The State University of New York Board of Trustees today appointed Dr. Richard L. McCormick as interim president of Stony Brook University, effective August 1, 2024, and continuing through June 2025. Dr. McCormick brings over four decades of experience in the higher-education sector, most recently serving as President Emeritus and Board of Governors Professor of History and Education at Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey.
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, “Congratulations to Dr. McCormick as he joins Stony Brook University and the SUNY community as interim president. The Board of Trustees is confident that his extensive experience in higher education will bring stability and continued success to the university during this pivotal time, ensuring a smooth and successful transition. We look forward to working with him during this academic year.”
“Stony Brook University is a phenomenal institution that provides a world-class higher education and is well respected for its academic excellence, renowned research capabilities, and robust support and resources for our students’ success,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “Each step we take in this leadership transition is important, and we welcome Dr. McCormick. His vast higher education experience will continue to move this esteemed university forward as the campus conducts a national search for its new president.”
The national search for Stony Brook’s next leader will begin this summer, following former President Maurie McInnis’s departure last month to serve as president of Yale University. As an interim president, Dr. McCormick will not be a candidate to be Stony Brook’s next permanent president.
Stony Brook Council Chairman Kevin S. Law said, “Stony Brook University is a world-class institution, moving on an upward trajectory, educating the next generation of leaders and thinkers, and bettering our society through research and economic development. I am pleased to welcome Dr. McCormick, whose accomplishments and vision in higher-education leadership are nothing short of extraordinary, as our interim president, and to begin the search for our next permanent president.”
Dr. McCormick said, “Stony Brook University is a leader in innovation, the destination of choice for patient care, and proof that academic excellence can go hand in hand with opportunity and inclusion. It has achieved national stature yet remains fully engaged with its Long Island community, for which it is an economic engine. I look forward to working alongside Stony Brook’s talented leadership team to continue the university’s momentum and elevate Stony Brook to even greater heights. My thanks to the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor King, and the Stony Brook Council for this opportunity.”
About Dr. Richard L. McCormick
Dr. Richard L. McCormick is President Emeritus, University Professor, and Board of Governors Professor of History and Education at Rutgers University. Dr. McCormick is an experienced higher education leader with presidential roles at both Rutgers University and the University of Washington. Prior to his presidencies, he served as Executive Vice Chancellor, Provost, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
To complement his long and successful career as a higher education administrator and faculty member, Dr. McCormick has earned several awards and fellowships. These include an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Rutgers University, an Honorary Professorship at Shanghai University, and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship.
Dr. McCormick has authored numerous books and articles in the field of American political history, beginning with his first book on New York State politics in the Progressive era. Currently Dr. McCormick is writing a book on the history of American political corruption from the 17th century to the present. He holds a Ph.D. in history from Yale University and a B.A. in American Studies from Amherst College.
