{"id":15798,"date":"2024-01-23T12:52:39","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T17:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=15798"},"modified":"2026-01-09T12:21:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T17:21:47","slug":"trustees-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/trustees-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Trustees 101"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">As alumni prepare to vote for their representatives, we offer a pithy primer on the University\u2019s governing body<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Want to test your knowledge of the Cornell board and its history? Take our 12-question <a href=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/trustees-quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trivia quiz<\/a>! You can either take it before you read this story (which contains many of the answers), or read this first and see how much you&#8217;ve retained<\/em>. <em>And scroll down for info on the candidate webinar set for Tuesday, February 10!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong>Joe Wilensky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\"><em>Cornell\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/trustees.cornell.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Board of Trustees<\/a> makes vital decisions that affect the University\u2014and shape its future. But how much do you know about it and how it works? For example: were you aware that Cornell stands alone among nearly all other universities in giving board slots to students, faculty, and staff?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>With voting for alumni-elected trustees beginning February 1 (see box below), <\/em>Cornellians<em> offers some history, facts, and assorted info on the University\u2019s governing body.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The board is the biggest in the Ivy League.<\/strong> Cornell has 64 active trustees. For comparison, the next largest (Brown\u2019s) has 54; Yale and Harvard have 17 and 13, respectively. Overall, the average board size for U.S. private colleges is 29, and just 12 for public universities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trustees choose the president. <\/strong>Among their other major responsibilities are approving the operating budget, including setting tuition and financial aid policies; signing off on major construction and renovation projects; and authorizing new schools and colleges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Infographic showing the makeup of the 64 members of the Cornell Board of Trustees\" class=\"wp-image-15797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/WhosOnTheBoard-2b6.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The board includes state government leaders. <\/strong>Per the charter, several state officials (the governor, State Senate majority leader, and speaker of the Assembly) serve as ex-officio (\u201cby virtue of their office\u201d) trustees; typically, they designate deputies to attend meetings and vote in their stead. Additionally, three trustees are appointed directly by the governor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cornell\u2019s president is technically also a trustee.<\/strong> A fourth ex-officio trustee is the current leader of the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-style-offset\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Nonsectarianism was built in from day one.<\/strong> The charter originally stated that \u201cat no time shall the majority of the board be of any one religious sect, or of no religious sect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It later stipulated that \u201cpersons of every religious denomination, or of no religious denomination, shall be equally eligible to all offices and appointments.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"portrait of Anne Meinig Smalling \u201987\" class=\"wp-image-64401 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/2025_1110_LF_018-A.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"rkv-image-credit\">Lindsay France \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption><figcaption>The board\u2019s current chair is Anne Meinig Smalling \u201987.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The total number of trustees has fluctuated.<\/strong> Over the past century and a half, new bylaws have been added and the charter occasionally amended\u2014though the number has remained stable at 64 since 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There are 43 board-elected trustees-at-large.<\/strong> They include six who represent specific New York State industries (two each from agriculture, business, and labor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote alignwide is-style-solid-color\"><blockquote><p>The charter originally stated that \u201cat no time shall the majority of the board be of any one religious sect, or of no religious sect.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eight trustees are alumni-elected.<\/strong> The provision for trustees elected by alumni was adopted in 1867, before Cornell opened\u2014with the stipulation that they be added once 100 people had graduated. The first took office in 1874; today, elections for two slots are held annually, with alums serving four-year terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The board includes two faculty members. <\/strong>Faculty first gained representation in 1916 (though as non-voting delegates); full membership came in 1956.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Cornell's life trustee, Ezra Cornell \u201970, at the Ezra Cornell statue (his great-great-great grandfather) on the Arts Quad\" class=\"wp-image-15794 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-632x790.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-316x395.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-280x350.jpg 280w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-140x175.jpg 140w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-70x87.jpg 70w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-400x500.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-200x250.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A-100x125.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/2014_1004_066-A.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption class=\"rkv-image-credit\">Cornell University<\/figcaption><figcaption>Ezra Cornell \u201970 with the Arts Quad statue of his great-great-great grandfather.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Two students serve on the board.<\/strong> Student-elected trustees (currently one undergrad and one graduate or professional student) joined the board in 1971\u2014a result of the commitment to shared governance that followed the Willard Straight Hall occupation two years earlier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>One trustee is employee-elected. <\/strong>Non-academic staff have been able to elect an employee representative since 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The board always includes one \u201clife trustee.\u201d<\/strong> The position is held by the eldest lineal descendant of Ezra Cornell. The current occupant: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.cornell.edu\/stories\/2019\/10\/trustee-ezra-cornell-70-marks-50-years-board-service\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ezra Cornell \u201970<\/a>, the founder\u2019s great-great-great grandson.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The current life trustee is also a record-setter.<\/strong> Ezra \u201970, who joined the board at age 21, has held the seat for 55 years\u2014making him the longest-serving trustee in Cornell history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Women can now serve as life trustee.<\/strong> Cornell\u2019s charter originally reserved the spot for the \u201celdest male lineal descendant\u201d of the founder. In 1984\u2014in part because the oldest child of Ezra \u201970 is his daughter, Katy Cornell \u201901, BS \u201902\u2014the University asked the state legislature to amend the charter to remove \u201cmale.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-cornell-teal-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><strong>CAST YOUR BALLOT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Voting for <a href=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/volunteer\/leadership\/trustees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">alumni-elected trustees<\/a> will be open throughout February 2026. To hear directly from the candidates, tune in at 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 10, for a webinar on <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/live.alumni.cornell.edu\/\">live.alumni.cornell.edu<\/a> (requires log-in with Cornell NetID). It will be hosted by Alumni Affairs staffer, Big Red history expert, and <em>Cornellians<\/em> contributing editor <a href=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/category\/storytime-with-corey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Corey Ryan Earle \u201907<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The first female trustee joined the board in 1895.<\/strong>\u00a0The second president of Bryn Mawr, M. Carey Thomas 1877,\u00a0was a leader in women\u2019s education\u2014though her legacy has been tarnished in recent years, due to increased understanding of her racist and anti-Semitic views. Today, women hold about 40% of board seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The first Black trustee was elected in 1965.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/library.weill.cornell.edu\/archives-blog\/cornell-graduate-civil-rights-activist-sociologist-educator-diplomat-and-former-member\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jerome \u201cBrud\u201d Holland \u201939, MS \u201941<\/a>, also served as chairman of the Red Cross and as U.S. ambassador to Sweden. Today, about 33% of the board are people of color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Emeritus trustees can still attend meetings. <\/strong>While the more than 100 former trustees who have been granted emeritus status can no longer vote, they may attend (and speak at) full board meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Trustees Chad Coates, Mariana Wolfner, and Ezra Cornell at the inauguration of Cornell President Martha Pollack\" class=\"wp-image-15796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/01\/UP_2017_1067_060-A-100x56.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"rkv-image-credit\">Cornell University<\/figcaption><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chad Coates, then an employee-elected trustee, displays the seal at President Pollack\u2019s 2017 inauguration; Ezra Cornell \u201970 holds the charter. Behind them is then-trustee Mariana Wolfner \u201974 and (from left) former presidents David Skorton, Hunter Rawlings III, and Jeffrey Lehman \u201977.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Most of the work happens within standing committees.<\/strong> They number more than a dozen, focused on such issues as alumni affairs, investment, research, and student life. Other task forces and ad hoc groups are created to address specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The full board typically meets four times a year.<\/strong> Three meetings are held in Ithaca and one at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trustees march at Commencement. <\/strong>The annual May ceremony is a highlight for many board members, who join the procession to Schoellkopf Field in academic regalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Top: Trustees in the procession during <em>President Martha Pollack<\/em><\/em>\u2019s <em>inauguration. Former President David Skorton is at far right. (Cornell University)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Published January 19, 2023; updated January 23, 2024, January 17, 2025, and January 7, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity aligncenter\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As alumni prepare to vote for their representatives, we offer a pithy primer on the University\u2019s governing body<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":15795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"alumni_hub_syml_posts":[57718,7813,3988],"footnotes":""},"categories":[224],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[271,395,457,519,531],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-15798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cornelliana","cornell_year_post-271","cornell_year_post-395","cornell_year_post-457","cornell_year_post-519","cornell_year_post-531"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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