National searches have begun for two new Cornell vice presidents who will lead the university in the key strategic areas of government affairs, community relations, communications and media relations.
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Francille M. Firebaugh, vice provost for land grant affairs and special assistant to the president, is chairing the search committee in government and community relations. Robert J. Swieringa, dean of the Johnson Graduate School of Management, is chairing the search committee in communications and media relations.
Both vice presidents will report directly to President Jeffrey S. Lehman, who announced July 3 that he was dividing the former division of university relations into two separate divisions to provide enhanced attention to these vital aspects of university activity.
Swieringa said the vice president for communications and media relations will be responsible for all aspects of communication strategy concerning Cornell and its many constituent schools, colleges and programs worldwide. The vice president will lead the activities of six units that educate members of the public, as well as the university community, about activities and innovations at Cornell.
Committee members are Bruce Lewenstein, associate professor of science communication; David Bathrick, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Theater, Film and Dance; Linda Grace-Kobas, director of the Cornell News Service; Jeff McCarthy, director of principal gifts, alumni affairs and development; Michelle Moody-Adams, professor of philosophy and director, Ethics and Public Life Program; and Martha Mutschler, professor of plant breeding. Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources, is an ex officio member of the committee.
Swieringa said the committee met recently to review the job description and discuss candidate recruitment.
"We want to operate with an aggressive timetable," Swieringa said. "This is a position of leadership that is vital to Cornell's image, position and relationships with its many constituents, both internal and external."
Firebaugh said the vice president for government and community relations will direct the associations and interactions between Cornell and state and federal governments and local community organizations. Responsibilities will include coordinating Cornell's contribution to the discussion of federal and state policies affecting higher education; providing leadership to and working collaboratively with Cornell's administrative and academic leadership on relevant local, state and federal issues and legislation, including legislative budget advocacy; continuing strong ties between Cornell and local, state and federal elected and appointed officials; and enhancing the relationships between Cornell and the community. The vice president will oversee offices in Ithaca, Washington and Albany and represent Cornell's New York City-based Weill Medical College in federal and state relations.
"A search committee for the position of vice president for government and community relations has been formed and firms are being solicited to help with the search," Firebaugh said. "We hope to fill this key position by the end of December."
Committee members include Richard Burkhauser, professor of policy analysis and management; Helene Dillard, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension and professor of plant pathology; John Gutenberger, director of community relations; Stephen Kresovich, professor of plant breeding and genomics; James Mingle, university counsel; and John Silcox, professor of engineering and applied and engineering physics. Richard Duell, senior policy advisor, planning and budgeting, is an ex officio member of the committee.
On behalf of the search committees, Lehman is soliciting faculty and staff nominations and comments for these positions. Contact Opperman at mgo5@cornell.edu about the vice president for communications and media relations and Duell at rjd3@cornell.edu about the vice president for government and community relations.
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