Seawolves Set Sail for Adventure

Alumni Association’s Travel Program Expands After Debut Danube Cruise

By Christine McGrath

The intrepid group of Seawolves in front of the Mozart Monument in Mozartplatz, Salzburg, Austria

This past December, a group of Seawolves alumni and friends embarked on the first journey of the university’s Alumni and Friends Travel Program, sailing along the Danube River and visiting some of Europe’s most iconic Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. Following the program’s successful debut, the Stony Brook Alumni Association is now expanding its offerings to provide more Seawolves the opportunity to travel together, build new relationships and reconnect with their alma mater.

The Alumni Association launched the program in 2025, “offering alumni a meaningful new way to engage with the university and one another,” said Jennifer Filasky, senior director of constituent experience, alumni and events. “Participants travel alongside fellow alumni and friends who share background, interests and a connection to Stony Brook. The program gives us another opportunity to meet alumni and friends where they are — looking for connection, learning and memorable experiences — while reinforcing their lifelong relationship with the university in a fresh and impactful way.”

The inaugural trip took travelers on a seven‑night river cruise from Nuremberg, Germany, to Vienna, Austria, following the Danube through historic cities, UNESCO World Heritage sites and imperial landmarks of the Habsburg dynasty. Travelers enjoyed scenic sailing paired with guided tours and guest lectures — including a talk by Kristina von Trapp Frame, granddaughter of Maria von Trapp, whose life inspired the legendary film and musical The Sound of Music.

“The cruise was a natural fit as our inaugural trip because it embodied everything the alumni travel program is designed to offer,” said Filasky. “The Christmas markets along the Danube are a bucket‑list experience for many travelers, yet their short seasonal window can make them difficult to plan for. That sense of a limited‑time, can’t‑miss opportunity made this journey especially compelling as our first offering.”

Jack Donnelly and his wife, Jennifer Ogozalek, a Children’s Hospital Ronald McDonald Family Room volunteer and donor, in Salzburg, Austria

The program brought together a diverse mix of undergraduate and graduate alumni, parents of alumni, a Stony Brook Medicine volunteer, and family and friends. “It was incredibly meaningful to see all of these different groups chatting as if they had known each other for years,” Filasky said. “That kind of instant connection is exactly what we hope this program creates — experiences that bring people together in the moment and deepen their relationship with Stony Brook long after they return home. When alumni and friends share these journeys, they strengthen not only their personal ties but the broader alumni network, building a community that continues to support the university and one another in lasting, meaningful ways.”

Since the inaugural trip to Europe, alumni and friends have also traveled to the Galápagos Islands. For full details on all upcoming trips, visit stonybrook.edu/alumnitravel.