Alumni Third-Generation Alum to Lead Board of Trustees Stories You May Like In Asheville, Chef Katie Button ’05 Serves Up Hope After Helene Bestselling Children’s Author Weaves Tales of Wonder Studying How Tech Can Be Used to Track Our Daily Lives Part of a large Cornellian family, Anne Meinig Smalling ’87 will be the first woman to chair the University’s governing body Editor's note: This story was adapted from an article in the Cornell Chronicle. By James Dean Anne Meinig Smalling ’87, a third-generation Cornellian with deep ties to the University, was elected the 18th chair of the Board of Trustees during a special meeting on February 4. The first woman and second member of her family to lead the board’s 64 voting trustees, Smalling—a trustee since 2017—will begin a three-year term as chair on July 1, succeeding Kraig Kayser, MBA ’84. Kayser, upon concluding his three-year chairmanship, will remain on the board for the final year of his trustee term. “We have much to be proud of at Cornell and much to share about all this university does to build knowledge and make the world a better place,” Smalling says. “I’ve learned a great deal from Kraig about engaging members of the board and harnessing the skills and passion of the trustees around the table.” We have much to be proud of at Cornell and much to share about all this university does to build knowledge and make the world a better place. Anne Meinig Smalling ’87 Interim President Mike Kotlikoff says he looks forward to ongoing collaboration with Smalling, who heads the board’s Executive Committee and recently co-chaired the search for his replacement as provost. “As an alumna, parent, benefactor, and trustee, Anne has an unparalleled understanding of the University and is a staunch advocate for our mission and core values,” Kotlikoff says. “Together with her family, Anne is among the University’s most engaged and generous supporters. She will be an excellent leader and ambassador for Cornell.” Kotlikoff thanked Kayser for his dedicated service as board chair since July 2022, working with two University presidents, including Martha Pollack until her retirement last year. Ryan Young / Cornell UniversitySmalling (third from left) at the October 2024 groundbreaking for the fieldhouse to be named in her father's memory. “Kraig has selflessly led Cornell, starting in the midst of the pandemic and helping to ensure a steady leadership transition,” Kotlikoff says. “I’m extraordinarily grateful to Kraig for his support and service as board chair. I appreciate that we will continue to benefit from his experience and wisdom as a trustee.” Kayser congratulated Smalling, who in addition to leading the board’s Executive Committee has co-chaired its development committee and serves on others overseeing board composition and governance, compensation, finance, and student life. Stories You May Like In Asheville, Chef Katie Button ’05 Serves Up Hope After Helene Bestselling Children’s Author Weaves Tales of Wonder She also co-chairs University and Cornell Engineering committees leading “To Do the Greatest Good” capital campaigns. “Anne is an outstanding choice to lead the board in the years ahead,” Kayser says. “She has been a thought leader across multiple roles on the board. As Cornell navigates the crosscurrents taking place in higher education, we are fortunate to have someone with such deep Cornell roots and such deep Cornell knowledge taking the helm. Anne has demonstrated over decades of service to Cornell a commitment to our land-grant mission and core values. I look forward to working closely with her as we transition over the coming months.” As Cornell navigates the crosscurrents taking place in higher education, we are fortunate to have someone with such deep Cornell roots and such deep Cornell knowledge taking the helm. Outgoing chair Kraig Kayser, MBA ’84 Smalling is CEO and managing partner of HM International, a privately owned manufacturing and management company headquartered in Austin, TX. She will assume leadership of the trustees nearly a century after her grandfather, Carl Meinig ’31, BEE ’33, arrived on campus. Her parents, Peter Meinig ’61, BME ’62, and Nancy Schlegel Meinig ’62, followed. Peter, who died in 2017, became a trustee in 1991 and chaired the board from 2002–11, when he was named chairman emeritus. “I think he’d be pretty proud,” Smalling says, when asked what her father would think of her election. Smalling earned a bachelor’s degree in human development in the College of Human Ecology and was a four-year varsity tennis player, captaining the team. Honored in 2022 with Cornell Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the Meinig family has been one of the University’s most generous donors. Smalling earned a bachelor’s degree in human development in the College of Human Ecology and was a four-year varsity tennis player, captaining the team. In 2015, a $50 million gift from Peter Meinig and his family endowed the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, expanding and elevating what had been a department into a school within Cornell Engineering. Additional endowed positions and programs include the Meinig Family Professor of Engineering, Nancy Schlegel Meinig Professor of Maternal and Child Nutrition, Meinig Family Investigatorships in the Life Sciences, Carl H. Meinig ’31 Head Coach of Women’s Tennis, and Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars. In fall 2024, the University broke ground on the Meinig Fieldhouse, named in Peter’s memory. The nearly 92,000-square-foot indoor sports and recreational facility will enable year-round play, including limited competition events, training, and skills development for varsity and recreational student-athletes. Prior to her involvement as a trustee, Smalling served on the University Council and has chaired Class of ’87 Reunion campaigns. Before joining HM International in 1995, she worked for FMC Corp. in Philadelphia and as a business development manager at SmithKline Beecham. Smalling and her husband, Richard, live in Austin. They have two grown daughters, Marina and Sami ’20, MEng ’21. (Top: Smalling portrait provided.) Published February 5, 2025 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Quizzes & Puzzles ‘Cornerdle’: A Big Red Word Puzzle! Quizzes & Puzzles Cornellian Crossword: 5-8-77 6 Questions For ... In 2025, Avoid ‘Specialness Spirals’ (and Practice Self-Gifting)