If you’d like to connect with Provost Carl Lejuez, chances are you’ll start by meeting his Executive Assistant, Wesam Hassanin – and you’ll be all the better for it. Those who get to know her liken her to a ray of sunshine.

“I feel like I’ve always been the person who people turn to when they need that smile, that hug, or a quick therapy session,” she says. “Yes, it’s important to get things done and be precise, be organized – but there’s something special about coming to work and not just doing your job, but also trying to make someone's day a little better with some cheerful, often cheesy positivity.”

Wesam’s warmth is matched by her humility, which prevents her from admitting that the Provost would struggle to keep up with his meetings, events and other obligations without her help. She takes his hectic schedule and weaves it into an intricate tapestry, expertly bringing order to the chaos.

Before she joined the Office of the Provost, Wesam held several positions at Stony Brook Medicine between 2003 and 2022. She spent the first few years as Accounts Manager for the Clinical Practice Management Plan (CPMP), then she went on to become Senior Administrative Assistant in the General Surgery and Trauma Unit after a brief stint as Cardiothoracic Administrative Assistant. Finally, she served as Executive Assistant to the Dean of the School of Nursing for the latter two years.

Wesam wasn’t looking to leave the School of Nursing any time soon, but when the dean accepted a role at another institution, she stumbled upon the open position in the Provost’s Office and started working her magic there.

“It was an opportunity that was presented when I wasn’t looking, and it was exactly what I needed,” she says. “I’m so happy I made the move. Best. Decision. EVER!”

Although Wesam enjoyed her time at the hospital and found some lifelong friends in her coworkers, she feels that the Office of the Provost is where she’s truly meant to be and that she’s part of a great team. She speaks highly of Provost Lejuez, Chief of Staff Kristi Henderson, and the rest of the people she works with on a daily basis.

“I've met so many different executives and have learned so much about how a university works from the inside out,” she says. “And it’s cool to be part of such an important team that extinguishes so many fires before they even surface anywhere else.”

In addition to working at Stony Brook, Wesam runs Po’ Boy Brewery in Port Jeff Station with her husband Bobby. Bobby handles the brewing while Wesam takes care of the backend, managing bartenders, schedules, menus and customer relations. Po’ Boy celebrated its sixth anniversary on Friday, January 27. 

“I always say that I work three full-time jobs – at Stony Brook, at the Brewery, and as a mother of three boys,” she says. “Ali and Noah are in college and Seena is a Junior in high school – they are my entire world and the reason I wake up smiling every day and ready to combat whatever challenges I may be facing.”

In January of 2021, Wesam was diagnosed with breast cancer. She continues to battle the disease today.

“On top of everything that’s been going on, I’ve been in and out of doctors’ offices, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for appointments and infusions,” she says. “But Stony Brook has been super accommodating. They’ve offered alternatives to help me focus on my health and well-being while continuing to work throughout the course of my treatment. I’ve been fighting hard and trying my best to not skip a beat.”

She's received surgery and radiation from doctors at Stony Brook University Hospital and has benefited from Stony Brook’s adherence to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

“I only have positive things to say about Stony Brook, always, because it's been a wonderful journey for me. As an alum, employee and patient of the institution, I am grateful for the outstanding education, innovative and diverse workplace, and exceptional patient care,” she declares. “It’s more than just a college or a research institution – it’s a beautiful family and community of students, faculty, staff, researchers and patients. I will forever be a Seawolf!”