Stony Brook Leadership Team Announcement
January 6, 2025
Dear Stony Brook Campus Community,
I write to you with mixed emotions to share the news that Justin Fincher, interim chief deputy to the president and senior vice president of government and community relations, has accepted a position as managing director for Huron | GG+A Global Philanthropy. Justin’s last day at Stony Brook will be February 7.
Since I arrived on campus last summer, I have often observed how fortunate I feel to work in such a world-class institution and among such remarkable colleagues. Justin is at the very top of that list.
As my chief advisor, Justin has provided invaluable insight and perspective in innumerable ways. His abilities to find clarity and direction in the most complex situations, to see around corners, and to build consensus around key strategic decisions, have been critical to the resolution of difficult issues and the achievement of tremendous successes. Justin is remarkably astute in his judgments, yet he always shares his perspective without a trace of hubris or arrogance. Justin’s wisdom is matched by his compassion, and he brings both to bear as he advocates tirelessly for his colleagues and for Stony Brook University. He has been a source of inspiration for me personally and for many others across the University.
Since he joined Stony Brook in 2021 as vice president for advancement and executive director of the Stony Brook Foundation, Justin has built an extraordinary advancement organization. Under Justin’s leadership, the advancement team drove record results year after year, significantly increasing philanthropy and implementing new collaborative metrics, comprehensive training and disciplined processes to accelerate sustainable growth.
Justin was a chief architect of the historic $500 million Simons Infinity Investment, a transformative gift whose impact will be felt for generations to come. He has also been instrumental in several other key initiatives, including the Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program and Stony Brook’s winning proposal to anchor The New York Climate Exchange.
Justin’s biggest source of pride is the advancement team he built. His relentless commitment to the mission of the University and to recruiting expert talent to advance that mission helped fuel rapid growth in the advancement division which nearly doubled its size in three years. Justin’s deep commitment to leadership development and organizational effectiveness have had a profound impact on the division during this formative period. With a philosophy based on the tenets of collaboration, innovation and accountability, Justin has transformed the culture of the advancement team into an organization that works together across functions, invests time and resources in building relationships, encourages calculated risks and rewards initiative and follow-through.
Justin has said that the true value of leaders lies in their ability to develop, equip and inspire a team to operate successfully and at a higher level, even when leadership changes. We have seen his words come to fruition, as the advancement organization has proven that it is exceptionally prepared to drive continued record growth and success under Scott Barrett’s leadership as Justin’s successor. Justin has had the same transformative impact on the government and community relations team, the University Cabinet and on many others throughout Stony Brook who have been fortunate to work with him.
We will greatly miss Justin’s leadership and his wisdom. I will personally miss him as my closest confidant and as someone for whom I have deep personal regard, trust and admiration. Please join me in wishing Justin the very best as he goes on to share his talents at Huron | GG+A Global Philanthropy and across the broader landscape of higher education. Justin, please know that as you leave you have our affection and our thanks.
Sincerely,
Richard L. McCormick
Interim President