Stony Brook University held a Presidential Panel on Innovation and Entrepreneurship during Inauguration Week, according to an April 15 announcement. The event brought together students, alumni, and industry leaders to discuss how ideas can move from early concepts to real-world impact and how the university is working to accelerate that process.
The panel was part of a broader series aimed at highlighting Stony Brook’s future direction. It featured perspectives from across the innovation spectrum—from student founders to corporate executives—emphasizing the importance of institutional support in transforming ideas into scalable models.
President Andrea Goldsmith said, “As we shape a bold vision for Stony Brook, we are thinking about how to build on our momentum of discovery and innovation while training the next generation of leaders. Workforce development is central to our mission, and we are creating pathways for our community to bring ideas to fruition through programs like WolfieTank and CEWIT. Innovation is about taking those ideas and translating them into real-world impact.”
Panelists discussed various aspects of innovation within both startups and established organizations. Kelly Kaon, a third-year medical student in the Renaissance School of Medicine, described founding Dermatological as an effort that grew from a campus initiative into a national organization with hundreds of participants. Laurie Olson, Stony Brook alumna and former Pfizer executive, addressed challenges such as overcoming fear of failure in large companies: she argued that failure should be recognized as essential for learning within innovative environments.
Derek Peterson, founder and CEO of Soter Technologies, spoke about entrepreneurship as an iterative process requiring adaptability. He highlighted teamwork as critical for success in startup environments. Loren Skeist, president and CEO of Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation, explained that partnerships between academia and industry help bridge research with practical application.
Goldsmith concluded by noting Stony Brook’s commitment not only lies in individual programs but also in connecting students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners: this integration aims to foster an environment where discoveries can lead more easily toward societal benefit.
