President Andrea Goldsmith will lead three Presidential Panel Discussions at the Sidney Gelber Auditorium in the Student Activities Center on April 15 as part of Stony Brook University’s Inauguration Week events.
The panels are free and open to the public, providing an opportunity for attendees to hear from leaders across engineering, business, academia, government, and entrepreneurship. The topics include Women in Engineering, Women in Leadership, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
The first discussion, “Women in Engineering,” will take place from 9 am to 10:30 am. It will feature leaders such as Jennifer Cochran from Stanford University; Ayanna Howard, a robotics and AI expert; Muriel Médard of MIT; Manuela Veloso of JPMorganChase AI Research; and Telle Whitney, a recognized advocate for women in technology. They will discuss their professional journeys and explore how emerging technologies can benefit society while addressing potential challenges.
The second panel on “Women in Leadership” is scheduled for 11 am to 12:15 pm. Participants include Karen Persichilli Keogh—Secretary to Governor Kathy Hochul—Maria Klawe of Math for America; Barbara G. Novick of BlackRock; Marilyn Simons of the Simons Foundation; and Anne-Marie Slaughter of New America. The discussion will focus on experiences leading through disruption and change across various sectors.
The final session titled “Innovation & Entrepreneurship” runs from 3 pm to 4 pm. Moderated by President Goldsmith herself, it features student and alumni entrepreneurs such as Kelly Kaon (founder of Dermatological), Laurie Olson (former Pfizer executive), Derek Peterson (founder of Soter Technologies), and Loren Skeist (partnered with Stony Brook University on high-voltage research). This conversation aims to highlight how universities can inspire innovation and support entrepreneurial ventures.
More details about these events are available on the university’s Inauguration website.
