Cornell President Emeritus Hunter R. Rawlings III has been named president of the Association of American Universities (AAU), effective June 1. He will succeed Robert M. Berdahl, who has served as AAU president since 2006.

Cornell's president from 1995-2003, as well as interim president in 2005-06, Rawlings is a distinguished classicist. He will take the helm of the prestigious nonprofit organization of 63 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada. The organization works to advance issues ranging from research funding and policy to graduate and undergraduate education.

"I feel enormously privileged and honored to have the opportunity to lead the [AAU], a great collection of research universities -- in fact the best in the world and a remarkable national asset," Rawlings said. "This is a challenging time in Washington, and it will be a demanding position. But, I look forward to serving these great universities at a time like this when education is more important than ever."

As Cornell's 10th president, Rawlings gained lasting respect from the Cornell faculty for his support of intellectual and academic standards. His initiatives included: promoting student diversity and Cornell's need-blind admissions policy; launching the Residential Initiative, which resulted in the transformation of North Campus into a living and learning community for freshmen and new West Campus residential colleges; establishing the Cornell Presidential Research Scholars program; setting strategic goals for life sciences and engineering, as well as humanities and social sciences; and strengthening Weill Cornell Medical College. Before coming to Cornell, he served as president of the University of Iowa from 1988 to 1995.

Said Cornell President David Skorton: "Hunter Rawlings is an inspired choice to be next president of the Association of American Universities. Hunter is one of the great visionaries and leaders of American higher education, and his election is a reminder of the AAU tradition of strong leadership of and advocacy for the role of American higher education in our country and abroad. This tradition is clearly exemplified by my colleague and mentor Bob Berdahl, who has so ably led this important organization."

"Hunter Rawlings will bring to the AAU, a great institution, thoughtful leadership and a fine-tuned sensibility for pulling together the views of a variety of stakeholders into meaningful action," said Peter C. Meinig, chair of the Cornell Board of Trustees. "This is a proud moment for Cornell and, no doubt, all the institutions touched by President Emeritus Rawlings. Congratulations for a fabulous choice."

Rawlings will take over AAU leadership after serving for 15 years as a presidential member of the organization, which, he said, has given him a "keen appreciation of the value of its contributions to the nation's business and to the member institutions themselves."

In addition, Rawlings is a member of the National Research Council's Committee on Research Universities. In this role, he and Ronald Ehrenberg, the Irving M. Ives Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics and director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute, are participating in a yearlong review of how the federal government can ensure the long-term health of U.S. research universities.

A full-time professor in Cornell's Departments of Classics and of History, Rawlings plans to continue his close ties with Cornell.

"These past few years have been particularly gratifying because I have been teaching students and collaborating with wonderful colleagues in the classics department, all of whom made me feel welcome and valued as an intellectual partner," he said.

Hayden Pelliccia, associate professor of classics and interim department chair, also praised Rawlings as a great teacher, effective administrator and innovative researcher.

"As everybody knows, Hunter is a commanding figure," Pelliccia said. "He is also a natural enthusiast; his native outlook is sunny and encouraging, and he assumes others to be as generous-spirited as he is."

Stephen Philip Johnson, Cornell's vice president for government and community relations, called Rawlings "a seasoned government affairs professional."

"His advocacy experience in both Albany and Washington will serve the organization well," Johnson said. "His service on national and New York state commissions, as well as Washington study and advisory groups, has earned him the respect of his peers."

Founded in 1900 to advance the international standing of U.S. research universities, AAU is a leader in innovation, scholarship and solutions that contribute to the nation's economy, security and well-being. Its goals include maintaining productive partnerships between research universities and the federal government. The major activities of the association include federal government relations, policy studies and public affairs.