Laura Lindenfeld

Dr. Laura Lindenfeld was named Dean of the School of Communication and Journalism effective March 1, 2020, after previously serving as Interim Dean.

Dr. Lindenfeld joined Stony Brook University as Executive Director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and Professor in the School of Journalism in 2016. Previously, she served as Professor of Communication and Director of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, a nonpartisan, independent research center at the University of Maine. In 2015, she received the University of Maine Presidential Public Service Award. As a scholar and a leader, Dr. Lindenfeld is deeply dedicated to supporting growth and innovation in higher education, a commitment she has brought to her work at Stony Brook’s Alda Center. As the Alda Center Director, she oversees a dynamic organization that has trained over 14,000 scientists worldwide and introduced over 50,000 people to the Alda Method®. The Center provides international leadership in conducting and connecting research and practice to advance clear science and medical communication.

Dr. Lindenfeld holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies from the University of California, Davis. As a communication researcher, her work draws inspiration from the idea that we can make better, more informed decisions about how we shape our collective future. Her research focuses on how we can advance meaningful, productive interactions with communities, stakeholders, and decision-makers by strengthening linkages between knowledge and action. Much of Dr. Lindenfeld’s research has focused specifically on environmental and sustainability communication. She has sought to help us understand how we can support effective stakeholder engagement, build strong interdisciplinary teams, and communicate science more effectively. Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant Program, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture. With a keen interest in food culture, Laura has dedicated significant effort to investigating the relationship of food and media, as well as to understanding how we can create more sustainable food production systems. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and reviews in a range of journals such as Science Communication, Ecology and Society, Environmental Communication, Sustainability Science, Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, and Food and Foodways. Laura's 2016 book (co-authored with Fabio Parasecoli), Feasting Our Eyes: Food Films and Cultural Identity in the United States, was published by Columbia University Press.