Presidential Search Committee to host campus forums

As part of its commitment to an inclusive search process, the Presidential Search Committee will hold three open forums on the Ithaca campus April 28: one for Cornell staff members, noon-1 p.m., in Alice Statler Auditorium, Statler Hall; one for faculty, 4:45-6 p.m., in PepsiCo Auditorium, Stocking Hall; and one for students, 4:45-6 p.m., in the Memorial Room, Willard Straight Hall. The open forum for staff also will be live-streamed on CornellCast, and Cornell Dining meal vouchers will be provided to the first 250 attendees.

The forums will gather input on the following questions:

  • In recent history, what initiatives do you believe have been most critical to Cornell’s success?
  • What are the key challenges and opportunities that Cornell will face over the next five to 10 years?
  • What are the key attributes the next president of Cornell needs to have to successfully lead the university?

Smaller group meetings with deans; vice provosts; senior staff; employee, student and alumni leaders; the university faculty committee; and trustees have also been scheduled. An open meeting for faculty and staff members at Weill Cornell Medical College will be held April 18, 3-5 p.m., and with Weill leadership, April 24, 4:30-5:30 p.m., both at 1300 York Ave., New York City.

Individuals who are unable to participate in an open forum but would like to provide input on the search are invited to send an email to the Presidential Search Committee at cu-pres-search@cornell.edu. Nominations for candidates can be sent to cornellsearch@spencerstuart.com.

The input from these campus outreach events will be used to inform the position statement that will be used to recruit candidates for the presidency.

Cornell Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Harrison ’76 appointed the 19-member Presidential Search Committee, which is chaired by Jan Rock Zubrow ’77, after President David Skorton announced March 10 that he would step down at the end of June 2015 to become secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

More information is available on the Presidential Search website.

Media Contact

John Carberry