In an email sent to faculty and staff, on February 12th, the Provost announced his resignation. Although students rarely interact with high level administrators, whenever the opportunities presented themselves the Provost was there. He had earned a reputation among faculty for being honest and trustworthy, and his warmth and caring for students was genuine.

The Zine's coverage is centered on the Asian and Asian American campus community and we got to see the Provost in action last fall when he shared dinner with the 60 new undergrad students from China. This past summer at the first SBU China alumni reunion, they were thrilled to learn he had visited China and sent him their hopes for a grand reunion at the Beijing Olympics. He replied to SBU China Co-Chair Gu Yong that he looked forward to establishing closer academic ties between SBU and China.

The Asian and Asian American community at Stony Brook is losing a wonderful advocate who understood its needs and desires. He will not be easily replaced.

Dear Colleagues,

I want to let you know I will be leaving the administrative position of Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs as soon as a replacement is named and ready to take over. I will continue my administrative role of Vice President for Brookhaven Laboratory Affairs and look forward to continuing building more links between our two institutions.

It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as provost for almost eight years. The best perquisite of the job has been the opportunity to interact with, and to learn from, so many of the people who make Stony Brook such a fine university.

During my tenure as provost I think we have made major gains in developing the kind of strong undergraduate programs that many of the great, older, public universities developed over much longer times. In research and graduate education, we have created several departments and interdisciplinary activities that have, or are quickly gaining, national prominence. Together with the many other improvements put in place under President Kenny's leadership, I know our university will continue to grow in prominence and achievement. 

I've been very fortunate to have creative and committed colleagues in the Office of the Provost, and I am grateful to each one of them.  I thank the group of west campus deans and senior directors of academic units for fine leadership of their respective units, and for their advice and support. I appreciate the many helpful and pleasant interactions with members of the president's cabinet and many others in the university administration over the years. 

Robert McGrath