Kamillah Knight '13, MPA '15, MBA '22

Rob Rosenberg '88

Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Showtime Networks

Rob currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Showtime Networks in New York.  In that role, Rob is responsible for all of the company’s legal affairs, including its programming and distribution transactions, intellectual property, compliance, litigation and regulatory issues, and other legal policy matters. He also oversees legal aspects of all technology-related transactions for Showtime Networks.

Welcome and Alumni Affairs Town Hall, 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. PST 

Michelle Vaeth '98

Associate Vice President of Alumni Affairs, Cornell University

In June 2018, Michelle returned to her alma mater with a deep background in global marketing and communications, having spent 18 years in progressively responsible roles at Proctor & Gamble. Her final assignment there was leading the brand communications, public relations, and crisis/issues management team for P&G's $5 billion health care division. Michelle holds a bachelor of science degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Read more

Welcome and Alumni Affairs Town Hall, 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. PST 

Julie Vultaggio '02

Elaine Westbrooks

Carl A. Kroch University Librarian, Cornell University

Since July 2022, Elaine has been the University Librarian at Cornell University. She is responsible for the leadership and general administration of the University Library which includes over 15 libraries and 350 staff. Elaine serves on the board of numerous organizations, including the Hathi Trust Digital Library, the Center for Open Science, and the Digital Public Library of America. Read more

Updates from The Hill: Session I, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. PST

Shaoyi Jiang, PhD '93

Robert S. Langer '70 Family and Friends Professor, The Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University

Shaoyi Jiang joined the Meinig School as the Robert Langer ’70 Family and Friends Professor in June 2020. Prior to Cornell he was the Boeing-Roundhill Professor of Engineering in the Department of Chemical Engineering and an adjunct professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, Seattle. Read more

Updates from The Hill: Session II, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. PST

Joel Malina

Vice President for University Relations, Cornell University

Joel M. Malina serves as Vice President for University Relations, coordinating Cornell's internal and external communications functions as well as the university's relationships with federal, state, and local policy makers and stakeholders. Read more

Updates from The Hill: Session II, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. PST

Marjolein van der Meulen

James M. and Marsha McCormick Director of Biomedical Engineering; Swanson Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering and Sibley School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University

Updates from The Hill: Session II, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. PST

Marla Love

Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Interim Dean of Students

Prior to her role as the Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Interim Dean of Students, Marla Love served as Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Equity working directly with the diversity and student empowerment units in the Office of the Dean of Students to create an intersectional programming model that engages our students in new and innovative ways. Read more

Breakfast: Spotlight on Student Experience & Robert S. Harrison '76 Recent Volunteer Alumni Award, 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. PST

Sahara Byrne

Senior Associate Dean, Office of the Senior Associate Deans and Professor, Department of Communication, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University

Sahara's research examines why strategic messages that are designed with good intentions sometimes have the opposite effect.  She studies message disruption processes and a theoretical construct known as “noise.” Her work takes a developmental approach, focusing on why children and adolescents sometimes resist messages from authority figures. Read more

Innovation and Creativity: Innovation is Everyone's Business, 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. PST

Dionis Rodriguez '98

Author of "Shift Your Paradigm: Empower Your Life & Unlock Your True Hidden Potential"

Dionis J. Rodriguez transformed himself from an impoverished immigrant into a successful businessman. He is managing partner of Crimson Rock Capital, co-founder of Sojourner Glamping, and founder of The Crimson Connection. A graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Business School, he is active with both institutions. He serves as chairman of the board of Teaching Matters, the Advisory Board of The Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate, and as board member for The Guestbook and the Harvard Business School Club of New York. Read more

Inclusive Leadership, 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. PST

Christopher Byrne

Senior Lecturer, Department of Communication, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Christopher teaches “Writing & Producing the Narrative in Digital Media”, ‘Sport Comm” and two industry seminars, “NYCOMM” and “LACOMM/ SiliComm.” Previously, he taught high school English for 13 years and made his living as a screenwriter and location manager in Hollywood. He graduated from Emerson College with a BFA in Theater Arts, Cal State Northridge with a master’s in education and SUNY Cortland with a master’s in English Literature. He is the Chair of the CALS Committee in Support of Teaching and Learning and is the academic advisor for the Cornell Media Guild, Slope Media, and sits on the Advisory Board for the Big Red Sports Network and The State of the Pod.

Storytelling: Changing Your Narrative - Creating Stories to Open Minds, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PST

Ken Blanchard '61, PhD '67

Best-Selling Author, Speaker, Leadership Expert, Thought Leader

With a passion to turn every leader into a servant leader, Ken shares his insightful and powerful message with audiences around the world through speeches, consulting services, and bestselling books. Universally characterized by his friends, colleagues, and clients as one of the most influential and compassionate leadership experts in the world, Ken is respected for his lifetime of groundbreaking research and thought leadership. Read more

Different Strokes for Different Folks: Leading Challenging Conversations, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PST

Eki’Shola Edwards, MD, DipABLM/DipIBLM '98

Solo Musician and Physician

Eki’Shola’s music is “Half-time electronic soul for the mind” - Resident Advisor. Featured in PBS, NPR Tiny Desk Contest, KQED and Best of the Bay Editors’ Pick, Eki’Shola’s music transcends genre, as she seamlessly draws from jazz, electronica, and soul music to create a sonic landscape all her own. A vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and board-certified internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, Eki’Shola uses her music as a conduit for healing. Read more

Lunch & Special Performance: The Gift of Grief, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. PST

Ashley Budd

Director of Marketing Operations, Cornell University

Ashley Budd leads marketing operations for Cornell alumni affairs and development. She has been part of the Cornell Giving Day team since its launch in 2015. 

Giving Day Secrets Revealed, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. PST

Jon Gregory

Associate Director, Donor Participation & College and Unit Partnerships, Cornell University

Jon leads the coordination of strategic partnerships with colleges and units for Cornell Alumni Affairs and Development, focusing on integrated marketing strategies to grow alumni and student giving. He serves as a project manager for Cornell Giving Day.

Giving Day Secrets Revealed, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. PST

Corey Earle '07

Visiting Lecturer, Cornell University

Corey has taught a class on the history of Cornell since 2011. Passionate about the value of history and traditions in building community and sense of belonging, he serves as a Cornell history resource person for departments and organizations across campus while working in Alumni Affairs & Development. He earned his MA in higher education leadership and administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

How It All Works: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at University Governance, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. PST

Kraig H. Kayser MBA '84

Chair, Cornell University Board of Trustees

On July 1, the Board of Trustees gained a new chairman: Kraig Kayser, MBA ’84. A member of the board since 2013, Kayser is a veteran executive who spent 27 years as CEO of Seneca Foods—one of the largest producers of processed fruits and vegetables in North America—before retiring in 2020. Read more

Rocket Scientist turned Professor, Bestselling Author, and Expert on Creativity and Critical Thinking

Ozan is a rocket scientist turned award-winning professor, #1 bestselling author, and internationally acclaimed speaker. He is one of the world’s foremost experts in creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. He helps industry-leading organizations reimagine the status quo with moonshot thinking. Learn more about CALC's 2023 keynote speaker, Ozan Varol '03.