Archive
April 2012
David Feldshuh explores the value of teaching as performance
The professor of acting and directing and the 2011-12 Menschel Distinguished Teaching fellow is developing a workshop for faculty that draws on techniques from the theater world to boost teaching innovation and audience connection.
Large gifts boost Engineering, elevate Program in Real Estate
Lisa and Richard Baker '88 triple real estate program's endowment; John A. Swanson '61, M.Eng. '63, invests in experiential learning.
Alumna finds clues to climate change in ancient wood
At Cornell's Tree-Ring Laboratory, Carol Griggs uses the remains of ancient trees to solve puzzles in archaeology and to shed light on climate change.
Big Red winter sports teams celebrate successes
From the hockey and track teams to wrestling, polo, gymnastics and fencing, Big Red athletics saw success in postseason play.
March 2012
After a dramatic program turnaround, women's hockey seniors exit the ice
The departing group of seniors took the program from national afterthought to national powerhouse, with three consecutive Frozen Four appearances.
Alumna nurtures connections through composting in Brooklyn.
Louise Bruce '09 turned a vacant lot in her neighborhood into a thriving community composting garden and formed the group Compost for Brooklyn.
Cornell's Scott Tucker headed to D.C.'s Choral Arts Society
The choral music director has led the Cornell Glee Club and University Chorus for the past 17 years and will replace Norman Scribner in D.C.
February 2012
Alumna's path to curating 'brilliant' art exhibit began at Cornell
Sparked by the courses she took at Cornell's Africana Studies and Research Center and the experiences she had as an undergraduate, Dalila Scruggs '02 has curated a show at the Williams College Museum of Art as the final project of a Mellon Curatorial Fellowship.
'Dear Cornell': A thank-you note from Suzi Hileman '73
Arizona shooting victim writes a moving and powerful letter to Cornellians, giving thanks for the outpouring of support she has received in the past year.
Tribute: Consummate Cornellian Barlow Ware '47
Current Lynah Rink announcer Arthur Mintz '71 pens a tribute to Barlow Ware '47, the longtime "voice of Big Red hockey," who died in December.
January 2012
Nearly 1,000 Cornellians converge in D.C. for annual leadership conference
From far above Cayuga's waters to Capitol Hill, this year's Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference shined a Big Red spotlight on leadership writ large. A record-breaking 967 alumni, campus administrators and students attended the conference in Washington, D.C., Jan. 27-29.
Alumnus leads effort to keep New York City students in school
Itai Dinour '01 leads City Year New York, which attracts Cornellians to work with at-risk public school students and stem the tide of dropouts.
Cathy Choi '93: From stage lights to light bulbs
Now a lighting company president, this alumna says she has never forgotten the "gestus" that then-artistic director David Feldshuh often spoke about.
December 2011
'Game-changing' NYC Tech Campus awarded to Cornell, Technion
The news was met with cheers from supporters on two continents. After months of negotiations, Cornell and Technion were announced the winner of a bid to build a groundbreaking campus in New York City. See full coverage at the Cornell Chronicle.
Big Red teams, staff embrace Adopt-A-Family program
Fourteen Cornell teams, plus other groups and staff in athletics, sponsored an all-time high of 20 families this year through the Salvation Army program.
November 2011
A conversation with Svante Myrick '09, Ithaca's mayor-elect
We caught up with Svante Myrick '09, who on Nov. 8 was elected the city of Ithaca's next mayor. When Myrick takes office Jan. 1 at age 24, he will be Ithaca's youngest mayor ever and its first African-American mayor.
Blumenthal internships in social services enter second decade
Karen '72 and David Blumenthal '71 created the program that provides paid internships for Cornell students at 11 social service agencies.
Cornell soccer star overcame a rare childhood tumor
At age 12, Daniel Haber went to the hospital after a sinus infection left him with a bump on his forehead. Three hours later, he was in surgery.
October 2011
Cornell to officially submit proposal for NYC Tech Campus
On Oct. 28, Cornell will officially submit its proposal to create a world-class applied science and engineering campus in New York City. In partnership with The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the campus promises to spur economic development, job creation and high-tech entrepreneurship in the heart of the city.
Women's soccer players have taken alum's gift to heart
Through a generous gift from Bob Nafis '49, the team has been equipped with heart rate monitors to improve training and fitness.
New faculty hires helping to build new fields at Cornell
Alumni Pedro Erber, Ph.D. '09, and Adam Seth Levine '03 found that their interests drew them back to Cornell to research and teach.
Ezra Extra -- Oct. 22, 2011
Cornell 'poised to flourish and lead,' says Skorton as campaign goal is expanded
Four years before its sesquicentennial, "high on a hill with our feet on the ground," Cornell is ready to expand its reach, enhance its academic prowess and extend its leadership. See all stories from Chronicle's coverage of Trustee-Council Weekend and the State of the University Address, including the fundraising campaign "Cornell Now," faculty panel discussions and more.
New humanities building to be gateway to Arts Quad
Also announced Oct. 21, groundbreaking for the new building isÊtargeted for summer 2013 with a projected opening in 2015.
September 2011
Alumnae at NYC development firm are shaping the city's future
Cornell women are at the forefront of change in New York City -- and at Forest City Ratner Companies in particular, a group of alumnae are driving the development of some of the newest buildings and properties that are the face of the city's future.
Celebrating a new planned facility for the Big Red Bands
By spring 2013, the Cornell Big Red Bands -- the marching and pep bands -- hope to have a home of their own: a new 6,400-square-foot facility behind the Schoellkopf Crescent.
Iscol family program: 10 years of inspiring students to serve
The program for leadership development in public service seeks to inspire and educate students to become leaders in civic engagement.
Schoellkopf's new scoreboard offers replays, stunning visuals
The modern scoreboard/videoboard, which made its debut Homecoming Weekend, has a view of the game that makes the flagpole jealous.
August 2011
Bill Nye harnesses the sun with new solar noon clock atop Rhodes Hall
Bill Nye '77 dedicated the new Solar Noon Clock at Rhodes Hall Aug. 27 in front of a crowd of hundreds. The clock incorporates a solar noon feature that visually indicates the sun's zenith each day. Also, see a CornellCast video capturing Nye's visit and the celebratory public countdown to solar noon on Hoy Field.
Needham endowment helps boost Mann's limnology collections
Professor James G. Needham taught the first limnology course in the United States -- and possibly in the world -- at Cornell in spring 1908. Cornell University Library has received a major bequest from Needham's grandson to support Mann Library's collections.
Student athletes spend summer volunteering with youth
Cornell women's basketball seniors Allie Munson and Maka Anyanwu spent the summer nearly 6,000 miles apart, but their experiences were similar. They both spent several weeks teaching young students.
July 2011
Growing the 'technology ecosystem' of the future in New York City
Provost Kent Fuchs and deans Lance Collins and Daniel Huttenlocher discuss how Cornell is preparing to answer the call, issued by New York City's mayor, to create a world-class applied science and engineering campus in the city. The university will build on its globally renowned technology programs, deep connections to NYC's growing tech sector and broad network of successful alumni entrepreneurs.
Newest Rawlings scholar captivated by 'Red Room' and language of interior design
Emily Mitchell, DEA '13, saw her first "Red Room" during a class project last year while she was studying the interior design of a house in London.
Morgan Uceny '07, 1,500-meter star, on track to compete at world championships
After a string of recent races, the 1,500-meter star has earned her spot on the U.S. team that will compete in South Korea Aug. 27-Sept. 4.
June 2011
Created at Cornell: BearClaw offers a lightweight, safer option for football drills
Big Red defensive ends coach Pete DeStefano has helped develop the BearClaw, a lightweight training device for football players that reinforces proper positioning and replaces old-fashioned football sleds for linemen drills.
Faculty renewal supports 'the lifeblood of the university'
Gifts to support the Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellowships are well under way. Here's a look at two recent gifts and the people behind them.
Gift for visual resources program enhances library's future image
Capping a relationship with Cornell that spans seven decades, Edward "Ned" Trethaway '49 has created an endowed fund for visual materials.
May 2011
President Skorton welcomes 6,000 new graduates to the Cornell family
Rapidly clearing skies matched the bright mood of graduation weekend. See Cornell Chronicle's coverage of Convocation and Commencement plus videos and slideshows of the festivities.
Ted Thoren remembered by generations of former players
Cornell lost not only one of its legendary coaches May 10, but also one of its greatest ambassadors.
Heilmann Scholarship reunion brings together Denmark's economic leaders
The 15th reunion of the scholarship and an award ceremony for its newest recipients were held May 24.
Alumna's passion will allow ILR institute to 'dream big'
Lisa Yang '74 is supporting the Employment and Disability Institute to ensure that people with disabilities transition to the world of work.
April 2011
Weill Cornell first-year medical students honor donors' ultimate gift
In the anatomy lab, not only do textbook descriptions of human physiology become real, but for the first time in their training, medical students view medicine through the prism of a patient -- their donor. On April 19, the entire Weill Cornell Medical College Class of 2014 gathered to honor the gift donors made in giving their bodies to further medical education.
Elizabeth Dalrymple '11 shines beyond the pitcher's mound
The senior softball captain and two-time Ivy League Pitcher of the Year has also traveled to Haiti and Tanzania on medical missions.
Pharmacologist pioneers tiny compounds with big potential
Hazel Szeto, M.D., Ph.D. '77, pharmacology professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, was studying pain receptors when serendipity struck.
March 2011
Wrestler's national title one of many winter sports standouts for Big Red
Kyle Dake '13 won his second consecutive national title in commanding fashion March 19 to help the Big Red wrestling team to a second-place finish for the second straight year in the team race at the 2011 NCAA tournament, marking what might be the biggest highlight among many for Cornell's winter sports teams during the month of March.
Two trustee leaders talk finances, faculty and 'polishing the jewel'
In this excerpt and video, newly elected board chair Robert S. Harrison '76 and current chair Peter C. Meinig '61 talk about Cornell's future.
Mobile, social, cloud computing dominate Cornell Silicon Valley's annual gathering
More than 400 alumni attended Cornell Silicon Valley's 11th annual gathering March 15, a day after President Skorton addressed alumni in Los Angeles.
Hartstein, Scelfo to be honored as ILR's Groat and Alpern award winners
Barry A. Hartstein '73 and John J. Scelfo '79, MBA '80, will be honored tonight (March 31) in New York City.
February 2011
Ben DeLuca steps into his own as men's lacrosse coach
One of the toughest jobs in sports is to replace a legendary coach. But what if you were the newest coach for a program led by hall of fame-caliber coaches stretching back 45 years?
Big Red strengthens ties with Big Apple's 92nd Street Y
Five Cornell faculty members will be giving lectures at the NYC arts and culture magnet in the next two months.
Alumna helps make lawyers better teachers in court
The career of social psychologist Julie Blackman '74 has spanned the gamut from battered women to Leona Helmsley, from the inventor of the artificial hip to Martha Stewart.
January 2011
20th annual Asian alumni banquet brings hundreds to Chinatown
This year's event honored Roderick Chu, MBA '71, raised money for a Pan-Asian garden at Cornell Plantations and warmed a frigid evening in New York City with alumni spirit.
Click by click, online fans root for national wrestling title
Coach Rob Koll's Big Red men's team has picked up momentum through its use of social media.
Passion for 'Star Wars' was a job credential for alumna
Margaret Weitekamp '01 is the curator of popular culture for the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
It's all in the Big Red family for Long Island winery
Bedell Cellars employs several generations of Cornell graduates and its wines will be featured at a Feb. 8 dinner at The Cornell Club-New York City.
'Lift the chorus: Cast your vote'
Four candidates are running for two available seats as alumni-elected trustees. Voting runs from Feb. 1 until April 1.
December 2010
Rob Nelson '71 recalls Big Red, big dreams and Big League Chew
Thirty years after creating the popular shredded bubble gum in a pouch with former New York Yankee and fellow pitcher Jim Bouton, Nelson has brought the production of Big League Chew back to New York.
Weill Cornell campaign thrives despite recession, says Appel
Funds raised for the medical college's campaign account for a third of Cornell's total campaign to date, says Bob Appel '53, chair of the medical collegeÕs "Discoveries" campaign.
Alums create EqualApp, an online admissions counseling program
Marc Zawel '04 and Stephen Friedfeld '95 have a mission: To give all students the support they need to successfully apply to college.
November 2010
Eight student athletes to watch this Big Red winter sports season
The Big Red had unprecedented successes last winter, and while some teams have lost players due to graduations, others have returned with the talent necessary to keep the trend moving forward.
Prisons class and drama ignited alumna's passion for alternatives to incarceration
Anya Degenshein '07 returned to campus last month to talk to students about her career path, which led her to The Fortune Society in New York City and Manhattan courtrooms.
Terran Exchange founders are enablers of the app economy
Ben Roberts '10 and Alexander Veach '09 created the website and business, which was a monthly winner at the site discoveringstartups.com.
College of Arts and Sciences to recruit faculty for three new endowed humanities professorships
Donor gifts and a Mellon foundation grant totalling $12 million will establish three endowed senior professorships in the humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Extra Edition -- Nov. 19, 2010
Campaign hits $3 billion milestone
The university has reached the $3 billion mark in its universitywide fundraising campaign. Campaign co-chairs Jan Rock Zubrow '77 and Stephen Ashley '62, MBA '64, announced the milestone Nov. 18 at "Cornell on the Charles," an event attended by hundreds of Boston-area alumni. The record-breaking amount has been raised by only a handful of other universities.
October 2010
Historic gift creates Atkinson Center to be world-class leader in sustainability
David R. Atkinson '60 and wife Patricia Atkinson have committed $80 million to provide a permanent center on campus that will advance sustainability research, cultivate innovative collaborations within and beyond Cornell and position the university to be a global leader for a sustainable future.
For alumnus, New York theater is a Gold mine of directing opportunities
Theater major Sam Gold '00 is garnering acclaim and awards for his directing of several recent off-Broadway plays.
Women's hockey team hopes international experience translates to national championship
Canadian U22 summer selection camp team gave eight Big Red players an early start to the season and a goal of an ECAC Hockey title.
September 2010
Remembering actor and alumnus Harold Gould
Gould, who died Sept. 11 at the age of 86, "was, in the highest sense, a true artist of the theater, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him," said David Feldshuh, Schwartz Center artistic director, who directed Gould in the 1997 production of "Death of a Salesman."
Alumni create fantasy sports app for smartphones
Pre Play Sports, a start-up company launched by three Cornellians, has created a football application that aims to tap into the $2 billion fantasy sports market.
Big Red efforts result in cheek swab drives for national bone marrow registry
The illness of a coach's niece spurred a drive for bone marrow screening this past summer; a second drive will be held Oct. 1.
Alumni Affairs charts a course for social media engagement
Andrew Gossen, senior director of social media strategy, talks candidly about how new media has turned the traditional alumni relations and communication model on its head.
August 2010
Research program at Weill Cornell gives college juniors experience and passion
For more than 40 years, the Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program at Weill Cornell Medical College has given premedical college students solid research experience and a crash course on the severe disparities in health care among racial and ethnic minorities.
Two Cornellians return to campus -- as alumni-elected trustees
Gene D. Resnick '70, M.D. '74, and Sheryl Hilliard Tucker '78 began their four-year terms on the board of trustees in July.
From Big Red soccer to a summer with the New York Red Bulls
Matt Bouraee '10 trained with the Major League Soccer team this summer alongside two of the most decorated players in the game.
July 2010
Spirit of Cornell shines through in Central Park alumni event
The first-ever CU in Central Park picnic and softball game brought 125 alumni and family members -- and the Big Red Bear -- to a Manhattan ball field July 25.
Big Red success draws record number to sports school
There are no lazy summer days for CU Athletics. More than 4,200 children from around the world are learning from Big Red coaches and athletes.
Webcasts connect alumni to Cornell leaders in monthly series
Alumni Q&A series will provide an avenue for alumni to have "fun, easy conversations" with university faculty members, senior leadership and staff members.
June 2010
Stroke of shovels launches boathouse renovation on Cayuga Inlet
Nearly 150 alumni and friends of the rowing program gathered at the Collyer Boathouse June 12 to mark the beginning of a major expansion project.
'Rapping granny' recalls Cornell professor who made her a star
Ellen Albertini Dow '35 attributes her long career to a man many no longer remember: Professor Alexander M. Drummond.
Cornell Tradition fellows recognized
Nine graduating seniors were honored for excellence in both academic achievement and significant work experience.
May 2010
Music and medicine program scores with student virtuosos at Carnegie Hall
The Music and Medicine Initiative at Weill Cornell Medical College is not even a year old, but it is about to strike a major chord: WCMC students will play at Carnegie Hall June 3 during the college's graduation ceremonies.
Senior class campaign sets new high-water mark for gifts
The Class of 2010's senior class campaign raised $80,847 from students alone, making an impact on the university like few others before it.
Spurned in 1970, Cornell changed the lacrosse landscape
In April, members of the 1970 men's team returned to East Hill to be honored; they also reminisced about their perfect season, 40 years later.
April 2010
PCCW celebrates 20 years of helping and engaging Cornell women
The President's Council of Cornell Women advocates on behalf of women -- faculty and students alike -- by advising Cornell presidents on how to improve women's standing in multiple ways on campus. Here's a look at the alumnae group and its two decades of history.
AA&D expands in vital region
More Cornellians live in the Northeast corridor than anywhere else in the world, and AA&D is expanding its New York City focus to better reach them.
'400 Club' honors dozens of student-athletes with top GPAs
A breakfast earlier this spring honored 101 student-athletes from the past two semesters who posted perfect 4.0 grade-point averages.
March 2010
Big Red successes make 2010 a winter to remember
Men's basketball made it to the NCAA Sweet 16, women's hockey took their first trip to a national championship game and men's wrestling finished second in the country -- while individual athletes also excelled.
New alumni speakers series taps faculty already 'On the Road'
Cornell on the Road is a new speakers series that takes advantage of faculty members' travels.
Cornell event at Westminster show highlights Vet research
Peggy Reed and Tom Kern were among the Cornellians making presentations at the annual dog show in New York.
Student phoners pass $1 million mark for Annual Fund
For the first time in its 13-year history, Cornell's student-staffed fundraising phonathon raised $1 million (and counting) in a single fiscal year.
February 2010
Unlikely bus meeting results in biography that will capture living history
Following a chance meeting on a bus in Kenya, a Cornell professor is now completing a biography of a Thai scientist who pioneered the first generic HIV/AIDS "cocktail" pill.
CEAA endowment will support student teams, achievement awards
A recently created legacy endowment fund will sponsor grants to student teams and support awards recognizing outstanding achievement.
Four Big Red athletes are among final candidates for loyalty award
Colin Greening is a finalist for a national student-athlete achievement award; three other Big Red athletes are candidates in another award division.
Online trustee elections expected to increase efficiency and participation
Alumni have until April 1 to vote for their top two candidates in this year's alumni trustee election. This will be the first time all voting is online.
January 2010
Introducing Ezra Update
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Ezra Update, which replaces the monthly Cornell e-News with a fresh design and a new vision for engaging with our alumni and friends.
Three Cornellians poised to compete in Winter Olympics in Vancouver
When the Winter Olympics opens in Vancouver in mid-February, three athletes with Cornell ties, Jamie Moriarty '03, Douglas Murray '03 and Rebecca Johnston '12, will be among those vying for coveted gold medals.
Professors to teach new course on exploring land, sea and space
Astronomer Steven Squyres and historian Mary Beth Norton are planning a course that combines their backgrounds and their passions.
Kling bequest aids library and bolsters state's milk quality
The charitable bequest that Herbert Kling '36, M.S. '40, established for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences continues to benefit Cornell.