University Statements

I am pleased to inform you that earlier today, the Cornell University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of President Emeritus Hunter R. Rawlings III as the university’s interim president. Hunter will begin in this role on Monday, April 25, and has agreed to serve until a new president is selected through an international search that will commence later this year.

For those of you unfamiliar with Hunter’s record of service to Cornell, he served as Cornell’s 10th president from 1995-2003, was a full-time professor in Cornell’s Departments of Classics and History, and served as interim president from 2005-2006 after the resignation of President Jeffrey Lehman. One of the nation’s premier advocates for higher education, Hunter has served as the president of the Association of American Universities since 2011 and had announced his retirement from that position last year. Hunter is uniquely suited to take the helm of Cornell at this time of transition.

With Hunter’s return to Ithaca, Acting President Michael Kotlikoff will resume his full-time duties as provost. Since becoming acting president on February 19, Mike has been doing two jobs — and doing them extremely well. His leadership and steady hand during what has been an unprecedented and challenging time for Cornell has been nothing short of exceptional.

Please join me in thanking Mike for his efforts and in welcoming Hunter back to Cornell.

For more information, please see this article in the Cornell Chronicle.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Harrison ’76
Chairman
Cornell University Board of Trustees