SUNY, Alan Alda Center Expand Research Leadership Academy to Create Leaders Across New York

The State University of New York (SUNY) and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at the State University of New York at Stony Brook announced the expansion of the SUNY Research Leadership Academy through a new systemwide partnership that trains SUNY researchers, faculty, and emerging leaders to strengthen their communication, leadership, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Following a successful pilot year, the Alda Center's nationally recognized communication training will now be available to faculty and researchers across the SUNY system during the 2026-27 academic year.

Thirty-three scientists and researchers completed the inaugural training in 2025-26, representing fields including artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, climate sustainability and policy, and cardiovascular and neurological research.

Through the program, participants learned the Alda Method® to communicate and connect more authentically with a range of audiences. The Academy's first cohort saw significant increases in communication competence, commitment to the SUNY system and intention to collaborate across campuses. Participants consistently described the experience as "transformative."

Academy fellows from the first cohort put their communication skills to the test at the 2026 SUNY Research Expo. Left to Right: M. Jasim Uddin, Brenda Hoffman (assistant professor of practice, Alda Center), Nancy Guo, Jessica Ridilla, Michael Mak, Howard Sirotkin and Sabina Hirshfield.

"I would not have understood the breadth of amazing research happening throughout the SUNY system," one participant said. Others pointed to lasting professional relationships formed through the program. "I feel like I finally have a peer group that I can trust and be real about the challenges of academia with," another said.

Founded in 2009, theAlan Alda Center for Communicating Science has trained more than 35,000 scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals and researchers worldwide. Through its evidence-based Alda Method®, the Center helps experts communicate more effectively with diverse audiences, including policymakers, industry partners, philanthropic organizations, media and the public.

Radha Ganessan and Josh Rice facilitate an Academy training at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Ganesan and Rice (center) serve as assistant professors of practice and facilitators at the Alda Center for Communicating Science.

"Stony Brook is proud to partner with SUNY to expand the Research Leadership Academy and share the Alan Alda Center's internationally recognized communication training with faculty across the State University of New York system," said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith. "Research has its greatest impact when experts can communicate their ideas clearly, build meaningful partnerships and engage the people who can help turn discovery into action. Moreover, at a time of skepticism about science among the general public, there has never been a more critical time to clearly articulate the magic, importance and benefits of scientific discovery to all Americans and, indeed, to people around the globe. By bringing the Alda Method® to more SUNY researchers, we are strengthening a culture of collaboration and ensuring that innovative ideas can make an even greater difference for the great state of New York and beyond."

"This Academy began with a simple question: if we can help scientists and engineers communicate their work all over the world and in organizations from AstraZeneca to NASA, why not here in our own backyard of SUNY?" said Laura Lindenfeld, executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. "Expanding this partnership across the SUNY system means more experts will have the tools to connect their work to the people it's meant to serve - and to lead with clarity, confidence and connection."

Laura Lindenfeld (executive director, Alda Center) leads a science communication exercise at session 2 of the Academy held at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

"SUNY research improves lives, strengthens communities and drives innovation, and our partnership with the Alan Alda Center is part of our ongoing efforts to support our researchers," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. "As research becomes increasingly collaborative and connected to industry, it is more important than ever that we empower our researchers and faculty with the skills they will need to communicate their efforts across sectors and to the general public."

The Academy is made possible by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. This systemwide initiative is led by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development at the State University of New York. The application is open to SUNY faculty and is available online. The deadline to apply is August 1, 2026.

The 2026-27 SUNY Research Leadership Academy: A New Opportunity for SUNY Campuses

The expanded partnership includes three major initiatives designed to build communication and leadership capacity throughout the SUNY system, forging a stronger statewide network that can bridge disciplines, strengthen partnerships, accelerate innovation, and amplify the impact of research conducted across SUNY.

SUNY Research Leadership Academy

The year-long SUNY Research Leadership Academy will continue to support up to 35 STEM and STEM-adjacent faculty members at the associate and full professor levels that are research active. Through immersive leadership development, communication training, mentoring and stakeholder engagement experiences, participants expand their capacity to lead research teams, foster collaboration and engage effectively with priority audiences including industry partners, venture capital and commercialization representatives, policymakers, philanthropists and media.

For more information, visit the Academy website here.

Alda Center Summer Accelerators

Two three-day Summer Accelerators will be offered in Summer 2027 for junior faculty, postdoctoral researchers and emerging research leaders interested in communicating research more effectively, building interdisciplinary collaborations, and engaging stakeholders across research, industry and innovation ecosystems. Participants will engage in intensive, hands-on training focused on:

• Day 1: Alda Method® Flagship Workshop
• Day 2: Modules on Narrative and Writing for Impact
• Day 3: Modules on Effective Use of Visuals and Personal Branding

Campus investment: $500 per participant, plus participant travel. SUNY support covers approximately half of the total program cost.

Signature Alda Method® Workshops

Ten one-day Alda Method® Flagship Workshops will be delivered at SUNY campuses across New York, expanding access to communication training for faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. Each workshop can accommodate up to 30 participants and provides practical tools for audience-centered communication, collaboration and engagement.

Campus investment: $5,000 per workshop, plus facilitator travel expenses. Host campuses provide meeting space and refreshments.

Additional information about participation opportunities, application processes, and program schedules will be shared with campuses in the coming months.

For more information about any or all of these opportunities and future participation, please contact: [email protected]