11. Samuel Stanley

As leader of Long Island’s largest single-site employer and the region’s only public research university, Dr. Samuel Stanley’s influence is on the local economy, science, and of course, the academic achievements of the more the 25,000 students enrolled there. During his tenure, this distinguished biomedical researcher spearheaded the university’s most successful year of fundraising to help advance the institution’s mission. He was appointed to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, working to improve the region’s economy with green technology and other initiatives. That’s in addition to serving on the boards of the SUNY Research Foundation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and NJ, and the Long Island Association, plus chairing the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. Most recently, in addition to collaborating with Brookhaven National Laboratory, he also inked a partnership with Mount Sinai Health System to collaborate on research projects, medical education and clinical trials. There’s no question: Stanley is relentless in his pursuit of excellence when it comes to Long Island.