in the frame. Kyra McFarland reached on an error leading off and Alyssa Costello walked and both came around to score with two outs after Madelyn Stepski’s speed forced an errant throw at first.

Campbell responded in the home half of the first, evening the contest on a ground-rule double that plated two runners. The Camels pushed across a pair of two-out runs, chasing Crimson Rice from the game in the first inning. Gabrielle Maday induced a ground ball for the final out, stranding two runners in scoring position.

The Seawolves had runners on second and third with one out after hits from Emily Reinstein and Malorie Hill, but did not score in the second.

The Camels put up a four-spot in the scoring column for the second straight inning, taking an 8-2 lead after two full innings.

Nicole Allen doubled to lead off the third and Mia Vannelli worked a walk, but a double play helped Campbell post a second-straight scoreless frame.

Maddie Male took to the circle for the third inning and despite loading the bases with no outs, allowed just one run and escaped a jam.

Trailing by seven runs, Costello put a dent in Stony Brook’s deficit with a grand slam to right. Allen followed with her second double of the game, but the four runs were all the Seawolves managed in the fourth.

Campbell got two of the four runs it allowed back in the next half inning, extending its lead to five runs after four frames.

The Camels added a pair of insurance markers in the fifth inning. Campbell placed the potential winning run, via the eight-run rule, in scoring position with two away, but Male stranded her to keep the Seawolves in it.

Naiah Ackerman led off the sixth with a ground-rule double and scored on a McFarland single to make it a six-run game.

Rice re-entered in the sixth inning, working a scoreless frame to send things to the seventh.

Stony Brook went down in order in the seventh, falling to the host Campbell and moving to the elimination bracket.

GAME TWO: HOFSTRA 7, STONY BROOK 2

Maday started the elimination game for the Seawolves, allowing three runs on four hits in the first frame.

Allen worked a two-out walk in the first inning, but Stony Brook did not score.

Hofstra added another run in the second inning after a missed tag at home plate. The Pride extended their lead to five runs after a second unearned run scored.

The Seawolves’ three hitters saw just five pitches in the second inning, going down in order.

Maday made quick work of Hofstra in the top of the third, retiring the side in order on just eight pitches.

The Seawolves got on the board in the third inning on a wild pitch and again in the fourth frame when Naiah Ackerman doubled to the opposite field. Hofstra stranded a pair of runners to end the inning and keep it a three-run game.

Hofstra extended its lead back to five runs, 7-2, with two runs in the fifth inning. One run scored on miscommunication on a throw down to second and another came around on a sacrifice fly to right. Maday finished the frame with a strikeout.

Stony Brook could not push runs across in the final three frames, falling to Hofstra in the first elimination game of the 2025 CAA Championship.

Coach Matt Senk

After 35 historic seasons at the helm of the Stony Brook baseball program, legendary head coach Matt Senk has announced that he will retire following the conclusion of the 2025 season. One of the most respected and successful coaches in college baseball, Senk will leave behind a lasting legacy defined by championships, player development, academic excellence, and the transformation of a once-modest Division III team into a nationally recognized powerhouse.

“My time at Stony Brook is coming to an end and I am grateful to have led our baseball program at our incredible University for a long time. It has been a great run,” said Senk. “I want to thank my family for their support and Stony Brook for giving me the opportunity to be the head baseball coach. I am grateful to have worked with some great coaches and staff over the years and I cannot thank them enough for how hard they worked and the impact they had on our program.”

“After 35 unforgettable years on campus, I can honestly say that every moment, every game, and every player has shaped who I am far more than any scoreboard could. I came here to teach the game, but the truth is that I learned just as much from the young men who wore the Stony Brook uniform,” said Senk. “I’m deeply grateful for their trust, their passion, and the memories we have built together — it’s been the honor of a lifetime.”

When Senk took over the Seawolves in 1991, the program was competing at the Division III level and had recorded just six winning seasons since its inception in 1966. Over the next three decades, he built Stony Brook into one of the most respected programs in the country. Among his most iconic accomplishments: a trip to the 2012 College World Series, Baton Rouge Super Regional Championship, Coral Gables Regional Championship, 6 NCAA Tournament appearances, 6 Conference Tournament Championships, 7 Regular Season Titles, and an overall career record of 967-692. Senk is one of just 12 active Division I head coaches to eclipse 950 career wins, and the only one to do so entirely at one program. He ranks 76th all-time in NCAA career wins and is one of only 27 coaches in NCAA history to record 960 or more victories at a single school. During his tenure, the Seawolves posted 26 winning seasons, topped the 30-win mark 13 times, and achieved a program-record 52 wins in 2012, which led the nation.

“Matt Senk stands as a giant in the coaching profession with a legacy that will stand the test of time,” said Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron. “His impact on the game of baseball and Stony Brook University cannot be overstated. This program has been built brick by brick, rising from the foundation of Division III all the way to the pinnacle of Division I and the College World Series. Throughout his entire career, Matt has done it all with an elite authenticity and unmatched competitive fire. We are forever indebted to him for all that he has invested in Stony Brook and the young men he has coached over his incredible 35-year career.”

To begin his tenure, Stony Brook and Senk thrived at the Division III level, posting a 30-8 record in 1995 and earning the program’s first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament. That same year, shortstop Joe Nathan was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round of the MLB Draft (159th overall). He made his Major League debut as a pitcher in 1999, becoming the first Seawolf to reach the big leagues.

The 2012 season remains the pinnacle of Senk’s career, and one of the greatest runs in college baseball history as the Seawolves “Shocked the World” on their way to a historic appearance in the College World Series. Stony Brook finished the regular season 43-11 with the highest winning percentage in the country (.796). They went on to capture their fourth America East title, earning a spot in the Coral Gables Regional, where they shocked Miami and won three straight elimination games. Stony Brook then stunned the college baseball world by defeating six-time national champion LSU in Baton Rouge to win the Super Regional, becoming just the second No. 4 seed to reach the College World Series since the NCAA’s current format began in 1999, and the first Northeast school to reach Omaha since 1987.

The Seawolves ended the year ranked No. 7 in Baseball America, saw seven players selected in the MLB Draft, and led the nation in several offensive and pitching categories. Travis Jankowski earned ABCA/Rawlings National Co-Player of the Year honors, was a First Team All-American, and the America East Player of the Year, becoming the program’s first-ever first-round pick.
Senk led Stony Brook to its first America East Championship title in 2004, finishing the regular season with a 29-27 record and going a perfect 3-0 in the conference tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Kinston Regional, its first NCAA appearance as a Division I program. Four seasons later, the Seawolves returned to the top, claiming their second America East title by knocking off top-seeded Binghamton in back-to-back games to secure a trip to the NCAA Tempe Regional.

Senk’s Seawolves were a dominant force in the America East Conference throughout the 2010s, earning 5 Regular Season Titles (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019), 4 Tournament Titles (2010, 2012, 2015, 2019), and a decade-long .600 overall winning percentage. The decade also saw the debut of Joe Nathan Field in 2011 and the opening of the Seawolves’ indoor hitting facility. Stony Brook recorded a .749 home winning percentage in the 2010s and notched landmark wins over ACC (NC State, Miami), SEC (LSU), Big Ten (Michigan, Minnesota), Big 12 (Kansas), and Pac-12 (USC) programs. Over that period, Stony Brook produced 45 America East First Team selections, 31 Second Team selections, 21 All-Rookie honorees, 6 America East Players of the Year, 4 Pitchers of the Year, and 7 Rookies of the Year. In total, 20 players were drafted, including Travis Jankowski, the program’s first-ever first-round pick.

Following the COVID-19 shutdown, Senk led Stony Brook to a 31-win season in 2021, clinching the America East Regular Season title. The following year, a walk-off hit in the 10th inning delivered a 6–5 victory over NJIT to secure the program’s third consecutive regular season crown. The Seawolves finished 21-9 in conference play that season. Since joining the CAA in 2023, Senk continued to lead competitive squads, recording 20-plus overall wins and 12-plus CAA victories in each of the program’s first two seasons in the league.

Under Senk’s guidance, Stony Brook became a steady producer of professional talent. 29 MLB Draft picks and 57 professional contracts signed came from his program, with 5 Major Leaguers, including Joe Nathan ’97 (6-time MLB All-Star), Travis Jankowski ’12 (2023 World Series Champion), and Tom Koehler ’08, Nick Tropeano ’11, and Daniel Zamora ’15. He also produced a long list of national and regional honorees, including 1 ABCA National Player of the Year, 3 NCBWA All-Americans, 8 ABCA All-Americans, 8 Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball All-Americans, and 13 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans.

Coach Senk’s influence extended far beyond the diamond. Over 90 percent of his players have graduated and dozens have earned national and conference academic honors. Tyler Johnson was a Second Team Academic All-American in 2012 and Nick Grande earned First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2018. In addition, Brendan Pattermann received the 2023-24 CAA Leadership and Sport Excellence Award. His teams have been recognized with the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, the CoSIDA Team Academic Excellence Award, and the District I Capital One Academic Team Award. More than 100 student-athletes have been named to America East, CAA, or CSC academic teams during his tenure.

Before joining Stony Brook, Senk was a standout coach at the high school level. He led Kellenberg Memorial High School to multiple league and division championships. Prior to that, Senk coached at St. Agnes Cathedral High School, where he was named the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA Coach of the Year. A SUNY Cortland graduate, Senk earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1980. He was a three-year starting catcher, a two-time All-SUNYAC selection, and the team MVP as a senior for the Red Dragons.

A national search for Senk’s successor will begin at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

A Historic Climb from Division III to the College World Series

Among his most iconic accomplishments:

  • A trip to the 2012 College World Series
  • Baton Rouge Super Regional Champions
  • Coral Gables Regional Champions
  • 6 NCAA Tournament appearances
  • 6 Conference Tournament Championships
  • 7 Regular Season Titles
  • An overall career record of 967-692
Sustained Success and Championship Pedigree

Senk’s Seawolves were a dominant force in the America East Conference throughout the 2010s, earning:

  • 5 Regular Season Titles (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019)
  • 4 Tournament Titles (2010, 2012, 2015, 2019)
  • A decade-long .600 overall winning percentage
  • A .673 conference winning percentage

Over that period, Stony Brook produced:

  • 45 America East First Team selections
  • 31 Second Team selections
  • 21 All-Rookie honorees
  • 6 America East Players of the Year
  • 4 Pitchers of the Year
  • 7 Rookies of the Year
  • 20 MLB Draft picks
Continuing the Momentum in the 2020s

Following the COVID-19 shutdown, Senk led Stony Brook to a 31-win season in 2021, clinching the America East Regular Season title. The following year, a walk-off hit in the 10th inning delivered a 6-5 victory over NJIT to secure the program’s third consecutive regular season crown. The Seawolves finished 21-9 in conference play that season.
Since joining the CAA in 2023, Senk continued to lead competitive squads. The Seawolves recorded 20-plus overall wins and 12-plus CAA victories in each of their first two seasons in the league.

Producing Pros and Accolades

Under Senk’s guidance, Stony Brook became a steady producer of professional talent.

  • 29 MLB Draft picks
  • 57 professional contracts signed
  • 5 Major Leaguers, including:
    • Joe Nathan ’97 – 6-time MLB All-Star
    • Travis Jankowski ’12 – 2023 World Series Champion
    • Tom Koehler ’08
    • Nick Tropeano ’11
    • Daniel Zamora ’15

He also produced a long list of national and regional honorees, including:

  • 1 ABCA National Player of the Year
  • 3 NCBWA All-Americans
  • 8 ABCA All-Americans
  • 8 Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball All-Americans
  • 13 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans
  • 4 NCBWA Freshman All-Americans
  • 18 ABCA All-Northeast selections
  • 76 America East All-Conference honorees
  • 34 America East All-Rookie selections
  • 25 All-Academic Team honorees
  • 6 All-CAA selections
  • 1 CAA Rookie of the Year
  • National semifinalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and Brooks Wallace Award
A Hall of Fame Coach

Senk’s career accolades reflect his impact on the game:

  • 3x America East Coach of the Year (2011, 2012, 2014)
  • 2012 NCBWA National Coach of the Year
  • 2012 ABCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year
  • 2012 CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-National Coach of the Year
  • Inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame (2019)
  • Inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame (2022)

Susan Lee, MD, FACP. Photo by Jeanne Neville, Stony Brook Medicine

Susan Lee, MD, FACP, Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Medical Director of Stony Brook Primary Care and Deputy Chief of the Medical Information Office (CMIO) at Stony Brook Medicine, has been elected to the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP). The Board of Regents is the main policy-making body for the ACP.

The ACP is a national organization of internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of adults.

A resident of Dix Hills, Dr. Lee’s involvement in ACP leadership has included numerous positions. In 2011, she was named a Fellow of the ACP (FACP), an honorary designation that recognizes ongoing individual service and contributions to the practice of internal medicine. She has also been a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors and a member of the Immunization Committee for the 2021-22 term. Locally, Dr. Lee was elected Governor of the New York Long Island Chapter of the ACP in 2021. She has also contributed to the ACP’s immunization initiatives through introducing practices to “I Raise the Rates New York.”

Dr. Lee, practicing at Stony Brook Medicine since 1997, earned her medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine in 1991 and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at New York Hospital at Cornell University in 1994.

Photo courtesy of Stony Brook University Athletics

In the highest scoring game of the season, Stony Brook softball came a single run short of erasing a nine-run deficit as the Seawolves were outslugged 18-17 in the regular-season finale at Drexel on May 3 in Philadelphia, PA. Emily Reinstein clubbed two home runs, including a grand slam, as she drove in over a third of the team’s runs.

Kyra McFarland led things off by reaching on an error before stealing second and coming around to score on another Drexel error as the center fielder dropped a fly ball off the bat of Nicole Allen. Allen would be immediately brought in for the second unearned run of the inning on a single up the middle from Mia Vanelli.

After another error loaded up the bases with one out in the top of the first,  Reinstein came through with the biggest hit of the day as she crushed a 1-1 pitch to left center for a towering grand slam to make it 6-0 Seawolves.

The Dragons quickly responded with a massive inning of their own, wiping away the six-run deficit by putting up a 12 spot in the bottom of the first. Nine batters would reach safely before Stony Brook recorded an out by Crimson Rice, who was brought in to relieve Gabrielle Maday after the first five runs were plated.

Drexel grew its lead to 15-6 in the bottom of the second as a lead-off error ultimately led to three unearned runs coming home. Maddie Male was brought in with two outs to stop the Dragons’ rally and induced a popup to finish off the inning.

The Seawolves got four runs back in the third as Emma Scheitinger led off the inning with a bunt single and later came around to score on a single from Malorie Hill. After a sac fly from Naiah Ackerman made it 15-8, Allen brought home two more on a single to center that was booted by the center fielder for the fourth Dragon error of the day.

The Dragons responded again in the bottom of the inning to make it an eight-run game off a three-run home run from Kylah Reading. Maday re-entered the game following the home run to get the final out of the inning. Reinstein made it 18-12 in the top of the fourth as she sent another one over the left field wall for her second home run of the day.

After a scoreless fifth, Ackerman came through with the third Stony Brook home run of the day as she went to the opposite field for a two-out, two-run blast to cut Drexel’s lead to 18-14 in the sixth.

Down by four in the top of the seventh, the Seawolves took advantage of a couple of walks to load the bases with one out. Scheitinger nearly tied it up with a single swing, but the center fielder managed to knock down the ball at the top of the wall to hold her to a two-run single. Drexel proceeded to commit its fifth error of the day on a grounder from Hill to make it a one-run game with two outs and a runner on third. That was as close as Stony Brook would get, however, as the Dragons got one final popup to close things out.

The team will enter the 2025 CAA Championship as the No. 5 seed, playing the host and fourth-seeded Campbell in the opening game of the tournament on May 7.

Nursing students engage in trauma simulation, guided by an instructor, to build essential emergency care skills in a realistic learning environment. Photo by Amy Prokop

Initiative will enhance and broaden nursing education with funds totaling $20.5 million

The Stony Brook University School of Nursing has been selected as a State University of New York (SUNY) Regional Nursing Simulation Center, one of only three in New York State. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the news this month about the selected centers, which will involve an overall $62 million investment to bolster nursing training at many levels throughout the state.

Stony Brook will receive $10 million from SUNY, with matching funds of $10.5 million from Stony Brook University. The total of $20.5 million will be used to create a new simulation center at Stony Brook that includes the latest simulation technologies to help train more nursing students and enhance the overall experience of nursing education.

The selected campuses include the University of Buffalo, named the SUNY System-Wide Nursing Simulation Center of Excellence, and SUNY Canton and Stony Brook as the regional centers. Each center will provide high-quality, hands-on training for some of the most needed clinical practice areas in health care, such as labor and delivery, high acuity cases, and community health.

According to the Governor’s office, with their investments, each campus has committed to significant prelicensure nursing program enrollment growth, leveraging the legislation Governor Hochul signed in May of 2023 permitting nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through high-quality simulation experiences.

“By investing in nurses of the future, we’re investing in the talent of aspiring professionals across our state and in the health care workforce we all rely on,” says Governor Hochul.

“As Suffolk County’s only academic medical center, Stony Brook University is proud to be at the forefront of healthcare education and workforce development,” says Dr. William A. Wertheim, Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine. “This designation as a SUNY Regional Nursing Simulation Center reflects our long-standing commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses. Through this important partnership with SUNY, we will expand access to high-quality, hands-on clinical training – helping to address the critical nursing shortage, grow the healthcare workforce and ensure our communities have skilled professionals they need to thrive.”

The new regional nursing simulation center at Stony Brook will support a 19 percent increase in prelicensure (baccalaureate) nursing enrollment in the first-year post-project completion. There is a projected 27 percent increase over the next five years.

“We are grateful to Governor Hochul, SUNY, and Stony Brook University for this opportunity to expand and enhance nursing education through simulation-based learning,” says Dr. Patricia Bruckenthal, Dean of the Stony Brook School of Nursing. “Our NEXUS Innovation Center epitomizes our commitment to advancing nursing education through innovation and collaboration. By integrating cutting-edge simulation technologies, we are not only enhancing the clinical competencies of our students and students across the region but also fostering an environment where interdisciplinary teams can engage in transformative learning experiences. This center stands as a testament to our dedication to preparing nurse leaders who will shape the future of healthcare delivery.”

According to the plan as a regional center, Stony Brook will significantly expand its simulation space footprint to enhance in-person nursing education. Additionally, the center will leverage advanced simulcast software technology to provide remote learning opportunities across Long Island.

Currently, simulation baccalaureate nursing curriculum is integrated into every clinical course in the School of Nursing. Due to space constraints, students are rotated through the Learning Resource Center in small groups, which enables hands-on experiences in the simulation lab under the supervision of the lab director and clinical faculty. The expansion of simulation training and a new dedicated center will streamline this workflow.

The announcement of the three nursing simulation centers across the state also builds on previous efforts by SUNY to expand and enhance nursing education through simulation-based learning. Last October, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the inaugural class of the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship, which includes Dr. Debra Giugliano from Stony Brook Nursing; and SUNY has invested $3.7 million through its High Needs Nursing Fund to further advance simulation-based education across 40 of SUNY’s nursing programs.