A new Task Force on Cornell’s Global Presence and Partnerships, established by Fredrik Logevall, vice provost for international affairs, will begin work in February.

The task force is charged with developing strategies to enhance Cornell’s global presence and the establishment of broad partnerships with key international academic institutions, government organizations, NGOs and other international entities. The task force will reach out to Cornell’s academic and administrative leaders, faculty and staff across the university to develop its recommendations.

It will consider the feasibility of establishing permanent physical bureaus – from simple offices to full “consulates” – in key cities around the world, along with websites to promote Cornell’s global visibility. The task force also will consider ways to seek, develop and implement academic partnerships that would involve one or more Cornell college or school. The task force is expected to deliver its findings and recommendations in a report to Logevall by July 1.

“The Task Force on Cornell’s Global Presence and Partnerships responds to one of the five priority areas that Vice Provost Logevall identified in his ‘Advancing Cornell’s International Dimension’ call to action,” said task force chair Alfonso Torres, professor and associate dean for public policy at the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Our work has the potential to further expand Cornell’s already robust engagement with colleagues around the globe. We are keen to identify international opportunities that support or enhance the research, teaching and outreach interests of Cornell’s scholarly community.”

In addition to Torres, task force members are: Laurie Damiani, director of international initiatives, Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs; Timothy DeVoogd, professor of psychology and director of the Latin America Studies Program; Marina Markot, director of Cornell Abroad; Robin McNeal, associate professor of Chinese history and literature in the Department of Asian Studies and associate director for China initiatives in the East Asia Program; and Norma Schwab, associate university counsel.