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A fond farewell

By Karen Rupert Keating '76

When I joined the Board of Trustees in the spring of 2001, I thought I knew a lot about Cornell. I came from a family with three graduates, and I had been actively involved in the University since I graduated in 1976. However, I completely underestimated the complexity of this massive organization, the visibility and the breadth of impact of the administration's decisions, and the diversity of opinion and needs of Cornell's constituencies. Some of the finest educational professionals in the world lead Cornell, and I can assure you that it is in very good hands.

As I reflect on these four years, I remain quite proud of our University. We continue to attract exceptional students, hire and retain a world-class faculty, operate with a balanced budget, build state-of-the-art facilities for instruction and research, field athletic teams with national rankings, and remain need-blind in admissions.

I hope I've added value to the operations of the University as a member of the Committee on Academic Affairs and Campus Life, the Task Force on Athletics, the Investment Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Audit Committee, using some of the knowledge I've accumulated in my banking career. Much was accomplished in each area, including the prudent use of financial resources, which continues to be critically needed for the many significant investments that enable Cornell to remain competitive.

One of the highlights of my term was the hiring of our new president, Jeffrey Lehman '77, who charged all Cornell constituencies to "become engaged" with and share thoughts about Cornell's future through its sesquicentennial in 2015. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to give back to Cornell as a trustee for the last four years and I hope to see many of you becoming even more engaged with Cornell, helping our alma mater to achieve greater successes in the years to come.

Each voice matters

By Celia Rodee '81

After my election to the Board of Trustees in the spring of 2001, I was skeptical as to what impact a single trustee could have on the actions and decisions of the entire board. In particular, I questioned whether any of the trustees elected by alumni, students, faculty, or staff would have much of a place at the table with those captains of industry and bulwarks of society appointed by the board. I am pleased to report, however, that my doubts were misplaced. My service on the board has confirmed to me the importance of each voice to the conversation about the role and direction of our University.

I cannot begin to list all of the committees and projects with which I was involved, but my experience on the Buildings and Properties Committee provides a telling window into the board's operation and the trustees' role. During my tenure, the University continued to plan, design, build, expand, and restore structures around campus at an extraordinary pace. Projects ranged from the completion of residence halls and two residential college houses on North and West campuses to the building of Duffield Hall on the Engineering Quad. It also included the creation of the Beck Center at the Hotel school, restoration of Bailey Hall, and the planning of the new Milstein Hall for the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, and the Richard Meierdesigned Life Sciences building. Yet we had to harmonize our desire to modernize the campus with the interests of all our constituent communities. At times, the grand goal of creating a new building or program risked overwhelming other, less obvious requirements as basic as providing green space on campus or accessible practice and athletic facilities for our student-athletes.

That is why Cornell's deliberate inclusion of a variety of voices on its board is so important. Each trustee's comments, thoughts, and ideas--even those that differed from the majority or that challenged the administration-- were welcomed and considered. For my part, I frequently attempted to amplify concerns that otherwise might not have been heard, particularly those of our insightful faculty-elected trustees and our sincere and dedicated student trustees. At times, I believe, I helped their voices to be heard more clearly; at other times, I pressed my own observations. I am convinced that at all times Cornell's entire board, beginning with its dedicated chairman, Peter Meinig '61, listened.

I conclude my term as trustee even more energized and anxious to give back to our great University than when I began. What we each can do to preserve our "elite but not elitist" treasure will vary according to our time and resources. But each of us can contribute, and Cornell can benefit. Whether it is meeting with an applicant, participating in a community outreach program, or making a gift to a class campaign or to the University's capital campaign, each of us can have a role in maintaining Ezra's vision. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve.

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