Welcome!

Welcome to SoMAS!

SoMAS Interim Dean Larry Swanson

I am honored and privileged to have been asked to serve as the SoMAS Interim Dean as the School searches for Dean Minghua Zhang‘s replacement.  Among Minghua’s accomplishments, SoMAS experienced unprecedented faculty growth and funding from donors, including the establishment of two endowed chairs.  We were the primary research entity helping New York State in assessing the meteorological conditions leading to Superstorm Sandy, as well as understanding its environmental consequences.  Minghua also oversaw the incorporation of the Sustainability Program as a part of SoMAS, significantly increasing our undergraduate enrollment.

SoMAS is well positioned as a school within Stony Brook University and the SUNY system.  However, we cannot afford to tread water even in the very near future.  We face challenges funding some of our programs as well as maintaining and improving facilities such as laboratories and research vessels.  We need to continue to expand undergraduate enrollment and to integrate the Sustainability Program and its faculty and staff so that the totality of SoMAS benefits.  These are some issues I will be addressing.

I certainly look forward to working with all of you and will also be looking to you for advice and guidance.

Regards,

Larry Swanson
Interim Dean, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Interim Director, Marine Sciences Research Center