Academic Year-End Message
Dear Colleagues:
It is hard to believe that the 2025–26 academic year is drawing to a close and Commencement,
with over 2,000 graduates moving on, is upon us this Friday. With summer just around
the corner, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for another remarkable year
at Farmingdale State College.
This has been a year of extraordinary momentum and achievement—one that further strengthens
our reputation as a destination institution for students seeking a hands-on, experiential
education. Across campus, we have continued to innovate, grow, and distinguish ourselves
in countless ways.
Among this year’s many highlights were the launch of several new undergraduate and
graduate programs; the opening of our Office of Professional and Continuing Education;
the celebration of the Long Island Educational Opportunity Center’s 60th anniversary;
a well-attended and successful Legislative Breakfast; and the continued success of
our Inspiring Leadership lecture series. We welcomed distinguished guests to campus,
from Olympic gold medalists to actor Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things, and will
confer our first honorary doctorate since 2017 to our remarkable and generous alumnus
Murray Pasternack.
Our students and faculty continued to excel. Student-athletes achieved outstanding
success and championships, faculty advanced important research and creative activity,
five of our students were recognized for the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence,
and our online programming received national recognition. We celebrated significant
institutional milestones, including our largest ACE Program class to date, Carnegie
re-designation as a Community Engaged Campus, the release of an important economic
impact analysis by the Long Island Association, and the conferring of important awards
from NSF and SUNY/New York Power Authority (NYPA) Clean Energy Microcredential Grants.
This year also brought meaningful progress in strengthening our community partnerships
and leadership. We expanded international programming opportunities for students,
established both community and corporate advisory boards, launched a president’s student
advisory council, and welcomed 27 new faculty colleagues. We also saw new leadership
emerge in both our Institutional Advancement and DEIE offices, helping to position
the College for continued success.
This impressive list does not fully capture the creativity, dedication, and caring
that define this institution. The exceptional teaching, mentoring, scholarship, service,
and support that happen across campus every day are what truly make Farmingdale special.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students and to one another. It is
inspiring to work alongside colleagues who share such a deep dedication to educating
and preparing the next generation. Your efforts continue to shape the lives of our
students and strengthen the future of our College.
I wish you all a restful, enjoyable, and well-deserved summer. Take time to recharge
and rejuvenate, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the
year ahead.
Robert S. Prezant, PhD
President
Professor of Biology
