Stony Brook University has appointed Jennifer Almquist as chief of staff to President Andrea Goldsmith, effective August 18, 2025. Almquist will join the president’s cabinet and act as a senior strategic advisor and counselor on a range of internal and external matters.
In her new role, Almquist will help implement the university’s vision and priorities. She will oversee major projects and serve as the main liaison between the president’s office and key stakeholders such as the State University of New York (SUNY) System, the Stony Brook Council, and advocacy organizations.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Almquist to Stony Brook University and my leadership team,” said Goldsmith. “Jennifer is an exceptionally talented and visionary leader with an outstanding track record in strategic planning and execution, stakeholder engagement, governance and university operations. This background and experience, coupled with her collaborative team spirit, make her an invaluable partner in taking Stony Brook to new heights of excellence and impact across research, education, healthcare and service to our community, our great state, the country and the world. Our ability to attract such a talented leader validates the importance of our mission and our infinite possibilities going forward.”
Almquist has previously served as chief of staff for five university presidents at two institutions. Most recently she was chief of staff at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), where she also acted as liaison to the board of trustees. At UNC she provided executive leadership in areas including strategic planning, communications, board governance, government relations at both state and federal levels, university events, and cross-institutional initiatives.
Before UNC, Almquist was chief of staff at Oregon State University. She has also held administrative roles at Stanford University and the University of Michigan.
“I am incredibly excited to join Stony Brook University at this pivotal moment,” said Almquist. “The university’s vibrant intellectual community, its dedication to research, education, and public service, and its commitment to diversity deeply resonate with me. I look forward to collaborating with President Goldsmith, the faculty, staff, students, and community partners to advance Stony Brook’s strategic initiatives and amplify its impact as a national leader in public higher education.”
While at UNC Almquist led efforts for a ten-year strategic plan that involved broad stakeholder engagement along with developing metrics for progress tracking. She also played a significant part in launching a new osteopathic medical college by helping secure over $200 million in funding from both public sources and private donors while managing project alignment among teams.
Almquist holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Oregon State University. Her PhD is in applied anthropology with research focused on academic organizations.
