SUNY Distinguished Professor Rowan Ricardo Phillips. Photo by Sue Kw0n
Stony Brook University Distinguished Professor Rowan Ricardo Phillips, from the College of Arts and Sciences Department of English, was recently recognized by the American Academy of Arts as a 2025 Arts and Letters Award winner.
“Art is its own reward,” said Professor Phillips. “But, even with that said, I feel honored to be in such fine company.”
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honor society of artists, architects, composers, and writers who foster and sustain interest in the arts. The Arts and Letters Award, established in 1941, was established to encourage creative work in the arts. The award is $10,000, granted annually to four architects, five artists, eight writers, and four composers.
“My sincere congratulations to Rowan Ricardo Phillips for yet another highly prestigious honor,” said David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “This has been an exciting year of recognition for Rowan’s creative work. His book, Silver, recently made the longlist for both the National Book Award and for the Laurel Prize. Now, Rowan has been selected as one of eight writers across all genres to receive the Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. We are so proud that Rowan is part of our intellectual and creative community. He is a brilliant ambassador for the Humanities at Stony Brook.”
“This is a significant honor from a very prestigious arts organization,” said Benedict Robinson, professor and chair of the Department of English. “The membership of the American Academy of Arts and Letters reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of all the arts in the contemporary U.S., and the list of honorees being recognized this year includes some of the most significant contributors to contemporary art and culture. It’s a tremendous honor for the Department of English and for Stony Brook University as a whole. We’re extremely lucky to have Professor Phillips as a colleague and teacher.”
Phillips was recently longlisted for the National Book Award and the Laurel Prize for his book, Silver. Phillips’ poem “The First and Final Poem Is the Sun” also was included in Best American Poetry 2024.
Phillips earned his doctorate in English Literature from Brown University in 2003. He is recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including the Nicolás Guillén Outstanding Book Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports writing, a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry, a Whiting Award, and the GLCA New Writers Award. He has also been a finalist for the National Book Award for his poetry collection, Heaven, the Griffin International Poetry Prize, the NAACP Award for Outstanding Work in Poetry, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have selected Stony Brook University Distinguished Teaching Professor MarciLobel, PhD, from the Department of Psychology, as the recipient of a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award for 2025-2026. She was awarded this recognition for her expertise in stress, coping, and their effects on health, particularly reproductive health. Her studies have established the harmful impact of stress on pregnant women and their offspring and identified factors that elevate or alleviate stress.
Professor Lobel will spend part of the next academic year beginning January 2026 at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic, where she will conduct research on stress in pregnant Czech women and teach a unique course in the Psychology of Women’s Health that she introduced at Stony Brook. This class is now a model for courses at numerous other universities.
“We’re thrilled that Dr. Lobel has received this award,” said Joanne Davila, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. “She’s so well deserving of it. It’s an important opportunity both for her and for her colleagues in the Czech Republic.”
In her teaching, Professor Lobel focuses on women’s unique health experiences and differences between men and women in disease symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, and outcome. These topics, Professor Lobel notes, are critical areas of understanding for healthcare professionals, scientists, and others concerned about women’s health.
“Our research and other studies confirm that high stress during pregnancy increases risk for low birthweight and preterm birth, which are major contributors to poor health and development in infants, children, and adults,” said Professor Lobel. “Yet stress in Czech pregnant women has received little attention. Identifying stress prenatally facilitates prevention and interventions to improve health outcomes for women and children. Masaryk University is an ideal place to expand knowledge about women’s health. The course that I will teach and my research to investigate stress in pregnant Czech women will fill important gaps in the study and treatment of women’s health in the Czech Republic. I am eager to learn about the mental and physical health of Czech women and share innovations between the US and the Czech Republic to promote the health and well-being of women, children, and their families in both countries. I expect to gain new perspectives for my research and teaching from this exciting Fulbright experience.”
Professor Lobel has been an award-winning faculty member in Stony Brook’s Department of Psychology for 35 years and she holds a joint appointment in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at Stony Brook Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles.
“My sincere congratulations to Distinguished Professor MarciLobel on this wonderful news,” said David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The prestigious Fulbright program is a fantastic opportunity for Professor Lobel to continue the important work she is doing to expand knowledge of women’s health. I could not be more pleased that Professor Lobel will be a cultural and intellectual ambassador for the US, CAS and Stony Brook University.”
Research from the Stress and Reproduction Laboratory (STAR Lab) that she directs addresses critical public health issues, including the impact of discrimination on racial disparities in birth outcomes, pandemic-related prenatal stress effects, and psychosocial aspects of infertility and assisted reproductive technologies. Professor Lobel has authored more than 300 scientific articles and presentations and she collaborates in multiple international research projects. She is a recipient of national and university awards for her research, teaching, mentoring, and service. Professor Lobel also conducts research on mentoring and leads workshops on teaching and mentoring.
Fulbright Distinguished Scholar awards are viewed as the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. These awards are presented to scholars who have substantial experience in their discipline or area of expertise. Distinguished Scholars are expected to actively engage host institutions in a spirit of promoting mutual understanding and sharing knowledge.
SBU's David Wrobel with Wolfie. Photo by Anna Maria Gounaris
By Daniel Dunaief
David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Stony Brook University since August, can relate to the school’s students.
Like about a third of the students at the downstate flagship SUNY university, Wrobel is the first member of his family to attend college.
David Wrobel. Photo by John Griffin
“I’ve had the advantage of that social mobility that higher education can provide,” said Wrobel, who grew up in England. To have the opportunity to facilitate that for thousands of other students is “hugely important and meaningful.”
Provost Carl Lejuez appreciates Wrobel’s passion for education and for providing opportunities to students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.
“For first generation students, there are some challenges that even the most empathetic, well-meaning person may want to help with, but because they don’t have that experience, they don’t know,” said Provost Carl Lejuez. “He brings both the experience of some of the things these students are going through as well as the humanity and personality that is very empathetic.”
Indeed, for Wrobel, who was dean at the University of Oklahoma for six years before joining Stony Brook, his new job appealed to him because of the opportunity to use education to help students expand their horizons and seek new opportunities.
Stony Brook has been successful in the area of social mobility, enabling students “from more disadvantaged backgrounds coming to the university” to complete their degrees at a high rate, said Wrobel. Higher education can perform the role it should as an “engine of democracy.”
Wrobel, who is a tenured professor in the Departent of History, oversees the breadth and depth of offerings at Stony Brook.
Lejuez suggested that Wrobel relates well to students from every background.
“You never see him at an event talking to other administrators,” said Lejuez. “He’s trying to really get in there and talk to people and make them feel welcome.”
Indeed, within his first few weeks of arriving, Wrobel met with several students who shared their concerns about visual arts, particularly as the music and art departments are about to move during an HVAC renovation project.
Wrobel worked with the students and partners around the university, including staff, the fire marshal and others, to see where they can display artwork and perform music.
The Arts Everywhere effort, which is “big in spirit” but “small in funding” provides an opportunities for the “work of students to be better understood by other students on campus,” Wrobel said.
Research opportunities
As a member of the Association of American Universities, an exclusive club that recognizes universities committed to research and education, Stony Brook provides students with opportunities to contribute to the forefront of new information.
“We have undergraduates doing research on genes that are led by some of the most important scientists in the world,” said Wrobel. These students are “not doing research that is tangentially associated with important science. They are contributing to the research teams” that lead to societal and life improvements.
These research contributions across a wide range of fields can and should address the question some people have asked about the return on investment of a college education.
Students are working in fields such as quantum science, artificial intelligence, climate and health.
“We should take great pride in the fact that, as a university, we are answering that question: why does a degree matter,” said Wrobel.
‘Not a spectator sport’
From left to right: Bonita London, associate dean of research development and communications; Danielle Papaspyrou, senior administrator for staff and faculty affairs; AnnaMaria Gounaris, assistant to the dean; Michael d’Ambrosio, senior director of development; Lois Carter, assistant dean for faculty affairs and personnel; Rachel Rodriguez, director of communications; Carol Davies, assistant director for budget and finance, and David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Photo courtesy Stony Brook University
The university is incorporating into the degree programs the kind of learning experiences that prepare students for success in areas ranging from private and industry positions to government jobs.
Wrobel is eager to demonstrate how “education is not a spectator sport” with every prospective student and their parents. Students become a “full participant not just in learning existing knowledge, but in the process of creating new knowledge.”
At the same time, the university is committed to enhancing the abilities of its educators.
“You work to reward teaching excellence at every level,” said Wrobel. “You make it clear that teaching does matter.”
Teachers need to refine their approaches and methods based on the way students learn, which includes working with technology and its possibilities more effectively than in the past
Wrobel meets with the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee, which includes students from numerous majors, to learn about student needs. These can include expanding quieter study spaces or finding places for more collaborative work.
Additionally, the committee helps select outstanding teaching faculty.
“Faculty go to conferences to improve their research skills,” said Lejuez. “We want to think about teaching in the same way.”
Lejuez appreciates how Wrobel engages with students to understand what would improve the university’s learning environment.
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching provides opportunities not only for those educators who might be struggling to connect with their students, but also for those who want to improve their craft, Lejuez said.
As a part of student evaluations of their educators, Stony Brook has improved the quality of questions in its educator evaluations for the spring semester, which Lejuez hopes encourages more students to offer valuable feedback.
A dedicated educator
In addition to serving as an administrator, Wrobel hopes to put his experience to work as an educator himself by next spring.
Wrobel could imagine leading or contributing to several possible classes.
He would enjoy teaching a graduate seminar that addresses the history of American thought and culture from the end of Reconstruction after the Civil War in the 1870’s to the end of the New Deal in the 1940s.
At the University of Oklahoma, he also taught an introductory survey class that first year students typically took. The course covered the period from the end of the Civil War to the present.
“I love the idea that I have the opportunity to engage with brand new students when they come to the university,” he said.
Wrobel would like to share a view of America from the Great Depression through the Vietnam War, focusing on John Steinbecks view of the core political and social debates of the time.
Steinbeck was “better than just about any other author at finding what is extraordinary in the lives of ordinary Americans,” said Wrobel.
As for his roles at Stony Brook, Wrobel is “thrilled to have the opportunity to help first generation students and other financially disadvantaged students find their way.”
Wolfie meets with football fans. Photo by Connor Rose
Wolfie poses with a football fan. Photo by Connor Rose
Todd Rose poses with Wolfie before the game. Photo by Connor Rose
Todd Rose hands out souvenirs before the game. Photo by Connor Rose
SBU Marching Band. Photo by Connor Rose
SBU Marching Band and cheerleader. Photo by Connor Rose
By Katherine Kelton
To kick off Stony Brook Seawolves home football season, the university held the first of its Dean’s Challenge, when three deans of different colleges “guest coach” a game for three games, for a total of nine schools competing. Each dean competes to bring in the most people from their respective unit for a trophy, book scholarship and bragging rights.
The Stony Brook Development Team launched the first inaugural Stony Brook Athletics Dean’s Challenge for the fall 2023 semester. The mission is to build partnerships and bridge the gap between academics on campus and athletics.
Each school was given an opportunity to rally fans for football games during the fall season. The School of Social Welfare had the greatest attendance and was named the winner, receiving the Dean’s Challenge Trophy and a $250 book scholarship courtesy of the Athletic Department.
The first game this season included guest-coach David Wrobel, the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He said, “We thought as a nice way to build community and get people out to the game, we would bring all kinds of food in addition to giving out tickets and college swag.”
CAS had the largest number of attendees and secured $500 for student programming.
Wrobel, who joined Stony Brook this fall after a previous tenure at the University of Oklahoma, explained his decision to come to Long Island. “The thing I love about this university is that it’s exactly what a public research university has to be,” he said. “It focuses on ensuring that kids from different backgrounds and financial circumstances have access to an incredible research-centric experience.”
Wrobel said of the football team, “I hope the football players do brilliantly, there’s a new coach [Billy Cosh] so that’s fantastic. The football players are also fantastic student-athletes.”
The other two deans who competed at Saturday’s game were Stacy Jaffee Gropack of the School of Health Professions and Peter Diplock of the School of Professional Development.
Aside from the healthy rivalries inside the university, other groups set up their tents, served food and played games. Their kids cartwheeled and threw footballs around. Stony Brook merchandise tents were scattered around as well.
Fans watched the football players in their tracksuits walk into the locker room. The marching band, cheerleaders and dance squad paraded around the perimeter of the tailgate area before performing in front of LaValle Stadium.
The light rain did not scare off tailgaters as many came prepared. Todd Rose, father of freshman player Ian Rose, said, “We’re from Connecticut. We were here for all the rainy games last year and it seems we are this year too.”
Todd Rose and his mother walked around handing out 3D printed badges and beaded necklaces that demonstrate team spirit. “We like to go to New Orleans and when you walk around they have all these beads and they have all the Major League sports teams and then they have your colleges,” he explained. “But, I never saw one for Stony Brook, so what I did was I took the picture and built it into my 3D printer, and designed it myself. I just give it to the parents of the players. So we know when a person is a parent of a player.”
Rose huddled under the tent with his wife, eldest son and mother alongside other football parents. James Amburn, father of Jacob Amburn, another freshman player, came from Berkshire County, Massachusetts, to watch the game. “I wasn’t too sure about Stony Brook at first,” he said. However, after they toured the school and the surrounding community SBU was a clear choice. “The atmosphere, the people are great, Port Jefferson is nice. Just a great experience,” he added.
The Seawolves beat Stonehill Skyhawks, 37-10, with an impressive two touchdowns in the first quarter. The next home game will be against Morgan State Bears Sept. 28 at 3:30 p.m.
David Wrobel. Photo by Travis Caperton, University of Oklahoma
Stony Brook University has named David Wrobel, PhD as the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Wrobel joins Stony Brook from the University of Oklahoma, where he currently serves as dean of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences. His appointment at Stony Brook begins August 1, 2024.
In his new role, Wrobel will oversee the largest college at the university, managing 25 department chairs, 11 center/institute directors and five associate deans as well as serving as the main financial officer of CAS including managing and increasing research expenditures. CAS is a diverse and multifaceted college that serves approximately 70% of the student population across its 30 majors, 40+ minors, 25 departments, and 27 PhD programs. The Dean will work with the Advancement team to engage and inspire potential donors and secure additional funds to support the work of CAS. He will contribute to shaping CAS faculty by leading efforts to recruit and retain excellent teacher-scholars who embrace Stony Brook’s mission of inclusive teaching and scholarly, research, and creative excellence.
“Dr. Wrobel is an experienced administrator and renowned scholar who is exceptionally well-suited to lead CAS at Stony Brook. He and I have had many conversations already about the incredible strengths and potential in CAS among the faculty, staff, and students, and its many outstanding departments, centers, and programs,” said Carl Lejuez, provost and executive vice president.
Wrobel has served as dean of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences at Oklahoma since 2017, serving as interim for a year before being permanently appointed to the role in 2018. Under his leadership, he has worked with his team on a variety of significant achievements including:
navigating from inherited financial debt to a positive fiscal position;
securing the largest gift in OU history to name the college, as well as a $16 million gift to found a new quantum research center and two major department naming gifts;
implementing a strategic plan; establishing a School of Biological Sciences and a School of Population Health and Human Performance (pending regents’ approval); and
creating scholarships and programs to enhance support for underserved undergraduates, attract top graduate students, and support faculty research and creative activity.
At Oklahoma, Wrobel is the David L. Boren Professor and Merrick Chair of Western American History. He is an historian of the American West and American thought and culture, and has been recognized for excellence in teaching, research, and service. He was the inaugural recipient of the David L. Boren Professorship, one of the most prestigious honors at Oklahoma. Other honors include the Western Heritage Award for his nonfiction book, Global West, American Frontier: Travel, Empire and Exceptionalism from Manifest Destiny to the Great Depression; the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences Holden Award for Teaching Excellence; and research fellowships from Yale University’s Beinecke Library, the Huntington Library, the Newberry Library, and the American Philosophical Society.
Wrobel’s most recent book is America’s West: A History, 1890-1950 (2017). He is also the author of Promised Lands: Promotion, Memory and the Creation of the American West and The End of American Exceptionalism: Frontier Anxiety from the Old West to the New Deal. His current book project is John Steinbeck’s Country: A Writer’s Defense of Democracy. Wrobel co-edits The Modern American West book series and serves on the editorial board for the Steinbeck Review, and for Montana: The Magazine of Western History.
He is also known for his work with teachers around the country, participating in and directing many teacher institutes sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, U.S. Department of Education, National Council for History Education and other organizations. He is past president of the Western History Association, the American Historical Association’s Pacific Coast Branch, and of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society.
Wrobel has also held positions at other higher education institutions including Widener University, Hartwick College and the College of Wooster. He holds a master’s and doctoral degrees in American Intellectual History from The Ohio University and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history/philosophy from the University of Kent, Canterbury, England. Wrobel was also department chair and professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“I am thrilled and honored to begin my work in support of the exceptional faculty, staff, and students of CAS at Stony Brook,” Wrobel said. “The College and Stony Brook exemplify the ideal and the purpose of a student-centered, public research university to ensure high levels of access and opportunity to advance social mobility, and to integrate students at all levels into the mission of creating and applying new knowledge and understanding of the physical world and the human condition to make our communities stronger. I look forward to joining the Stony Brook community and continuing my work of advocacy for and integration of the Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts at one of the nation’s leading public institutions of higher learning.”
Joining Wrobel in the move east are his wife, Janet Ward, PhD, and their three children. Ward will join the Provost’s Office in an associate provost role focused on support for the arts, humanities, and social sciences. At Oklahoma, she is Brammer Presidential Professor of History and faculty fellow for strategic initiatives in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences. She also served at Oklahoma as the inaugural faculty director of the Arts and Humanities Forum, as senior associate vice president for research and partnerships, and, most recently, as American Council on Education fellow at Yale University.
