Harris Search Associates Completes Search for Stony Brook University
December 17, 2025 – Following an extensive national search that included a highly competitive, diverse candidate pool from across the country, Harris Search Associates has placed Melissa Finucane as the inaugural William and Jane Knapp Endowed Infinity chair at Stony Brook University. “Developing and implementing climate change adaptation and response plans must combine sound climate and climate impacts data with social science analysis and approaches to be most effective,” said Paul Shepson, dean of the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. “Dr. Finucane’s experience and team building abilities will further solidify Stony Brook’s status as a leader in climate change solutions and she will inspire and guide our students to become leaders in this field.”
“In Dr. Finucane, we found an expert who understands the dynamics between physical and societal facets of climate change, including policy, environmental justice and socio-economics,” said Carl W. Lejuez, Stony Brook University executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Her expertise and experience aligns perfectly with Stony Brook’s commitment to catalyzing innovation to support our state, nation and the global community. We are deeply grateful to William and Jane Knapp for their support for this vital work.”
With more than 25 years of experience in non-profit research, education and outreach, Dr. Finucane combines a deep understanding of climate change adaptation and resilience, disaster policy analysis, environmental and health risk perception, and communication and social equity performance evaluation. Most recently, she was the vice president of science and innovation at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Previously, she worked at the RAND Corporation, including two years as the co-director of their Climate Resilience Center.
Ms. Finucane’s expertise combines social and behavioral science and other sciences with the goal of advancing evidence-based solutions to environmental and health challenges, with a particular focus on underserved communities. She has led multi-million dollar, use-inspired science programs aimed at increasing the use of scientific evidence in public and private decision making processes. Those projects include efforts to examine and develop practical tools to support public decision making, including for public utility companies and disaster response programs. She helped to develop resilience programs for disaster-prone communities along the Gulf coast.
“We are honored to have created the William and Jane Knapp Endowed Infinity chair and look forward to welcoming Melissa Finucane to the role and to Stony Brook,” said William Knapp, economics and member of the Stony Brook Foundation board of trustees. “The Knapp Infinity chair appointment represents an innovative, prestigious endowed position designed to help formulate adaptation strategies and effective responses to one of the most pressing issues of our time.”
“We are delighted to welcome Melissa as the inaugural Knapp Endowed Infinity chair at Stony Brook,” said Jane Knapp, art history and criticism and a past president of Stony Brook’s Alumni Association. “Her experience and expertise in developing resilience plans that connect the science of climate change to a deep understanding of risk communication and policy planning represents the next step in Stony Brook’s position as a climate leader, and we are proud to be able to support this critical work.”
Proven Search Firm
Harris Search Associates, an IIC Partners member firm, is a global higher education executive search and board advisory consulting firm with 44 offices in 33 countries worldwide. The firm’s higher education executive search practice is focused on identifying and attracting leaders to support the growth of clients in the areas of research, science, engineering, academic medicine, and healthcare enterprises. Clients include leading universities, research parks, institutes, academic medical centers, and healthcare organizations driving global innovation and discovery. Founded in 1997, Harris Search Associates was modeled after the first premier management consulting firms, in addition to its Ohio headquarters, the firm has regional offices in San Francisco and Dallas.
Harris Search Associates Recruits CIO for Northwest State Community College
Following a national search that included a highly competitive, diverse candidate pool, Harris Search Associates has recruited Darin Seiler as chief information officer of Northwest State Community College. Mr. Seiler has over 25 years of technology experience, driving data-informed decision-making and leading transformative IT initiatives. He most recently served as chief information officer at Adrian College where he oversaw all areas of administrative and academic technologies and led a team of seven full-time staff, and 13 part-time student workers.
Jeffrey Harris is the founder of the firm and leads the higher education, academic medicine, and healthcare administration practices. Prior to establishing the firm in 1997, Mr. Harris worked five years for a leading retained executive search firm where he concentrated on senior assignments on behalf of leading engineering, research, and health sciences clients. He is the global leader of the IIC Partners higher education/academic medicine practice, and from 2010 to 2013, was appointed to the board of IIC Partners as vice chair for the Americas.
Related: Harris Search Associates Retained by Ferris University to Lead Provost Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
