New Vice President Will Oversee Stony Brook Southampton Campus

Stony Brook University has named Wendy Pearson as its new vice president for strategic initiatives. Pearson, who will begin the position on November 1, replaces Matthew Whelan, who resigned in 2020 to become president of Caldwell University in New Jersey.

Pearson, who most recently served as the senior advisor to the provost at the University of Hawaii, will report to Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis and work with campus leaders and partners to identify and advance Stony Brook’s institutional priorities.

In a release announcing Pearson’s appointment, the university stated that among her responsibilities would be to ensure the implementation of the recently completed strategic plan, including developing an overall plan for the Southampton campus, which has languished with enrollment dwindling since Whelan’s departure.

New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., who last February blasted Stony Brook as the biggest “slumlord” on the East End for allowing many buildings on the campus to deteriorate so badly they had to be condemned, offered tempered praise for Pearson’s hiring.

“I am pleased to hear of the long overdue appointment of Wendy Pearson as vice president for strategic initiatives, including responsibility for the Southampton campus,” he said. “After years of neglect, there is much to do so that the Southampton campus can meet its unfulfilled potential. I look forward to working with Ms. Pearson to ensure that the campus is again something Stony Brook University and the Southampton community can be proud of.”

McInnis praised Pearson for having “a proven track record of both convening key stakeholders on and beyond campus while connecting them to accomplish the wider strategic vision that moves priorities forward.”

“I am honored to join this dynamic community of scholars and innovators,” said Pearson. “Leaving Hawaii for New York represents an exciting new chapter, and I am eager to contribute to the remarkable progress and bold initiatives of Stony Brook University. I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to turn shared vision into reality, to drive positive change, and to make a lasting impact.”

In her most recent position at the University of Hawaii, Pearson provided strategic guidance and support and helped drive the provost’s agenda in policy and program development, communications, and analyses of new campus programs and initiatives. She led a collaborative, four-year effort to reaffirm the campus’ accreditation from the Senior College & University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, resulting in 10-year reaffirmation.

Pearson also worked on the university’s Strategic Investment Competition, a campus-wide initiative to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration. In this capacity, she was responsible for soliciting and selecting proposals alongside campus leaders, ultimately awarding $3 million in start-up funds to deserving projects.

Pearson worked closely with the president, provost, and cabinet members throughout the pandemic on strategic budgeting, hiring, and aligning academic programs to address budget challenges.

Her previous roles at Hawaii include academic affairs program officer in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, where she managed program review and the development and modification of academic programs, and special projects manager for the School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies.

She also served as program coordinator in the Center for Peace & Conflict Studies/Detroit Council for World Affairs at Wayne State University, coordinating curriculum development and Japan study tours for public school teachers.

Pearson earned her master’s degree in Asian Studies (Japan) at the University of Hawaii through a degree fellowship with the East-West Center and a bachelor of arts in Journalism from Michigan State University.