4. Samuel L. Stanley, Jr.

For the past four years, Samuel Stanley has led one of the nation’s most prestigious research institutions: Stony Brook University. A champion of academic and industry collaborations, Stanley serves as vice-chair of Brookhaven Science Associates, which co-manages Brookhaven National Laboratory. He also serves on the board of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. A renowned biomedical researcher who holds multiple scientific patents, Stanley isn’t limited to the lab. He serves on the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, working to improve the economy through projects related to renewable energy, information technology and biotechnology. After all, he is at the helm of an institution that generates an estimated $4.7 billion annually in regional economic impact. With the newly created New York Energy Policy Institute on campus—a consortium of research centers and experts to advise the state on energy policy—Stanley literally holds our future in his hands.