STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook University Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron has named Rob DeVita as the Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. DeVita joins the Seawolves' Athletics Department after leading the Athletic Communications office at St. Francis College Brooklyn for the past three years.
 
"The Stony Brook Athletics family is excited to welcome Rob. He is a seasoned communications professional who understands what it takes to be successful and will undoubtedly help to elevate our department moving forward," said Heilbron.
 
As the Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications, DeVita is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the Athletic Communications office.
 
"I would like to thank Shawn Heilbron, Rob Emmerich, and the entire hiring committee for the exciting opportunity to lead Stony Brook's Athletic Communications team. The passion, excitement, and enthusiasm that I have witnessed from our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators over my first several days on campus has been tremendous. I am grateful to be a member of this prestigious University and will serve it proudly," said DeVita.
 
DeVita served as the Director of Athletic Communications at St. Francis Brooklyn for the past three years where he was the primary media relations contact for the entire Athletics Department. While at St. Francis, he oversaw and transformed the Athletic Communications office. During his tenure he successfully broadened the external reach of SFC through local and national media placements, social media strategy, as well as increased broadcasting initiatives.
 
He was responsible for the creation and implementation of department communication policies, contributed to internal communication efforts working in conjunction with key stakeholders on campus, and developed social media training sessions for over 300 student-athletes annually.
 
In the 2020-21 academic year, DeVita assumed the role of game management official for men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's volleyball. He worked closely with the athletic administration, College officials, and conference office to ensure St. Francis provided a suitable and safe gameday experience through the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Before his role at St. Francis, he spent two years (2016-18) as the Director of New Media/Communications at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). While at the MAAC, DeVita was the conference's primary media relations contact for the sports of men's basketball, baseball, men's lacrosse, men's soccer, volleyball, and water polo. He also served as the media coordinator for the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Albany Regional.
 
As the Director of New Media/Communications, DeVita assisted the Assistant Commissioner for New Media in the marketing, content development, championship operations, promotion, and development of the MAAC brand through the league's various forms of new and social media.
 
Prior to joining the MAAC in October of 2016, DeVita served as a Media Relations Associate with the New York Mets. Before his stint with the Mets, he spent time at St. Francis Brooklyn as an Athletic Communications Assistant during the 2015-16 academic year. While at St. Francis during his first stop in Brooklyn Heights, DeVita also worked part-time for the Brooklyn Nets where he was a member of their Public Relations game night staff.
 
His career started in the New York Rangers Public Relations department as a Student Associate in January 2015, when the team made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
 
The Brooklyn, NY native earned his Bachelor's degree in Communication Arts from St. Francis Brooklyn in May 2015 and later received his Master's degree in Management from St. Francis in May 2021.