On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Farmingdale State College (FSC) hosted four distinguished university presidents for Our Collective Reality: Challenges and Opportunities Facing Higher Education Today. Part of President Prezant’s Inspiring Leadership lecture series, the session brought together leaders from across Long Island, including FSC President Robert S. Prezant, PhD, Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith, PhD, SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy E. Sams, PhD, and New York Institute of Technology President and CEO Jerry Balentine, FACEP, DO.
Moderated by Kara Cannon, executive director of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, the conversation offered valuable perspectives and covered a range of topics such as the evolving perception of the value of a college degree, “AI-proofing” students, and rebuilding public trust in higher education.
“There is a general, negative perception [around higher education] that I don’t think we’ve seen in a very long time,” said Cannon. “We are here to talk about the challenges facing higher education today and all of the opportunities that exist because of this network of colleges and universities.”
“A college degree is going to generate a million, a million and a half more in salary over a lifetime and a lot more opportunities,” said President Prezant. “The return on investment is worth the work.”
“A challenging time is always a great time for change. And, if you have the right leaders, if you have the right setup, that change can be positive,” said Balentine. “Higher education is an incredible value for each individual, and for us as a society as well. But we have to change the narrative.”
“My college experience transformed my life,” said Sams. “I went from an environment where I was constantly told, ‘You cannot,’ to one where the expectation was, ‘You can do anything.’ That was transformational because I believed it, and it made a difference in my life.”
The panel also shared their thoughts regarding the critical thinking and civic discourse made possible with a college experience, as well as navigating a changing technological landscape with artificial intelligence (AI).
“AI is here to stay,” said Goldsmith. “It’s a transformative technology, but no technology is a substitute for what makes us human, which is human engagement. We have to teach our students how to be adaptable, resilient, and robust and use their creativity, their way of thinking about the world, to make them AI proof, technology proof in their careers.”
Looking ahead, the panelists highlighted how institutions can collaboratively navigate challenges, continue to innovate with university-driven research, and effectively serve the broader community and their student body.
“Communication is key, especially communication with our students,” said President Prezant. “As I talk to students, I tell them, ‘Follow your passion. If you love it, follow it.’ Farmingdale State is a remarkable place and, I think my colleagues will agree, our students are hardworking, focused, smart, energetic, and goal-oriented and ready to meet the needs of the future.”
“It was eye opening to get a perspective from the president’s point of view,” said Juliette Jordan, ’26, a science, technology, and society major. “Being approachable to speak about these different topics makes me feel a lot more confident. The great thing about this campus is it’s so diverse and these perspectives just make it a more well-rounded school.”
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