Cornell University

Cornell University Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, USA

Founded in 1865 and opened on October 7, 1868, Cornell has been described as the first American university. Co-founders Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White wanted Cornell to be open to all students, regardless of sex, race, religion, nationality, or ability to pay. Their egalitarian and practical vision of higher education, revolutionary in 1865, still informs the guiding principles of the unive

rsity in the 21st century. Cornell’s combination of joint identities is unique among leading institutions of higher education—it is the federal land-grant institution of New York State, a private endowed university, a member of the Ivy League (or Ancient Eight), and a partner of the State University of New York. The university is dedicated to its original mission of accessibility and opportunity, outreach, and public service.

Cornell Reunion traditions, from dancing in the Arts Quad tents to family boating on Beebe Lake, have endured through th...
06/02/2026

Cornell Reunion traditions, from dancing in the Arts Quad tents to family boating on Beebe Lake, have endured through the decades. And every June, alumni flock to the Hill to reconnect with old friends and relive those unforgettable college days.

With this year's Reunion kicking off later this week, we’re taking a walk down memory lane to look at Reunions of yesteryear. The neckties may have been wider and the variety of chapeaux a bit wilder back then, but that classic Big Red spirit shines just as bright.

Take a look through these vintage shots spanning from the 1960s to the ’90s, and to see more, visit https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/vintage-reunion-photos/.

Photos courtesy of the Cornell University Library Rare and Manuscript Collection.

06/02/2026

We are thrilled to officially announce Dr. Jessica McArt as the new Dean of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine!

A new chapter of leadership begins! Please welcome Jessica McArt, D.V.M. '07, Ph.D. '13, as our new Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine. A Cornell alumna and current professor, McArt brings exceptional leadership and a proven track record of academic excellence to guide our institution. She succeeds Lorin Warnick, D.V.M., Ph.D. ’94, who, for the past decade, expertly led our college through new growth and achievements — thank you Dean Warnick!

As a dairy veterinarian and epidemiologist, Dean McArt will advance initiatives that combine CVM's expertise with that of our partners across the university, our local community, the state and the world to drive discovery, improve health of all species, and support our students' educational goals. 🐾

🔗Read the full announcement here: https://news.cornell.edu/preview-link/node/333133/c0308db4-1655-4c6d-b041-ac3dbdd48c49

Experiences like travel and adventure are more satisfying than material purchases, shows research from Cornell psycholog...
06/02/2026

Experiences like travel and adventure are more satisfying than material purchases, shows research from Cornell psychologist Thomas Gilovich. But what makes for a trip you’ll remember? Here are five ingredients, according to Gilovich.

Today marks the start of Cornell Summer Session, when students come together from around the world for flexible courses ...
06/01/2026

Today marks the start of Cornell Summer Session, when students come together from around the world for flexible courses and an unforgettable Ithaca experience.

Check out https://sce.cornell.edu/ for registration info.

05/30/2026

One person’s waste is another one’s gold.

A Cornell researcher and her African colleagues are collecting human excreta from informal settlements in Kenya, processing it to remove pathogens, and turning it into affordable, high-quality agricultural fertilizer – called KIYA Gold – that is nourishing plants while protecting human health and the environment.

“At some point it occurred to us that there was a positive feedback loop possible here,” said Rebecca Nelson, a professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science and the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University (CALS).

“If we can use this excreta to make fertilizer, we can expand sanitation, support and improve public health and sanitation in the informal settlements, all while reducing nutrients and pathogens going into the lake.”

This research is supported by an Academic Venture Fund grant from the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and the McKnight Foundation’s Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems.

When a team of researchers recorded a low thundering underneath the surface of the Hudson River, they thought they were ...
05/29/2026

When a team of researchers recorded a low thundering underneath the surface of the Hudson River, they thought they were hearing the muffled rumble of trains.

A closer look, and listen, led to a much more interesting discovery: the thunder came from Atlantic sturgeon – an iconic and endangered species – spawning in the depths of the river.

“It’s almost that you feel it more than you hear it,” said Maija Niemistö, science educator with the New York State Water Resources Institute (NYSWRI), a joint research center with Cornell and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

“You can hear these chirps and squirts and bubbles underwater, but this is a different experience entirely. These are ancient fish, and the thunder – it’s almost like you’re brought back in time, because they’ve been making this sound, communicating with each other, for millions of years. It’s awe-inspiring.”

In a collaboration between the NYSWRI, NYSDEC, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (DNRE), and others, the team has confirmed the thunder of the Atlantic sturgeon for the first time, publishing the study in Endangered Species Research in 2025.

That study was conducted in a known sturgeon spawning ground; this spring, the team placed additional underwater recorders in areas of suspected spawning, some of which are not protected.

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/05/newly-discovered-thunder-atlantic-sturgeon-inspires-awe.

During campus ceremonies May 21-22, 23 graduating Cornell seniors took oaths of office and exchanged first salutes as ne...
05/28/2026

During campus ceremonies May 21-22, 23 graduating Cornell seniors took oaths of office and exchanged first salutes as newly commissioned second lieutenants or ensigns in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Space Force.

Two members of the ROTC Tri-Service Brigade – Sidney Anop ’26 and Juan Rodriguez ’26 – also became Cornell’s first to earn another informal title: mustang.

In the Navy and Marines, the term “mustang” refers to officers who started their military careers by enlisting, typically out of high school. Their less-conventional path into the commissioned ranks – including selection by highly competitive programs enabling them to attend college – commands respect from both enlisted service members who perceive them as more relatable, and senior officers who value their breadth of experience.

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/05/first-mustangs-among-cornell-rotcs-newly-commissioned-officers.

A Big Red congratulations to the Cornell Class of 2026 doctoral recipients!Your years of academic dedication and hard wo...
05/28/2026

A Big Red congratulations to the Cornell Class of 2026 doctoral recipients!

Your years of academic dedication and hard work have truly paid off. We are incredibly proud to welcome you into the ancient and universal company of scholars. The world is better for your research, curiosity, and expertise.

Read more at the link in our comments.

How Do You Spell a National Bee Legend? J-A-C-Q-U-E-S B-A-I-L-L-Y! For Jacques Bailly, Ph.D. ’97, the winning word at th...
05/27/2026

How Do You Spell a National Bee Legend? J-A-C-Q-U-E-S B-A-I-L-L-Y!

For Jacques Bailly, Ph.D. ’97, the winning word at the 1980 Scripps National Spelling Bee was “elucubrate,” which, aptly enough, means “to work out or express by studious effort.” At 14, Bailly was crowned America’s spelling champion, taking home $1,000 and a nice set of encyclopedias.

But his career in orthography didn’t end there. Since 2003, he has been the Bee’s head pronouncer—an unflappable presence on national TV (in 2026, it airs May 27–28 on the Ion channel) who reads words aloud and answers contestants’ queries about definition, usage, language of origin, and more.

Read more: https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/bailly-spelling-bee/.

Address

Ithaca, NY

Telephone

+16072544636

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cornell University posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category