Harold D. Craft Jr., Cornell University's vice president for administration and chief financial officer, announced today, Nov. 14, that he will recommend to the Executive Committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees the appointment of Joanne M. DeStefano as vice president for financial affairs and university controller, effective Dec. 6.

DeStefano, who joined Cornell in 1990, has been acting vice president since May. She has 22 years of diversified financial management with a major research institution, Fortune 100 companies and small for-profit corporations, Craft said. She also has experience in federal indirect cost negotiations and compliance and the development of financial and administrative policies for a highly decentralized research institution.

"I am very pleased that Joanne was the successful candidate in the rigorous nationwide search that was conducted for this position," said Craft. "While in the role of the acting vice president, she demonstrated clearly that she is a skilled leader as well as a broadly experienced and knowledgeable financial professional. She will be a strong member of the university's financial leadership; I look forward to working with her."

As vice president for financial affairs and university controller, DeStefano will be responsible for Cornell's Bursar's Office, Accounting Office, Payroll Office, Indirect Cost Office, Purchasing Office and University Policy Office, all on the Ithaca campus. She also will be expected to maintain close working relationships with the financial staff of the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, although she will not be directly responsible for their operations.

The vice president for financial affairs and university controller is a member of the senior finance staff and, in conjunction with other administrators, is responsible for developing and monitoring university financial policy and performance. DeStefano will report directly to Craft.

"I am looking forward to the challenges that this position offers and to working with my colleagues to maintain the level of excellence that Cornell University has exhibited throughout its remarkable history," DeStefano said upon accepting the position. DeStefano received a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Syracuse University in 1978 and a master's degree in business administration from Cornell's Johnson Graduate School of Management in 1997.

She has worked at various companies, including Factron Products, a division of Schlumberger Limited in Albany, N.Y., and Racemark International in Malta, N.Y., before coming to Cornell in 1990 as general accounting manager. She served as associate director of statutory finance and business services from 1991 to 1993; director of sponsored funds accounting from 1992 to 1993; assistant controller from 1994 to 1995; associate controller from 1996 to April 2001; and as acting vice president since May.

DeStefano is a member of the Council on Governmental Relations, the National Association of College and University Business Officers and the National Council of University Research Administrators.