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Get carvingObserve a class through Big Red Teaching Days and the Center for Teaching Innovation! Sit alongside faculty as they learn from their peers, and get an insider's look at today's Cornell experience.
Big Red Teaching Days is a program that provides faculty with a collegial opportunity to informally observe their peers’ approach to teaching and learning across a range of courses and environments. It aims to deepen conversations about teaching and give faculty the opportunity to experience Cornell's classroom innovations.
Spaces are very limited; times vary based on class schedules. Separate registration will be open 10/9 - 10/16. Registration is required to attend.
Observe a class through Big Red Teaching Days and the Center for Teaching Innovation! Sit alongside faculty as they learn from their peers, and get an insider's look at today's Cornell experience.
Big Red Teaching Days is a program that provides faculty with a collegial opportunity to informally observe their peers’ approach to teaching and learning across a range of courses and environments. It aims to deepen conversations about teaching and give faculty the opportunity to experience Cornell's classroom innovations.
Spaces are very limited; times vary based on class schedules. Separate registration will be open 10/9 - 10/16. Registration is required to attend.
Please only choose one where there is overlap of times.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Statler Hotel, Carrier Ballroom
Join us in welcoming Council’s newest members in this upbeat and interactive session. For new and returning members, it’s your chance to meet your mentor face-to-face, spark connections, and get the inside scoop on TCAM weekend. Get ready to network, learn, and kick-start your Cornell Council mentorship with that signature Big Red spirit and enthusiasm!
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
Location: Statler Hotel, Carrier Ballroom
The Center for Dialogue & Pluralism (CDP) is dedicated to fostering intentional engagement across differences as a vital democratic practice. Formerly known as the Intergroup Dialogue Project, CDP builds capacity across the Cornell community through transformative educational experiences rooted in dialogue, reflection, and collaboration. As leaders, you bring a wealth of lived experience, professional insight, and diverse perspectives that are essential to CDP’s mission. Your participation helps extend the reach of this work beyond campus and into broader communities. Attend to learn more about the spectacular growth of this program, how you can be involved, and about our new partnership with CDP in bringing learning directly to you through eCornell.
Featuring:
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Rockefeller Hall, 201, Schwartz Auditorium
Welcome
Cornell University Council Chair, Debra Stern ’87, P ’27, will provide opening remarks and welcome us back to campus.
TCAM Kickoff: Research at risk
Gary Koretzky ’78, interim vice provost for research, Cornell Research and Innovation, leads a panel discussion about Cornell’s groundbreaking research ecosystem, how science is done, and why basic research is essential. Cornell faculty, research leaders, and students will share insights about their work, our institution, and how current challenges are putting global solutions that do the greatest good at risk.
You'll learn about:
Hear diverse voices from Cornell's research community as they share real examples of their work and its importance to society. Featuring:
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: TBD
Join fellow TCAM attendees for an exclusive networking event! You’ll contribute to groundbreaking Cornell research while making meaningful connections with alumni and student leaders.
What makes this special:
Meet your research leaders: Vanessa Bohns, Braunstein Family Professor of Organizational Behavior, ILR School, and Marie-Catherine Mignault, assistant professor of organizational behavior at ESCP Business School and former Cornell ILR Future of Work Postdoctoral Fellow
Special thanks: This unique experience is made possible through collaboration with the CUC Engagement working group, who worked to create meaningful touchpoints between prospective and current students throughout your visit.
This isn't just networking – it's your chance to experience Cornell's commitment to innovative research while building relationships that extend far beyond your campus visit.
6:45 - 8:30 p.m. ET
Willard Straight Hall
Honoring 75 years of Cornell University Council and 100 years of Willard Straight Hall
Join us to celebrate, connect, and reflect as we mark two extraordinary milestones in Cornell’s history. Cornell University Council’s 75th anniversary and Willard Straight Hall’s 100th anniversary come together in a wine-and-dine experience that honors the past and celebrates the present. Reconnect with fellow alumni, toast to enduring traditions, and be part of a historic moment that bridges legacy with vision.
7:15 - 8:30 a.m. ET
🍴 Endowment breakfast
Location: Statler Hotel, Carrier Ballroom
Ken Miranda, Chief Investment Officer, will offer an insider’s perspective on the performance and strategy behind Cornell’s endowment.
🍴International alumni relations
Location: Taylor A & B Statler
Join us for an exclusive breakfast event featuring Wendy Wolford, vice provost for international affairs; Lisa Nishii, senior vice provost for enrollment management and undergraduate education; Rebecca Elliott, interim director of international alumni relations; and Matt Carcella, senior director of affinity & regional alumni engagement. This gathering offers a unique opportunity to connect with internationally minded Trustees and Council members.
Rebecca Elliott will kick off the program with highlights from the International Alumni Relations team. Matt Carcella will provide updates from Alumni Affairs. Wendy Wolford will share university-wide updates from Global Cornell, including new partnerships and global strategy. Lisa Nishii will offer insight into The Global Student Experience within the undergraduate journey.
This longstanding TCAM tradition fosters meaningful conversation among university leaders, international council members, and globally engaged colleagues.
🍴 Informal buffet breakfast at The Statler Hotel
Location: Conference Foyer, J. Willard Marriott Executive Education Center, Statler
9:00 - 10:15 a.m. ET
Location: Kennedy Hall 116, Call Auditorium (also livestreamed)
These signature events feature the Cornell University Board of Trustees and Cornell University Council Joint Annual Meeting and State of the University Address by President Michael I. Kotlikoff. Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from university leadership and engage with fellow Cornellians.
10:15 - 11:15 a.m. ET
Location: Kennedy Hall 116, Call Auditorium (also livestreamed)
Political polarization is at an all-time high. Politicians disagree with each other more than ever. The same is true for voters. And this polarization increasingly creeps into daily life, with people choosing what to buy, where to live, and who to date on political grounds. How can this polarization be decreased? In this talk, Dean Peter John Loewen will share evidence on how to decrease polarization in legislatures, conversations, and even in our classrooms.
Speaker:
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET
Foster connections during a college or unit lunch of your choice. Explore the diverse selection at Cornell and enjoy meaningful interactions from your chosen area:
🍴 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Location: BioTech G10
All TCAM members are invited to join a Cornell-themed buffet lunch and hear from Ben Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as he shares the innovative work happening at CALS.
🍴 College of Arts and Sciences
Location: B20 Lincoln Hall, Neylan Rehearsal Room
Peter John Loewen, Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, welcomes trustees, council members, and their guests to join us for a luncheon program, where Dean Loewen will share updates at the college and articulate his vision to position Arts and Sciences as a College for the public good.
🍴 College of Engineering
Location: TBD
Join Lynden Archer, Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering, and faculty to hear an update from the College.
🍴 College of Veterinary Medicine & Weill Cornell Medicine
Location: Statler Hotel, Room D
TCAM attendees are invited to a compelling conversation with leaders of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine, highlighting cross-campus collaboration and shared approaches to current challenges in medical training and research. Featuring Lorin D. Warnick, DVM, PhD ’94, Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine, and Robert Harrington, MD, provost for medical affairs and Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean, Weill Cornell Medicine.
🍴 Cornell Atkinson: Innovation for Impact
Location: Atkinson Hall, Room 121
Innovation for impact: Join Cornell Atkinson for a conversation about the groundbreaking work at Cornell that is shaping global solutions in climate, energy, food, and One Health. Hear from David Lodge, Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Bring your questions and engage directly with the leaders and faculty shaping this high-impact work.
🍴 Cornell Human Ecology
Location: Statler Hotel, Room E & F
Join this luncheon featuring Rachel Dunifon, the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology, and our new assistant dean for alumni affairs and development, Kim Pietro—a unique opportunity to connect, ask questions, and learn about exciting developments at the college.
🍴 Cornell Law School
Location: Weiss Faculty Lounge
Jens David Ohlin, Allan R. Tessler Dean and professor of law, welcomes trustees, council members, and their guests to hear an update on the latest developments at the Law School.
🍴 School of Industrial and Labor Relations **sold out***
Location: 281 Ives Faculty Building (Doherty)
Join Alexander Colvin, PhD ’99, the Kenneth F. Kahn ’69 Dean, and the Martin F. Scheinman ’75, MS ’76 Professor of Conflict Resolution for lunch. More details coming soon!
🍴 SC Johnson College of Business - Big Ideas for the Greatest Good: A Showcase of Student Entrepreneurs
Location: Statler Ballroom
Join Andrew Karolyi, Charles Field Knight Dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, and faculty student speakers for insights into the excellence of student entrepreneurship.
1:15 - 2:15 p.m. ET
⭐ Spotlight option 1: "From depression to wellness"
Location: Sage Hall, B09
Join renowned Cornell psychologist Jon Rottenberg as he delves into the science of mood and emotion, revealing surprising insights into how people can regain mental well-being after experiencing debilitating episodes of depression. Discover how his pioneering research is transforming our understanding of mental health and human potential.
⭐ Spotlight option 2: "Advancing our legacy of community impact"
Location: Statler Hall, Room 196
Cornell’s commitment to making a difference extends far beyond our campus, driving meaningful, hands-on impact in communities locally, across New York State, nationally, and around the world. From addressing real-world challenges to fostering collaborative solutions, this work exemplifies the university’s land-grant mission in action. Despite recent funding cuts and other pressures, sustaining and expanding this approach is essential to improving communities by teaching, advocating, and generating research that creates lasting change.
Our faculty panelists from the Brooks School, CALS, ILR, and the Law School will discuss their research and life-altering mission-based impact on the communities they serve. They’ll also explore how Cornell alumni can help fuel the momentum of their mission and ensure its continued impact.
(Like this topic? Don’t miss the Engaged Cornell breakfast with the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement on Saturday morning!)
2:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET
⭐ Spotlight option 1: "Every age, every stage: advancing women's health across the lifespan"
Location: Sage Hall, B09
Women’s health has long been underserved in both research and clinical care. Join us for a dynamic discussion to explore the full spectrum of women’s health, including reproductive care, nutrition, and life after menopause. We'll examine how a deeper understanding of women’s unique health needs not only leads to better outcomes for women but also drives broader innovation in medicine that benefits everyone.
Learn more about how Cornell is uniquely positioned to address these critical challenges with unparalleled expertise across disciplines and robust cross-campus collaborations working to advance research and transform the future of healthcare for all.
⭐ Spotlight option 2: "Profit with purpose: educating for ethical entrepreneurship"
Location: Statler Hall, Room 196
In an increasingly complex and uncertain world—shaped by challenges such as climate change, food safety, regulatory shifts, ecosystem degradation, clean energy, and artificial intelligence—faculty from the SC Johnson College of Business and Cornell Tech are preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders to create ventures and socially responsible business practices that drive both positive societal impact and profitability. This approach demonstrates how environmental and social considerations drive innovation, unlock opportunity, and lead to sustainable success. You’ll hear stories from the field and the classroom that illustrate how we position our graduates to lead in an economy where positive social impact and business success are increasingly inseparable.
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET
🎟️ Cornell Law School tour
Join Brock Buffum, associate director of Annual and Reunion Giving, Cornell Law School, for a tour of the recently renovated Law School. Over the past ten years, Cornell Law School has undergone significant renovations to accommodate the expansion of resources for students, faculty, and staff. Come prepared with questions and hear about what steps the Law School has taken to remain prominent on the global stage of legal education.
🎟️ Tour of new Rare and Manuscript Collection exhibit: Plant-Based: Botanical Innovations from Paper to Poison
For millennia, humans have looked to the botanical world for the practical and the profound, finding countless imaginative and innovative uses for plants of all kinds. The artifacts gathered in this exhibition demonstrate the essential role plants have played in human communication, health, clothing, and design across the ages, showing that the phrase “plant-based” can apply to much more than food and diet. This exhibit explores multiple dimensions of our varied interactions with plants, and celebrates the earth’s florae, their myriad uses, and the inspiration humanity has discovered in their bounty. This exhibition is funded through the generous support of the Stephen E. Milman ’58, MBA ’59, and Evalyn Edwards Milman ’60 Exhibition Fund.
🎟️ Veterinary biobank tour (SOLD OUT)
There are 3,000+ disorders in animals that have a genetic basis, of which almost 1,500 are potential models of human disease. The Cornell Veterinary Biobank’s goal as a core resource to the College is to enable research in these diseases, leading to improvements in animal and human health. Dr. Marta Castelhano will explain the crucial role of the Biobank. For a preview of its impact, you can listen to the podcast on the biobank in advance.
5:15 - 6:15 p.m. ET
Location: Wayfair Commons, 1st floor, Computing and Information Science Building, 127 Hoy Road
Join President Michael Kotlikoff, Provost Kavita Bala, and Cornell Bowers Interim Dean Thorsten Joachims as we dedicate our transformative new Computing and Information Science building. This state-of-the-art facility features cutting-edge learning and research spaces designed to advance our academic excellence, encourage collaboration, and empower student innovation. Connect with the Cornell community over refreshments as we celebrate this exciting milestone in the college's growth.
6:30 - 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: TBD
Celebrate President Michael I. Kotlikoff’s inauguration as Cornell’s 15th president. Enjoy an evening of camaraderie and new connections.
Guest Policy: Each attendee may bring one guest only.
7:30 - 9:00 a.m. ET
🍴 Engaged Cornell: Transforming Higher Education for the 21st Century
Location: Statler Hotel, Carrier Ballroom
In fall 2014, Cornell received a groundbreaking $50 million grant to launch Engaged Cornell, an initiative designed to establish community engagement and real-world learning experiences as an enduring hallmark of the Cornell undergraduate experience.
Join President Michael I. Kotlikoff, emeritus trustee and benefactor David M. Einhorn ’91, Vice Provost for Engagement and Land-Grant Affairs, Katherine McComas, and Vice President of Student and Campus Life, Ryan Lombardi to learn how this grant and the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement continue to strengthen the university’s longstanding commitment to support communities around the globe and empower students to become active, engaged citizens.
Speakers:
🍴 Informal buffet breakfast at The Statler Hotel
Location: Conference Foyer, J. Willard Marriott Executive Education Center, Statler Hotel
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. ET
Location: Conine and Shah Families Active Learning Classroom, 1st floor, Computing and Information Science Building
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming educational practices and outcomes at Cornell and beyond.
Steve Jackson, Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, Professor of Information Science, and David Mimno, Chair of Information Science at Cornell Bowers, Professor of Information Science, will share insights on AI's impact on teaching methodologies, student engagement, and the broader societal implications of automated decision-making in education.
Moderated by Claire Cardie, Cornell Bowers Associate Dean for Education, John C. Ford Professor of Engineering in the Departments of Computer Science and Information Science, and featuring student perspectives, this conversation will examine both the opportunities and challenges that AI presents to the future of higher education, including critical questions about ethics, equity, and responsible implementation. Participate in this timely dialogue about navigating the intersection of AI and education in our rapidly evolving academic landscape.
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ET
Location: Statler Hall, 196
Building on our September Council conversation, we invite you to delve deeper into Cornell University Council’s rich history. We’ll hear directly from past chairs as they reflect on their personal leadership journeys and share insights into how Council has evolved. In this exclusive session for Council members, we’ll explore what has changed, what has remained constant, and how the Council’s mission continues to meet the moment.
Moderator:
Panelists:
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Statler Hotel, Various
Join a working group to learn more about council activities. Please choose one.
Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: 102 Tjaden Hall
Curated by the Department of Art, this space features a 20-foot ceiling and a bird’s-eye view from windows on the second floor. Department exhibitions include student, faculty, and class-based exhibitions.
Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: 102 Tjaden Hall
Curated by the Department of Art and named in honor of Olive Tjaden Van Sickle, Class of 1925, a pioneering female architect and a graduate of AAP, this gallery features a movable wall that covers the windows. Department exhibitions include student, faculty, and class-based exhibitions.
Wednesday, October 22 - Friday, October 24
Observe a class through Big Red Teaching Days and the Center for Teaching Innovation! Sit alongside faculty as they learn from their peers, and get an insider’s look at today's Cornell experience.
Big Red Teaching Days is a program that provides faculty with a collegial opportunity to informally observe their peers’ approach to teaching and learning across a range of courses and environments. It aims to deepen conversations about teaching and give faculty the opportunity to experience Cornell's classroom innovations.
Spaces are very limited; times vary based on class schedules. Separate registration will be open 10/9 - 10/16.
Wednesday, October 22
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lewis Auditorium, Goldwin Smith G76
This year's Lund Debate explores how cuts to U.S. foreign aid threaten global health, democratic governance, food security, and more. As the landscape of international aid evolves, the world faces new questions about the impact of aid on communities, what makes international aid effective—and how to move forwa
Participants:
Chris Barrett, agricultural economics and food policy expert
Barrett is the Stephen B. and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and a professor in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy.
Muna Ndulo, international law and governance expert
Ndulo is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of International and Comparative Law at Cornell Law School.
Thursday, October 23
4:00 - 6:o0 p.m. ET
Location: 100 Barnes Hall
Join Cornell Career Services for an open house celebrating the launch the office with expanded support for students exploring and applying for nationally competitive fellowships, such as Rhodes, Marshall and Truman. Staff will share the services the office provides, and students who have pursued opportunities with the new office will be on hand to share their experience. Light refreshments will be served.
Thursday, October 23
4:30 - 6:00 p.m. ET
Location: Daniel Sisler Student Hub, Mann Library Lower Level, Room B75
Join us as we celebrate engaged and experiential learning within Global Development and across CALS. The symposium will feature a welcome from Dean Ben Houlton as well as 40+ students presenting posters, blogs, photo essays, and videos focused on engaged learning experiences. Plus, experience the Daniel G. Sisler Global Development Student Hub, honoring a truly beloved faculty member who taught a generation of Cornell students.
Thursday, October 23
5:15 - 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Robinson Lecture Hall
Join art historian Dr. Cheryl Finley and artist Daesha Devón Harris for a conversation about Harris’s artistic practice, Finley’s curatorial work, and how the two intersect in the current exhibition, Free as they want to be: Artists Committed to Memory.
Dr. Cheryl Finley is the Walton Endowed Professor and Director of the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective at Spelman College. She retired last year from Cornell’s History of Art Department after an illustrious twenty-year career. An award-winning author and specialist in art markets, photography and African diaspora art history, Dr. Finley’s current research examines the global art economy, focusing on the relationship among artists, museums, patrons, biennials, and institution-building in the project Black Art Futures.
Daesha Devón Harris is an interdisciplinary visual artist whose work probes the interstices of narrative, history, the politics of place, and the greater African diaspora, intertwined with photography, mixed media, text, and video. The gentrification of her hometown of Saratoga Springs, New York, and its effect on the local Black community has played a major role in both her advocacy and artwork. Harris holds a BFA in Studio Art from the College of Saint Rose, and a MFA in Visual Art from the University at Buffalo, and her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States.
All are encouraged to visit the exhibition (in the Bartels Gallery on Floor 1L) prior to the program. The exhibition will also be open after the program during a public reception, free and open to all.
This talk has been made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and supported by the Milman Endowment for Education and Ames Mellon Endowment for Education.
Friday, October 24
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room
Student & Campus Life and the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life invite you to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Willard Straight Hall, as well as the newly refurbished college banners which adorn the Memorial Room, made possible through the generosity of Sigma Phi.
Saturday, October 25
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Taylor Room, Statler Hotel
Join Entrepreneurship at Cornell, the Cornell Entrepreneur Network, and the President's Council of Cornell Women in celebrating the history and legacy of Cornell women. You'll enjoy brunch, networking opportunities with fellow Cornellians, and a presentation from de facto university historian Corey Earle ’07 on some of Cornell's most notable (and entrepreneurial!) women. Separate registration is required. Tickets are $25 and open to the Cornell community, but space is limited!
Saturday, October 25
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
Tailgating begins two hours prior to kickoff. Game time will be announced closer to the date. Now with exclusive VIP seating areas and enhanced hospitality and concessions, the Big Red game day experience is better than ever. Get your tickets online and get ready to #YellCornell!