Alumni-elected trustees Kimberly Dowdell ’06 and Deborah Arrindell ’79
Alumni-elected trustees Kimberly Dowdell ’06 and Deborah Arrindell ’79
By

What does it take to serve on a university’s governing board? As their four-year terms as alumni-elected trustees come to an end, Deborah Arrindell ’79 and Kimberly Dowdell ’06 reflect on their most meaningful accomplishments from their time on the Cornell University Board of Trustees.

Deborah Arrindell ’79

Deborah Arrindell ’79 and Kimberly Dowdell ’06It’s hard to believe how four years as an alumni-elected trustee have flown by. My four years on the board were rather like “… any person … any study,” any challenge. I came to understand the enormous complexity of running a university the size of Cornell, which deepened my appreciation for former President Emerita Martha E. Pollack, President Michael I. Kotlikoff, the Board of Trustees, staff, faculty, and students. Cornell rocks! But most importantly, my time on the board reinforced my strong belief that a Cornell education is transformative. There is nothing like a Cornell education.

One event I looked forward to most as a trustee was graduation. Before the actual ceremony, I tagged along with Life Trustee Ezra Cornell ’70, BS ’71, and his daughter Kathie and walked among the graduates as they lined up on the Arts Quad—that was so much fun. Walking into Schoellkopf Field as a trustee and looking out over the faces of those soon-to-be Cornell alumni, quite frankly, always made me a little teary-eyed, as it reminded me of my graduation back in 1979. My dad passed in 2018, and I think he would be tickled pink to know that his daughter was a trustee and sitting on the podium at graduations.

I was able to co-chair the Committee on Alumni Affairs and witnessed the extraordinary commitment of our alumni who give back with their time and money to ensure that Cornell can fulfill its mission of “… any person … any study.” I encourage my fellow alumni to work alongside the university and the board to ensure that a Cornell education remains within reach of those who desire to attend. Alumni-elected trustees are handpicked by Cornell’s alumni, and therefore I owe a debt of gratitude to the best alumni in the world! I would be remiss not to acknowledge my fellow Cornell alumni-elected trustee, Kimberly Dowdell ’06, and Soror of the Magnificent Cornell University Mu Upsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA). We were elected together in 2022 as alumni trustees, which I think is a first. In 2024, we were joined by another alumni-elected trustee, Valisha Graves ’85, so that makes three alumni-elected trustees who are AKAs! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give back to Cornell as a trustee. I look forward to serving the university and working with Benjamin Z. Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as I re-join the CALS Advisory Council in the fall.

Kimberly Dowdell ’06

Left to right: Deborah Arrindell, Kraig Kayser, Kimberly Dowdell, Robert HarrisonWhen I received a mysterious call from Robert Harrison ’76, chair of the Cornell University Board of Trustees, in late 2021, I knew something interesting was about to happen. Given my previous service on the Committee on Alumni Trustee Nominations (CATN), I wasn’t completely surprised by his question, but I sure was honored. Robert asked if I would accept the nomination to be added to the alumni-elected trustee ballot. Without hesitation, I said yes. Based on my CATN experience, I know how much effort goes into curating a ballot of four alumni for consideration for two Board of Trustees positions. More importantly, I know how dedicated all the nominated alumni are to the university, as evidenced by decades of service. Any of the four alumni on that ballot is more than qualified and worthy of serving in the role.

The 2022 ballot featured a full slate of amazing candidates, but one stood out to me when I first saw the list. It was Deborah Arrindell ’79. She is not only my sorority sister but also a charter member of the Mu Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA). When I was a student at Cornell, I remember her visiting campus and spending time with our members. Soror Deborah was a legend to us back then and remains an inspiration to our sisterhood today. We were proud to welcome our chapter back to campus in the spring of 2026, with nearly 50 new sorors. AKA is America’s first Black sorority, founded in 1908, just two years after the founding of America’s first Black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, at Cornell. We acknowledge the weight of that legacy as our nation still works to find its footing as a place where all people are availed of the same opportunities for success. In 2022, it was historic for two Black women to be elected as Cornell trustees at the same time, following a powerful and expanding legacy of Black trustees at Cornell, dating back to the very first Black trustee, Jerome Holland, in 1965. It is also worth noting that the first woman elected to the Cornell Board of Trustees was Martha Carey Thomas in 1895. Dr. Arrindell and I carry the intersectionality of being both Black and female, adding a unique perspective to a dynamic board of 64 trustees working to address a wide range of issues for all students, faculty, and staff.

Over the course of our four years on the board, we experienced the incredible resilience of our university as it successfully navigated a global pandemic and strengthened governance systems. We also saw several key leaders retire, making space for new leaders to continue Cornell’s stewardship. To be part of this legacy of Cornell trustees is a privilege of a lifetime. On a personal note, I deeply enjoyed commencement, both for the entire campus and especially for the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP). Seeing the fruit of our collective labor walk across campus with their regalia, celebrating with their families, was a major highlight for me. I attended all eight commencement ceremonies from 2023–2026 (two each year), with my Big Red trustee robe on and with great joy in my heart. This all culminated with one of the greatest honors of my trustee experience, which happened in my final year on the board. I was invited to give the commencement address at AVANSE 2026: A Celebration of Progress. Completing my term as a Cornell trustee by encouraging students as they transition into their lives after Cornell was simply incredible. It was a full-circle moment for me, just 20 years after I was sitting in their seats. The word that emerges for me as I reflect on my entire trustee journey is gratitude.

Categories

Alumni news