Stellar student: Michelle Dumond ’08 (center), the Class of ’68 Cornell Tradition Fellow, met with Jay Waks ’68, JD ’71 (left), the University Council chair and the Class of ’68 Cornell Fund representative, and his wife, Harriet, in October 2006 at a reception for scholarship recipients. Dumond received one of 545 fellowships awarded by the Cornell Tradition, an alumnisupported program that recognizes outstanding students based on their work experience, commitment to campus and/or community service, and academic achievement.

Fresh Faces  |  CAF Chooses New Directors and Officers

At its January 20 meeting, the Cornell Alumni Federation Board unanimously endorsed the Nominations Committee's slate of candidates for seven at-large and nine director-fromthe- region positions. The two-year terms will begin in May.

Directors-at-large beginning new terms are: Deborah Arrindell '79, Jonelle Bradshaw '96, Nicole Bisagni DelToro '91, Sheyna Horowitz '99, and Howard Sobel '66. Retiring directors-at-large whose terms end in May are: Laurie Berke-Weiss '71, Natalie Cornell '79, Cynthia Froggatt, MS '85, Ruby Saake '84, and Annie Wong '77. Beginning their second terms are: Mary Maxon Grainger, '79, MPS '87, and Kenneth Gurrola, MBA '95.

In all, eighteen directors-from-theregion represent Cornell clubs and alumni associations from nine regions around the world. Directors-from-theregion beginning new terms are: Laura Fratt '81 (Metro/New York), Marcy Dubroff '84 (Mid-Atlantic), Betsy Leis '97 (Midwest), Jill Mayo '88 (Northeast), Richard Boyan, MBA '91 (Southwest/ Mountain), and Cynthia Lang '91 (Western). Beginning their second terms are: Mark Yuan '96 (International) and Charles Hunt '68 (Southeast). Janet Fallon '76 (New York/Ontario) will continue for another term.

Retiring directors-from-the-region whose terms end in May are: Howard Sobel '66 (Metro/New York), Mary Kahn '79 (Mid-Atlantic), Lawrence Taylor '73 (Midwest), Meredith Rosenberg '92 (Northeast), Stephanie Keene Fox '89 (Southwest/Mountain), and Rana Glasgal '87, MS ORIE '92 (Western).

The Federation board also unanimously approved the following slate of 2007–09 officers presented by its Nominations Committee: president Rolf Frantz '66, ME '67, and vice presidents Nancy Abrams Dreier '86, Stephanie Keene Fox '89, Ross Lanzafame '77, MPS '79, Sally Anne Levine '70, JD '73, and Annie Wong '77. Director of Alumni Affairs Mary Berens '74 continues as secretary/treasurer. Retiring executive committee vice presidents whose terms end in May are: Jeffrey Goldstein '90, Terrance Horner Jr. '92, PhD '98, and Robert Metcalf, MBA '61.

The Stewardship of Cornell

By Martha Coultrap '71

Thank you, Cornell alumni. As my term as an alumni-elected trustee comes to an end, I'd like to reflect on two things: first, the principal role of a trustee--the stewardship, preservation, and enhancement of Cornell's faculty, current and former students, and financial and physical resources; and second, the vision of Ezra Cornell and Andrew D. White--"any person . . . any study"--that has impacted the decisions and attentions of the Board of Trustees and its committees during my term.

Preserving and enhancing alumni relations remained a focus of mine. On the Alumni Affairs and Development Committee and on the Alumni Affairs Steering Committee, I participated in efforts to increase voter turnout in trustee elections; to engage younger, more diverse alumni; and to improve both the alumni's understanding of the Board and to enhance the Board's connection with alumni.

Matters before the Academic Affairs and Student Life committees, of which I have been a member, included faculty tenure and promotion, academic planning, issues facing the humanities, students' mental health, campus-wide initiatives to improve diversity in the faculty and the student body, land-grant obligations and initiatives, and student research. Like many other trustees, I returned to campus often. I experienced living/learning in Cook House, attended a seminar section on race relations at Cornell, and met with graduating seniors and parents.

On the Audit Committee, we reviewed and discussed Cornell's adoption and implementation of internal control documentation and policies, allocation of institutional risks among units and Board committees, disaster recovery and research compliance plans, policies that covered conflicts of interest, and standards of ethical conduct. On the Government and Community Relations Committee, we dealt with state and federal budget concerns, federal legislative issues affecting universities, and the impact of campus construction on community relations.

While my term saw transitions among presidents, Cornell's talented and dedicated administrators, faculty, and trustees kept the University on its steady trajectory as a worldclass institution. The Board hired President Skorton and launched the critical and timely campus master plan and the capital campaign to assure economic and ethnic diversity among students, the hiring and retention of outstanding faculty, and the physical plant's preservation and enhancement.

I have learned so much--although probably only a fraction of what there is to know about complex, extraordinary Cornell. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a trustee and do my best to give back to the University. The experience, like my education at Cornell, was transformational. Thank you!

Cornell's Collaborative Spirit

By Marcus Loo '77, MD '81

It has been a great honor to serve as an alumni-elected trustee. Reflecting upon my experience on the Board, I am impressed by how multifaceted and wonderful an institution Cornell is today. Despite the complexities, there is a spirit of collaboration that exists at many levels to make Cornell truly inspirational.

The Board is the largest among its peer institutions, but it is also a collegial and diverse group. Most of the Board's work is handled by committees, and each works closely with the administration to openly discuss issues facing the University. I believe it is essential that the Board continue to strive for diversity so Cornell benefits from different perspectives and viewpoints. The election of alumni trustees is one means to achieve this end, and it recognizes the responsibility of all alumni to participate and vote. Very few of our peers have a similar process of trustee election.

Our founder's vision of "any person . . . any study" and our institutional charge of a private university with a public mission has necessitated that students and faculty collaborate often in interdisciplinary ways to achieve innovation and excellence. Today humanists and social scientists are working together, as are life scientists in Ithaca and clinicians at Weill Medical College in New York City. To sustain our competitive advantage and continue to provide opportunities for the next generation of students and faculty, the Board recently approved a $4 billion capital campaign.

With the beginning of David Skorton's presidency, this is a time of great anticipation. The alumni body is Cornell's greatest strength. We must all work together to ensure that Cornell is the best research university for undergraduate education. The leadership of the Board and the University are dedicated to working tirelessly toward this unassailable goal.