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Welcome to Stony Brook - Spring 2025 Welcome Letter

The start of a new semester and the arrival of a new year present the ideal moment to reflect on past accomplishments and set new goals.  On behalf of all faculty and staff at the Stony Brook University Graduate School, I would like to officially welcome you as you continue your education as a graduate student. 

The choice to pursue a graduate degree demonstrates that you have decided to commit yourself to personal and professional development. Choosing to continue your education in an area you are passionate about will allow you to stand out as you advance throughout your career.  

If this is your first semester in graduate school, you should feel proud to know that you were selected by your program to earn your degree at Stony Brook. You belong here, and while you will be shaped by your Stony Brook experience, Stony Brook will also be shaped by your time with us. As your dean, it is a priority for me to serve as an advocate and support you throughout your studies.  Providing access to resources and services is at the core of the mission of the Graduate School.  We are here to support you.

Stony Brook University is recognized as a national and global center for advanced study across the range of academic disciplines and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the #1 public university in New York.  The Graduate School hosts over 45 doctoral programs and over 65 master’s level programs with students from 48 states and over 100 countries.  

We are uniquely positioned as an elite public research university through our membership in the Association of American Universities. Whether you are pursuing your degree at the Manhattan Center for Creative Writing and Film, the Stony Brook Southampton campus, or at the main campus right in Stony Brook, you have access to an extensive array of resources and facilities designed to support your academic achievement.

I encourage you to savor your accomplishments throughout graduate school.  There will be many opportunities to commemorate your experience when you complete your program including award ceremonies, commencement, doctoral hooding, departmental graduations and more.  It is also, however, important to take moments as you go through your program to acknowledge all your hard work and dedication.

We are confident that you will thrive at Stony Brook, and we are here to help you from application to graduation.  Have a productive and rewarding spring semester!

Sincerely,

Celia Marshik Signature
Celia Marshik
Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education