To bring together related functional areas and realize greater efficiencies throughout Cornell, President Elizabeth Garrett is restructuring her leadership team, reorganizing some of the university’s top administrative responsibilities.

She has tapped Joanne DeStefano, vice president for finance and chief financial officer, for the newly created position of executive vice president and chief financial officer. Her appointment will be effective Nov. 1, following board of trustee approval of bylaws amendments that formalize the new position.

As executive vice president and CFO, DeStefano will continue oversight of Financial Affairs, the Investment Office and the Audit Office, and will share oversight with Provost Michael Kotlikoff of Information Technologies and Budget and Planning. DeStefano also will oversee Infrastructure, Properties and Planning (IPP), Risk Management and Insurance, Emergency Management/Business Continuity, Environmental Health and Safety, and the Cornell University Police Department. 

This reorganization groups all of Cornell’s various risk-related efforts under one leader, allowing the university to maximize its efficiency of operations while still prioritizing these important functions, Garrett said. 

“We are extremely fortunate to have Joanne’s substantial talents – including her financial acumen and deep understanding of the university – to draw upon as we look to the opportunities and challenges ahead,” she said.

As part of this new structure, Garrett and DeStefano will work directly with IPP Vice President Kyu Whang on such issues as construction, deferred maintenance, real estate development and space usage, and will continue to encourage partnership between IPP and Cornell’s academic leaders in establishing the university’s campus as a living laboratory for sustainability efforts and advances. Whang will remain the principal liaison between the Office of the President and the Buildings and Properties Committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees, Garrett said.

As vice president and chief human resources officer, Mary Opperman will continue to focus on workforce-related issues, diversity and compliance, and she will continue to lead the university’s economic development efforts. “As I underscored in my inauguration speech, our dual footprint in Ithaca and New York City is a defining feature of Cornell, and Mary will work with me to identify opportunities to support and diversify the Ithaca economy by creating increased connections among our campuses,” Garrett said.

“I am excited about these changes and to working with all members of the Cornell community to build on our achievements to date as we chart our exciting future,” she said.