Skorton

Cornell President David Skorton has been honored with a national award for his work with government officials on behalf of state and land-grant universities.

Skorton won the Exemplary President in Governmental Relations Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities' (APLU) Council on Governmental Affairs March 1.

He was cited for more than two decades of "sustained excellence" in governmental relations with public higher education. He brings to the job of university president "an unparalleled passion, energy, sincerity and sense of purpose," the council's award letter read.

"I am deeply honored to receive this award on behalf of the Cornell community," Skorton said. "I am pleased that the advocacy by APLU and other higher education associations to advance the National Endowment for the Humanities, student financial aid and other issues is being recognized."

A physician and scientist, Skorton was especially cited as a passionate voice for increased support for the humanities. "At no time in this nation's history has it been more important to nurture, protect and put the ideas and provocations of the arts and humanities front and center," the letter said. "Your leadership on behalf of the National Endowment for the Humanities among your colleagues and before Congress has been an inspiration to the academic community and to the public."

Skorton was also credited for his "frequent and effective" interactions with members of Congress and the executive branch, during which he has advanced the urgency of university-based research, research ethics and the protection of human participants in research.

He has testified before Congress on a variety of issues, including potentially volatile ones related to academic freedom, a safe working and living environment, the place of civil disobedience on campus, and the future environment and accessibility of publicly supported institutions of higher education.

Skorton has advocated for intelligent immigration reform, especially the DREAM Act. He has also been an "articulate voice" for increased funding for student financial aid, increased access to higher education and intelligent management of resources and expenditures.

The council concluded that Skorton's "towering intellectual integrity, moral courage and unshakable respect for [others] ... has brought great credit on yourself, your institutions, the APLU and our common purpose to represent the importance of public higher education to government and the public."

APLU is a research and advocacy organization of public research universities, land-grant institutions and state university systems with member campuses in all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. APLU's Council on Governmental Affairs is the principal point of contact between APLU institutions and their congressional delegations as well as federal agencies.