Hopes, Dreams and Ice Cream: SBU Community Meets the Presidents

A new semester is not just about beginning the school year, it's about bringing new students to a new place to begin new experiences that will shape their futures.

To help make that transition just a little bit easier, Stony Brook hosted its second "Meet the Presidents" event on August 24, giving new and returning students a chance to meet and chat with university and student leadership. The event was highlighted by an ice cream social that included faculty and staff.

Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith and Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President Russell Erfan '27 led the festivities at the Academic Mall fountain, greeting the newest members of the Stony Brook community and enjoying some ice cream on a beautiful first day of the fall semester.

"Today is the first day of my senior year, and for many of you, it's your first day of school here," said Erfan, a senior studying sociology with a minor in chemistry. "Throughout my time at Stony Brook, I've had the privilege of working with USG to make your experience here the best it can be. Through my efforts, I've learned a few things that I want to pass on to you guys."

Erfan touted Stony Brook's myriad activities, encouraging new students to seek out their passion and join in.

"We have more than 500 funded clubs and organizations on campus, career societies, cultural groups, dance groups, travel groups, medical missions, mock trials and more, and these are all things that you can join," he said. "Give me a night on campus, and I guarantee you will find dinner nights, trivia tournaments, galas, and fandoms all over the place. Clubs and all of you are the fuel that gives our campus the life it has."

President Goldsmith then welcomed the newest Seawolves.

"The beginning of the academic year is one of my favorite times of the year because of the magical vibrancy and energy that surrounds our campus after a summer of relative quietness," she said. "I hope you are having an exceptional first day of what I hope will be an exceptional year. It's great to see so many people here enjoying our campus on this gorgeous day."

Goldsmith cited Stony Brook's students, crediting them for bringing inspiration and success to the campus.

"The talent, ambition, hopes, and dreams that they bring to Stony Brook, along with their desire to have a positive impact on others, is what makes us so special," she said. "We want to hear your stories as well as what we can do to make your Stony Brook experience better."

Meet the Presidents debuted in Fall 2025 to showcase the mutual respect and partnership between Stony Brook students and university leaders.

"Sometimes there's a fraught relationship between students and university leadership, but not here at Stony Brook," she said. "I credit that to the student government we have here, with exceptional leaders like Russell Erfan and his entire team. These leaders are here to address student concerns and enable your ideas, figure out what's going right and what's going wrong, and make a positive difference on your experience. I encourage you to take advantage of the remarkable student government that you have, and maybe even join yourself."

Both Goldsmith and Erfan encouraged students to engage with the campus community and become part of the changes they would like to see.

"Your Undergraduate Student Government are the people that turn your experience into the things you can point at with pride on campus," said Erfan. "Our activities board is run by students in your class; the people behind you on the breakfast line at East Side Dining are planning Wolfieland, our carnival taking place on September 20. Come talk to us. Perhaps you can even join in on the effort. Big change takes many working hands, and that includes yours."

USG represents more than 18,000 undergraduates. Each year it distributes over $1.3 million to student clubs, produces large-scale campus events, and advances policies that shape daily student life.

Meet the Presidents served as a lighthearted kickoff to the semester as hundreds of ice cream bars put smiles on the faces of new and returning students, faculty and staff.

Looking ahead, Goldsmith encouraged attendees to seek out campus leadership and share their ideas.

"Whatever it is, big or small, we want to hear about it and we'll do our best to make it happen," she said. "I want to hear what makes you excited about being here at Stony Brook because I am the number one storyteller for this great university. We have so much to be proud of, and it helps me to know your stories so I can tell the world what an exceptional place this is and how it changes lives."

- Robert Emproto