Robert Barker/University Photography

David J. Skorton meets with Cornell deans and provosts at the Statler Hotel, Jan. 21. Enjoying a laugh with Skorton are, from left, Lisa Staiano-Coico, dean of the College of Human Ecology; Alison "Sunny" Power, dean of the Graduate School; Michele Moody-Adams, vice provost for undergraduate education; and Robert Richardson, vice provost for research.

He had barely set foot on the campus he has been chosen to lead. In an easy, unassuming way, though, University of Iowa President David Skorton was quickly slipping into his role as an integral part of Cornell.

Cornell's 12th president began his first day on campus Jan. 21 at an 8 a.m. meeting with university deans and vice provosts at the Statler Hotel. He said he was already looking forward to calling Ithaca home.

"I already have a foot on this campus, and a part of my heart is already here," Skorton said. "Being a cardiologist, I won't bore you with exactly which part. But it's a very important part."

And though the relationship is just in its infancy, Cornell's faculty and administrators reciprocated with a heartfelt welcome.

In a morning of meetings -- first with university deans and vice provosts, then with faculty members -- Skorton introduced himself, spoke about his priorities and tossed in more than a few deadpan jokes about his career as "a failed musician."

Skorton fielded faculty questions about international education, diversity, the shrinking pool of funding for sciences and humanities, his nonlinear career path and his leadership style.

Asked about challenges facing Cornell, he noted that he still has a lot to learn about the university. But one area he already has plans to address, he said, was a perceived imbalance between attention given to the sciences and the humanities.

Copyright © Cornell University

Skorton greets deans, provosts and members of the faculty during his visit to campus Jan. 21.

"I don't see the humanities and creative studies emphasized as highly as the sciences," he said. "And that's got to happen at a place like Cornell."

As a president who rose through the ranks of the faculty, he said, he will also take care to listen to and consider faculty opinions on important decisions. "Faculty have to have a huge say," he said.

To questions about his schedule between now and his official start date of July 1, Skorton said both he and his wife, cell biologist Robin Davisson, have many loose ends to tie up in Iowa. But as the spring progresses, he said, he will start spending more time here -- touring individual colleges, meeting with campus leaders and soaking up as much information as he can.

"I liked his approach to the presidency and his answers to the questions. I thought he was respectful and extraordinarily knowledgeable," said Francille Firebaugh, professor emerita of policy analysis and management and dean emerita of the College of Human Ecology. "I was very impressed."

Larry Walker, professor of biological and environmental engineering (and fellow fan of jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley), was cautious about forming an opinion too quickly. "The devil's always in the details," he said. But like his colleagues, he was optimistic.

"He has a good depth of understanding of issues on the national agenda," added Michael Spencer, professor of computer and electrical engineering and assistant dean in the College of Engineering. "He was very thoughtful [in] all his answers. I was impressed he has such a diverse background. It's really quite a fascinating career he's had, and quite an impressive career."

"I liked his background and style," said Engineering Professor Harold Craighead. "He seems like a very intelligent, thoughtful person. He's very disarming in the way he interacts with people."

"I was very impressed with his combination of insight and humility," agreed Dan Huttenlocher, professor of computer science and management. Filing out of the Statler's Yale Room after the meeting, he summed up the spirit among his colleagues.

"Excited," said Huttenlocher. "If I had to give one word: excited."

Later in the day Skorton met with unusually formal students, the men in ties and ironed shirts, the women in modest laced dresses and make-up.

Skorton started the meeting as he had begun the day, with a disarming grin.

"I'm very, very interested in a shared decision-making process," he said.

Sarah Boxer, Cornell student assembly vice president for public relations, asked Skorton how he plans to stay in touch with hot-button student issues. The new president told the students they should "never be bashful about speaking out against me or my opinions." He said he has an open-door policy for students to visit or e-mail him and plans to have open forums for staff, faculty and students. He said he plans to keep open some evening hours for undergraduates to come to his office. He also requested that students e-mail him with ideas suggesting ways he might connect with the student body. He promised he would try to follow up on their requests.

Robert Barker/University Photography

At Cornell's Employee Winter Celebration, Skorton and his wife, Robin Davisson, introduce themselves to Tracy Tan, 9, and her father, Dong Lai, associate professor of astronomy, Jan. 21 in Bartels Hall.

One suggestion from the students was that he join students informally at residence hall meals. "I would love to come to residence halls and speak with rank-and-file students to get a feel of the pulse of the student body's issues," he said. Skorton also showed students he was hip to their culture, joking that he has more "friends" on the University of Iowa's Facebook (the heavily used online buddy system) than does his son on the Facebook at Stanford, where he is a student.

"This is actually the second time that I've met a new Cornell president," said Tim Lim, student assembly president. "I hope he's able to do everything he says he's going to do. I am very hopeful that he will be successful."

"I was immensely impressed," said Randy Lariar '08, an undergraduate engineering representative of the student assembly. "He's new to the university, and his first priority was to get down with students. He came early and stayed late. He's very open and down to earth. I am very optimistic this is going to be a good relationship."

Skorton and his wife, Robin Davisson, then met with staff in Bartels Hall. Skorton continued to show how engaged and informed he is about Cornell. When Leon Lawrence, director of multicultural affairs in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, asked, "We have no FM radio station. What are you going to do about that?" Skorton, who has his own weekly jazz radio show at Iowa, quickly replied that he has already started looking into it.

Skorton then leaned toward the group and asked, "Help me out here. I'm going to the hockey game tonight, what should I say? I don't want to get myself in trouble." The group told him to yell, "Go Big Red!"

Later, Skorton and Davisson worked the Employee Winter Celebration dinner in Bartel's Ramin Room, home of the Lindseth rock-climbing wall. Skorton and Davisson shook hands and joked with staff and even greeted a juggling clown. "Thank you so much for the warm welcome," said Davisson to the crowd from a small stage where the new first couple was introduced.

"Go Big Red!" Skorton cheered.