Amy Prokop

Executive Assistant to the Dean of Nursing, School of Nursing
Start Date: August 3, 2022

Once you soak in the atmosphere of Stony Brook University, you’re destined to find your way back someday. Amy Prokop is living proof of this – and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You come to campus and you can feel this palpable energy where everyone is out for a common good,” she says. “It’s the pulse of the school, and it’s something I wanted to come back and contribute to.”

The first time around, Amy was a theater arts major with a minor in business administration. She worked various theater-related jobs throughout her undergraduate career, juggling classes and homework with regular commutes to Manhattan. Whether she was promoting Broadway shows or managing ad campaigns for Phantom of the Opera, Amy’s skill set burgeoned all the while.

“What I really love about theater, which has always been my passion, is the team effort aspect,” she says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re pulling strings behind the scenes or performing onstage – everyone’s coming together to tell a story that people can relate to and enjoy.”

Her administrative prowess and love for teamwork led her to revive a traffic court for the Village of Islandia despite having zero experience with law. She ran the place for 12 years before finally returning to her roots at Stony Brook in 2021, six years after her sister Julie graduated from an accelerated program at the School of Nursing (SON).

She recalls being amazed by the hard work and dedication of Julie and her classmates. As time went on, Amy grew more and more eager to start a new chapter in her career – and watching her sister selflessly care for babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) throughout the pandemic ignited a newfound passion for healthcare. Grateful for everything Stony Brook had given her as a student, she took a page out of her past and reunited with the campus community as a staff assistant for the SON.

“So many people from that theater program ended up circling back in some way to work at Stony Brook,” Amy says, referencing a former classmate who’s now a nurse in labor and delivery and another who works in the Neurology Department. “It’s just such a unique community – everything is a collaborative effort and everyone’s there to be a resource to everyone else. Who wouldn’t want to come back to that?”

When an associate dean Amy worked with, Patricia Bruckenthal, was promoted to dean of the SON, and former executive assistant Wesam Hassanin moved to the Office of the Provost, Amy was encouraged to assume the open position. Ever since, she’s been combining her talents as a team player, an expert administrator and a seasoned improviser to comprehensively serve the needs of the SON. 
 
“Amy brings her creative talents to work every day,” says Dean Bruckenthal. “She takes the lead in promoting all of the exciting things going on in the SON, and there are a lot! She keeps the momentum moving forward at all times, for which I am extremely grateful.”

Managing calendars and schedules is a given for executive assistants, but Amy finds that going with the flow is just as important as staying organized. “No matter how well prepared you are for the day ahead, another project or need might emerge,” she says. “A door could break, a facility or piece of equipment could require attention, a student might need help getting their transcript – you have to stay on your toes and adapt as you go.”

Amy thrives in this fast-paced environment and loves the excitement she feels on her way to work. Her school spirit is unrivaled, except perhaps by her dog Gracie, a 10-pound papillon who practically walks Amy when they roam around campus together. “I swear she thinks she’s Wolfie here,” Amy laughs.

Looking ahead, she eagerly awaits the SON Convocation ceremony on May 17, which she’s been working hard to help plan. As the PhD program assistant, she’s worked closely with some of the soon-to-be graduates all year long. “These students are so smart, passionate and driven in their careers,” she says. “It’s refreshing to see that. I can’t wait to help them celebrate this milestone.”