Lindsay France/University Photography

Andrew and Ann Tisch receive a round of applause at a reception in their honor Sept. 26 at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.

 

"Great teachers have changed our lives," said Cornell trustee Andrew Tisch '71; and attracting the best teachers, scholars and researchers to Cornell at a time of widespread baby-boomer retirements, he said, is more important now than ever.

A new $35 million gift from Tisch and his wife, Ann Rubenstein Tisch, announced today, will create the Tisch University Professorships -- designed to attract the most sought-after professors to Cornell from around the world and honor those already here.

Andrew Tisch spoke at a reception for him and his wife today on the sixth floor of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.

Lindsay France/University Photography

Ann Tisch and David Skorton share a moment at a luncheon celebrating the establishment of the Tisch University Professorships.

He presented a blunt appraisal. "My generation seems to have screwed things up royally," Tisch said. "We started out with great intentions in the '60s and '70s but got sidetracked. It's up to those who can to right our societal wrongs. The university is the place where solutions should emanate ... we need to keep these institutions vibrant and relevant.

"Cornell does not work without dedication," Tisch said. "I salute all of those who are dedicated to its success. I thank you for allowing me to be part of such a great institution."

In thanking the Tisches, Cornell President David Skorton called the $35 million endowment "visionary ... not just because of the monetary strength of the gift, but because of its orientation.

"Andrew and Ann recognize that even the prospect of this enormous wave of retirements further intensifies the competition for the top scholars and teachers and creators and discoverers," Skorton said.

"These funds will be used energetically and strategically in areas of key importance to the university ... creating an ethos of excellence; making Tisch professorships synonymous with the best faculty on campus and the most groundbreaking initiatives throughout Cornell."

Lindsay France/University Photography

Ann and Andrew Tisch speak about the importance of education at a reception in the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.

Andrew Tisch is co-chairman of the board and chairman of the executive committee of Loews Corp.; Ann Tisch, a former national reporter for NBC, is the founder and president of The Young Women's Leadership Foundation.

In 2002, Andrew Tisch and brother James S. Tisch '75 established the Andrew H. and James S. Tisch Distinguished University Professorship, the university's highest honor, awarded to a faculty member nearing retirement.

Will Provine, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and the second Tisch Distinguished University Professor, spoke about the effect of the 2002 gift on his own career -- and on the career of historian Walter LaFeber, the first to receive the honor, who has been a longtime mentor to the Tisches.

"We both were thinking of genuinely retiring and were not anticipating being back teaching again," Provine said. "For both of us, it rejuvenated our teaching. Walt told me he had three of the best years of teaching in all of his time at Cornell, and I can certainly tell you the same was true for me as well."

"It was a wonderful gift," Provine said. "It gives to us, it gives to the students, it gives to everyone at Cornell."

The only thing better, he added, would be a similar opportunity for scholars earlier in their careers -- which is just what the Tisch University Professorships will provide.

Geoffrey Coates, professor of chemistry and chemical biology, is the first to be nominated for the post.

"It's a real honor," Coates said. "It provides the sort of long-term, no-strings funding that will allow me to tackle big problems that I can't ordinarily do with short-term, more restricted funding. So it's really a unique opportunity to be able to do the sort of science that I've always dreamed of."