Above: Alumni-elected trustees in Ithaca, March 2025. L-R: John Toohey-Morales ’84, Ginger So ’79, Kim Wagner ’85, Valisha Graves ’85, Paul Cashman’73, Deborah Arrindel ’79, A’ndrea Van Schoick ’96, Kim Dowdell ’06. | Photo Credit: Adam Murtland, Cornell University

Past alumni-elected trustees

  • Elected in 2022

    Dr. Deborah J. Arrindell '79 (CALS) and Kimberly Nicole Dowdell '06 (AAP)

  • Dr. A’ndrea L. Van Schoick ’96 (CALS) and Kimberly A. Wagner ’85 (CALS)
    Elected in 2021

    Dr. A’ndrea L. Van Schoick ’96 (CALS) and Kimberly A. Wagner ’85 (CALS)

  • Beth Anderson and Doug Mitarotonda
    Elected in 2020

    Beth Anderson ’80 (A&S) and Doug Mitarotonda ’02, MEng ’03, MA ’07, PhD ’09 (A&S)

  • Elected in 2019

    Dr. Cynthia Cuffie ’74 (HumEc) and Lorette Simon Gross ’89 (CALS), MBA ’90

  • John Boochever ’81 (A&S) and Dr. Yonn Rasmussen ’83 (ENG), MS ENG ’86, PhD ENG ’89
    Elected in 2018

    John Boochever ’81 (A&S) and Yonn Rasmussen ’83 (ENG), MS ENG ’86, PhD ENG ’89

  • Alumni elect Sheila Wilson Allen '76, DVM '81(left) and Linda Gadsby '88(right).
    Elected in 2017

    Sheila Wilson Allen '76, DVM '81 and Linda Gadsby '88

  • Pam Marrone '78 and Katrina James '96
    Elected in 2016

    Pam Marrone '78 and Katrina James '96

  • Poe+Fox-600x400px.jpg
    Elected in 2015

    Stephanie Fox '89 and Jonathan Poe '82

  • Elected in 2014

    Elizabeth Everett Krisberg ’97 and Michael Troy ’81

The trustee role

  • The Board of Trustees is comprised of 64 members, representing students, faculty, employees, alumni, labor, agriculture, and New York State government. Cornell’s board is the only Ivy League board that includes trustees elected by students, faculty and employees.

    The board is vested with “supreme control” over the university and is responsible for stewarding the long-term strategic direction, reputation and finances of the university.

    • It approves the operating budget of the university, including tuition levels and financial aid policies.
    • It manages the university’s endowment and determines how much to pay out each year to support university operations, faculty salaries, and financial aid.
    • It approves significant new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings, like Klarman Hall, Gates Hall, Cornell Health, and the new North Campus residential expansion.
    • It elects the Cornell president.
    • It also decides major policy matters, like whether to create a technology campus in New York City, a College of Business, a School of Public Policy, or a medical college in foreign countries, like Qatar.

    In short, the board of trustees ensures that the mission, vision, values and reputation of the university live forever and remain true to our founding principles.

Alumni-elected trustees in the news