Susan A. Henry
The Ronald P. Lynch
Dean of Agriculture
and Life Sciences
CALS has a significant role to play in two major universitywide initiatives that have taken important steps forward this year. The first is the Cornell Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology (CICMB), which entered a new phase on Feb. 1 with the arrival of Scott Emr, professor of molecular biology and genetics, as the Frank H. T. Rhodes Class of '56 Director. Professor Emr characterizes the CICMB's research theme as cell signaling and molecular dynamics, a broad topic area that encompasses many fundamentally-and medically-important questions in cell biology. Recruiting is now underway for three faculty members to be appointed after completion of the Life Sciences Technology Building next spring. CALS has committed to hiring six of the 12 faculty members envisioned for the institute.
The second important initiative has been the creation of the Center for a Sustainable Future and the appointment in late summer of Frank DiSalvo, the John A. Newman Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, as its interim director. This center will draw on the expertise of many CALS faculty members as it seeks to develop interdisciplinary solutions to problems along the sustainability spectrum from environmental to economic issues. While several task forces and individuals contributed momentum to the establishment of this center, an early proponent and intellectual leader of the effort was David Atkinson '60, a CALS alumnus and Advisory Council member, who chaired the council task force on sustainability that proposed the center. Mr. Atkinson recently pledged to contribute $1 million annually for three to five years to fund its start-up.
Gifts like Mr. Atkinson's are critical to the success of new ventures like the Center for a Sustainable Future and the Cornell Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology. In addition to current-use funds, our college has a particular need for endowment gifts for faculty, students, and programs. While CALS is providing critical leadership to nearly every major academic initiative of the university, our endowment is valued at less than 10 percent of Cornell's total endowment, an imbalance that is not sustainable.
One recommendation made by our advisory council was to recruit a director of corporate partnerships to encourage corporate giving, student recruitment, and technology transfer. Jennifer Drumluk joined our staff in that capacity last spring and has since finalized several gift discussions that were ongoing, including Ernst and Young's $800,000 commitment to fund intermediate and advanced accounting courses in AEM and a $60,000 gift, renewable annually for five years, from DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred seed business to support two graduate fellowships in Plant Breeding and Genetics. Any of you who are interested in furthering relationships with corporate sponsors or collaborators are encouraged to contact Jennifer for assistance.
Our college has raised more than $76 million so far as part of Cornell's $4 billion capital campaign, not including an exciting, recent $2 million professorship endowment commitment from another CALS Advisory Council member, Larry Goichman '66, and his family. As we approach the end of the tax year, our campaign total is certain to rise. If you should have any any fund-raising questions, Mike Riley and his staff will be happy to help you.
Finally, I'd like to extend to all of you my warmest wishes for a happy holiday season and a productive and fulfilling new year.
Susan A. Henry, Ph.D.
The Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences