Cornell's president is the chief executive officer of the college and advisor to and agent of the 23-member Board of Trustees. As educational and administrative head, the president superintends the affairs of the college and executes the decisions of the board.
Jonathan Brand, President
“I continue to be so optimistic and bullish about what we do at Cornell. Our students may not know that they have all the ability in the world, but they do. And our job is to help bring those latent talents to light and to give them the confidence to build what they don’t realize they’re capable of building, and help them realize what they're fully capable of doing.” - Jonathan Brand, February 2023 All-Call
Jonathan Brand became Cornell's 15th president on July 1, 2011. Brand previously served as president of Doane College and as special assistant and counsel to the president at Grinnell College. He holds a law degree from Cornell University, a master's degree in French literature from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor's degree in history and French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Engagement
President Brand’s office is near the center of campus where he makes himself available to faculty, staff, and students alike. If you’ve been on campus and walked down the pedestrian mall, chances are you’ve received a high five or first-bump from President Brand. For admitted student days on campus, he hands out his signature granola and greets new students and their families on the patio of the Garner President’s House as part of a self-guided campus tour activity. And if you check the audience of college performances, sporting events, poster presentations, and student recognition events, you’re likely to see his trademark purple converse shoes nearby (unless he picked dress shoes that day.)
“Cornell is a very connected place where people seek engagement with others. I find immense joy in the small things that support our connected community—like offering a smile and hello to every student I pass on the Ped Mall.” - Jonathan Brand
What's on President Brand's mind?
Questions include “How can we be better?” and “How can we help students even more?” President Brand regularly publishes white papers that reflect on the priorities of the college, where we’re headed as an institution, and what we’ve recently accomplished. White paper series.
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