News and Events
May 2 2008:Larry Salameno '66, JD '69, gives $1.5 million for West Campus programming
Salameno learned about the West Campus residential community through conversations with Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services. He was also inspired to make a gift because of his undergraduate experiences.
May 2 2008:Sustainability center names three new associate directors
The Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future has named three new associate directors who will use their expertise in three key areas -- energy, environment and economic development.
Apr 11 2008:"Guess who's coming to dinner? My professor!"
Faculty-student relationships are at the heart of the West Campus House System, where residents enjoy frequent opportunities to interact with house fellows. On March 5, the concept was extended by encouraging students to invite any faculty member of importance to them.
Apr 10 2008:Persistent poverty is newest theme project for Institute for the Social Sciences
While social scientists have long researched the nature of poverty in terms of economics, geopolitics, social development, and other lines of inquiry, these veins are often tapped piecemeal. The Institute for the Social Sciences' fourth theme project, "Persistent Poverty and Upward Mobility," will be a holistic undertaking.
Apr 3 2008:Gates Foundation awards Cornell $26.8 million to lead fight against wheat disease
Cornell will use th efunds to aunch a global partnership to combat stem rust, a deadly wheat disease that poses a serious threat to global food security.
Apr 2 2008:Engineering alumni conference focuses on sustainability
Faculty and alumni at the conference, held March 28-29, called for systems-oriented solutions and a greater Cornell presence on the world stage.
Mar 25 2008:Jefferson Tester '66, MS '67, appointed the first Croll Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems
Tester, who was recruited from MIT, is expected to play a leadership role in the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future. He will speak on campus March 28-29.
Mar 27 2008:Mellon Foundation funds senior professorships in the humanities
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation willallocate $2.5 million toward the $12 million needed to endow three new senior humanities professorships. The challenge grant requires Cornell to raise $9.6 million over the next five years to receive the Mellon funds.
Mar 11 2008:Reflecting on the impact today of ten-year-old gifts
Like planting acres of seedlings, a comprehensive campaign like Far Above... The Campaign for Cornell is an act of faith that the results will grow stronger with time. We can gain perspective and inspiration by looking at the powerful impact of gifts made just ten years ago.
Mar 6 2008:Provost Martin advises Cornell to "be who we are and define our value in our own terms"
Martin delivered her second Academic State of the University Address March 5.
Feb 28 2008:Skorton responds to US Senate about endowment
The senate requested information on growth and spending for student aid from 136 colleges and universities with endowments of $500 million or more. Skorton's response included a cover letter and a highly detailed 25-page financial report (available at http://www.cornell.edu/president/).
Feb 29 2008:Weill Cornell and New York-Presbyerian Hospital share $50 million gift
The gift is from Ronald O. Perelman, chairman of MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings Inc. It will be divided between NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College. The gift will establish the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Care Institute and support new research and clinical care initiatives at the Center for Reproductive Medicine -- now renamed the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Feb 21 2008:Vet college receives over $7 million: its largest gift ever
The gift was made by Janet Swanson, spouse of John Swanson '61, BME '62, MME '63. It supports shelter medicine, wildlife medicine, and diagnostic equipment for the hospital.
Feb 14 2008:Harold Tanner '52 honors Hunter Rawlings with West Campus fellows endowment
Tanner's commitment supports the West Campus general program endowment, in particular the 87 house fellows, primarily faculty members, currently affiliated with Alice Cook, Carl Becker and Hans Bethe houses. Henceforth they will be known as Hunter R. Rawlings III House Fellows.
Feb 14 2008:Watch the Meeting of the Minds faculty discussion in Manhattan
At Big Red in the Big Apple, seven of Cornell's top scholars tackled topics such as health, food, and economics, and Cornell's international and intellectual missions.
Jan 31 2008:Cornell eliminates loans for students from families earning under $75,000
Cornell will fund the incremental cost of the initiative from an increase in payout from its endowment, new gifts, and reallocations of existing budget resources over the next two years. The annual cost of the initiative is expected to increase the university's total annual financial aid expenditure by an additional $14 million when fully implemented.
Feb 7 2008:NYC Cornell Cares service helps alumnus "recreate himself"
Richard Marin, B.A. '75, MBA '76, executive-in-residence at the Johnson School, reflects on his day of service at Big Red in the Big Apple.
Jan 29 2008:Anonymous donor honors James McConkey by endowing creative writing stipend
The James McConkey Summer Fellowship in Creative Writing will support a second-year MFA student who is completing a thesis.
Jan 26 2008:$2 billion milestone announced at Big Red in the Big Apple
Cornell's "$4 billion aspiration" -- its five-year Far Above campaign -- is halfway there, with $2 billion raised since the campaign was launched in October 2006.
Jan 25 2008:Big Red in the Big Apple inspires, informs
"A Meeting of the Minds" faculty panel, "Far Above: The Celebrration" and a Cornell Cares service day brought togethert more than 1,000 Cornellians.
Jan 31 2008:Students benefit from the Cornell Annual Fund's financial aid support
Gifts to the Annual Fund enabled these talented students to earn a transformative Cornell education and go on to leave their marks on the world.
Jan 28 2008:Cornellians pitch in for Cornell Cares service across NYC
Cornell alumni, students and taff volunteers at sites across New York City for Cornell Cares, an activity organized by the Cornell Public Service Center. The event was part of the Big Red in the Big Apple celebration.
Jan 26 2008:Seven of Cornell's brightest minds meet in Manhattan
The scholars tackled topics ranging from global politics and crises in health, food and economics, to Cornell's international and intellectual missions before a large audience of Cornellians in midtown Manhattan.
Jan 25 2008:More on Big Red in the Big Apple
On January 25 and 26, more than 1,000 alumni and friends gathered in New York City to celebrate Cornell University's and Weill Cornell Medical College's $4 billion campaign and global leadership in higher education, research, and public service.
Jan 17 2008:Cornell prepares to celebrate "Big Red in the Big Apple"
A panel of top Cornell faculty members, a reception for more than 1,000 Cornellians and a day of volunteer service projects will highlight "Big Red in the Big Apple," January 25-26 in New York City.
Jan 17 2008:Examining the early success of North Campus and West Campus
Early measures of student satisfaction with North Campus have been promising. Administrators are now focusing on making residential life more appealing to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with West Campus.
Jan 16 2008:How the campaign helps students, one at a time
The campaign aims to raise $640 million for students, including $200 million for endowed undergraduate scholarships. See how personal the impact on students--and donors--can be.
Dec 6 2007:Milstein Family Heart Center topped off with final beam
The final steel beam of the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center was raised on November 9. The heart center is scheduled to open January 2010.
Nov 28 2007:Plant breeder Kelvin Grant, PhD '07, gives back with a library scholarship
Although he has only been working for a few months, Grant has pledged $5,000 a year for 10 years so that Mann Library can hire minority students to work at its main desk.
Nov 29 2007:Sinclair scholars get to know their benefactor
Jackie Robinson Foundation Sinclair Scholars attended a dinner with Keith Sinclair, who, along with his wife, Esther Sinclair, established the scholarship in 2003. The couple has given more than $300,000 for scholarships for minority students.
Nov 28 2007:President Skorton announces West Campus acceleration in the
The West Campus houses will be finished two years early, in the fall of 2008. Skorton writes about the "neighborhood's" popularity ad encourages students to share their experiences.
Nov 15 2007:Cornell's CIO discusses endowment investment strategies
As he completes his first year as Cornell's chief investment officer, James Walsh describes the university's investment returns during the past 12 months -- a record 25.9 percent -- as "terrific." Cornell's endowment currently has a market value of approximately $5.5 billion, up from $4.3 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Nov 6 2007:Endowment boosts a rapidly growing economics department
With more than 600 students last year, economics is now the most popular major in the arts college. A $5 million gift from Cornell trustee Donald C. Opatrny '74 will bolster teaching and research efforts.
Nov 2 2007:Reflections on the $1 billion campaign milestone
Bryce Hoffman reflects on the faith in Cornell that donors have expressed by investing in its success.
Oct 19 2007:Skorton praises Cornell's record-breaking year in State of the University address
Cornell had the most successful fundraising year in its history, with $754.8 million in new gifts and commitments. And the Cornell Annual Fund reached a record $18.4 million -- a 29 percent increase over the previous year.
Oct 24 2007:Becker House "full of activity" with faculty and students
Becker House has a new Becker Café Scientifique series, hosted by faculty house fellows. It brings faculty and students together over a cup of coffee and great desserts to explore ideas.
Oct 19 2007:$71.5 million in gifts put Ithaca campaign over $1 billion
Cornell has received 14 major new gifts, including the largest donations in the university's history to the arts and humanities.
Oct 19 2007:Gifts for the social sciences will help attract and keep "the best people"
A pivotal campaign gift of $5 million from Cornell trustee Donald C. Opatrny '74 will bolster teaching and research efforts in the university's economics department, while an anonymous campaign gift of $5 million will endow the chair of the Department of Government.
Oct 19 2007:Publisher Kenneth Kahn '69 endows deanship for ILR School
"I view the ILR School as my rock," says Kenneth F. Kahn '69, whose $5 million gift to endow the deanship of the ILR School is the largest from a donor in the school's history.
Oct 19 2007:Drukiers' $5 million gift endows AAP deanship
A commitment to establish a $5 million endowment for the deanship of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning has been made by Cornell trustee Ira Drukier '66, M.Eng. '67, and his wife, Gale.
Oct 19 2007:Two major gifts will advance energy and sustainability research
University Council member David R. Atkinson '60 has pledged $1 million per year over three to five years to seed program activities and research in energy, the environment and economic development. Trustee David Croll '70 has pledged $5 million for the establishment of the David D. Croll Professorship of Sustainable Energy Systems in the College of Engineering and related programmatic funds.
Oct 19 2007:Alumna's final wish is granted: "Give my love to Cornell"
Through the Beatrice Moore Stump Endowment, the alumna has supported "worthy, needy" College of Arts and Sciences undergraduates with $3.25 million in scholarships. A further $3.25 million will give the college unrestricted support.
Oct 19 2007:Three gifts have transformed the Johnson Museum
When the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art threatened to burst at its I.M. Pei-designed seams, Presidential Councillors Susan Eckert Lynch and Bob Appel '53 and wife Helen '55 stepped forward with gifts.
Aug 29 2007:New Bailey Hall Plaza will be celebrated October 19
Crews pounded slabs of paving stone into place as work on Bailey Plaza moved toward completion this week. Construction is expected to continue for two more weeks with a ribbon-cutting ceremony slated for Oct. 19.
Jun 13 2007:$450 million gift announced in New York City
Weill Cornell Medical College announced today that it is the recipient of $400 million, made up of several major gifts, bringing the prestigious Medical College to the halfway mark in just the first seven months of its $1.3 billion capital campaign - "Discoveries that Make a Difference" - launched in October 2006.
May 25 2007:Milsteins honored at building naming ceremony
Naming the proposed new building of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP) for Paul Milstein is intended as a tribute to a major Cornell benefactor who attended New York University's College of Architecture as a young man, and then went on to transform and energize the urban landscape of New York City as an investor and real estate developer.
May 24 2007:Robert Katz '69 on why the Cornell Annual Fund is an essential resource
If you ask a thousand people why they give to Cornell, you might hear a thousand different responses. But if you ask them how they give to Cornell, a fair number and maybe even a majority will tell you that they give to the Cornell Annual Fund. The annual fund is one of Cornell's most essential resources because it supports every person, in every study, every year.
May 22 2007:Meinigs create innovative investigator positions for life sciences
Cornell President David Skorton has announced a $25 million gift from the family of Nancy '62 and Peter Meinig '61 to recognize and support outstanding, innovative faculty life sciences research at Cornell.
May 22 2007:President Skorton reflects on his first year at Cornell
As David Skorton prepares to deliver his first commencement address, he looks back on his first year as Cornell's 12th president -- what he learned, how he felt and even a few surprises he encountered along the way.
May 9 2007:New Center for Reproductive Genomics is established
Cornell University has established the Center for Reproductive Genomics, which will combine basic and clinical research in reproductive sciences on Cornell's Ithaca campus and at Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) in New York City, which has one of the country's leading fertility clinics. Infertility affects 10 to 15 percent of couples of childbearing age.
May 1 2007:Johnson Museum expansion will break ground next spring
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell is a victim of its own success. Since it opened in 1973, the museum's permanent collection has grown to 32,000 from 9,000 works of art from Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America, and more than 2 million people have visited the landmark building. Yet current gallery space in the 61,000-square-foot museum allows only 2.5 percent of the collection, or about 765 objects, to be displayed at one time.
Apr 12 2007:Landmark analysis of the rhesus macaque genome is completed
Cornell experts in computational biology and bioinformatics have made key contributions to the analysis of the genome of the rhesus macaque, better known as the rhesus monkey. The Cornell researchers were part of a consortium of some 200 scientists around the world whose work is reported in a special section of the April 13 issue of the journal Science.
Mar 13 2007:Three alumni have established the Clinton Rossiter Professorship in memory of their esteemed government professor.
Thanks to the effort of three notable Cornell alumni, the College of Arts and Sciences is planning to establish the Clinton Rossiter Professorship in American Institutions in the Department of Government. Pending final approval by the Cornell Board of Trustees, the endowment for the Rossiter professorship is expected to grow to $3 million. The professorship is designed to strengthen the college's teaching and scholarship in American politics while advancing the university's effort to endow faculty positions through the Cornell capital campaign.
Dec 22 2006:Department of Music receives its largest gift ever, $6.5 million
The Cornell Department of Music has received its largest gift ever, $6.5 million, from the estate of alumnus Sidney T. Cox, A.B. '47, M.A. '48 (1922-2005). This bequest, the culmination of a lifetime of giving to the department, will be designated to support three areas within the department's activities: the performing ensembles; concerts and lectures; and graduate education in musicology, composition and performance practice.
Dec 8 2006:Jim Mazza '88, director of the Campaign for Cornell, discusses the many roles Cornellians will play in the campaign.
Jim Mazza '88, director of the Campaign for Cornell, discusses the many roles Cornellians will play in the campaign.
Dec 1 2006:The Class of '74 has honored classmate Christopher Reeve with a scholarship fund and memorial plaque.
Christopher Reeve came to Cornell already a seasoned professional actor and with ambitions far beyond Ithaca. But he was proud to attend the same school as his grandfather.
Nov 17 2006:Leland "Lee" Pillsbury '69 and his wife, Mary, will give $15 million to the School of Hotel Administration - one of the largest gifts ever in hospitality education.
The largest single gift in the history of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration -- and one of the largest gifts ever for hospitality education in the United States -- was announced Nov. 13 at a gathering of Hotel School alumni in New York City. The gift will help support the school's Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship (IHE).
Nov 3 2006:Irwin and Joan Jacobs endow $30 million in scholarships to engineering college
Cornell alumni Irwin '54, BEE '56, and Joan '54 Jacobs have established a $30 million scholarship and fellowship endowment for Cornell's College of Engineering. It is the largest gift pledged to date specifically for scholarships in Cornell's recently announced $4 billion campaign.
Nov 3 2006:Cornell launches $4 billion campaign, emphasizing links between Ithaca and New York City campuses
With strong emphasis on strengthening ties between Cornell's Ithaca campus and its Manhattan medical school, alumni joined trustees, administrators and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) campus Oct. 26 to launch the "public phase" of the university's $4 billion campaign.
