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Martha E. Pollack

As Cornell prepares for the April 17 arrival of its 14th president, Martha E. Pollack, the Inauguration Steering Committee has begun planning her inauguration, which will be held Friday, Aug. 25.

The Cornell and Ithaca-area communities are invited to attend the installation ceremony, which will take place in the afternoon on the Arts Quad, followed by a community celebration. Those who are unable to attend the ceremony in person will be able to view it via live stream.

The Inauguration Steering Committee is co-chaired by Charles Van Loan, dean of the university faculty; Joel Malina, vice president for university relations; and Mary Opperman, vice president and chief human resources officer. Committee members include deans; university administrators; faculty members from Cornell Ithaca and the Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell Tech campuses in New York City; students; and staff.

“President Pollack’s inauguration will highlight the historical importance of Cornell, both as a great research university and as a force in society. It will be a celebration of academic excellence across the disciplines, recognizing all along the way that it is through our students that we can help shape the future,” said Van Loan.

Other inaugural activities being planned include academic events on Aug. 24 involving students and faculty, according to Malina.

“It is important to the president-elect that the inauguration festivities begin with an academic focus, a chance to showcase the breadth of our faculty and student scholarship, and engage all members of the Cornell community in a celebration of Cornell academic achievement,” Malina said.

Pollack earned her bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Dartmouth College in 1979 and her M.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees in computer and information science from the University of Pennsylvania. She served as a faculty member, department chair, dean and vice provost before becoming provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan.

“We plan to provide opportunities for faculty, staff and students to meet President Pollack, to come together as a community to welcome her to Cornell, and to have some fun as our new president opens another exciting chapter in Cornell’s history,” said Opperman.

Additional details and schedule information will be made available in the coming months.