ITHACA, N.Y. -- Gary Stewart, opinion and senior editor at The Ithaca Journal , has been appointed assistant director of community relations at Cornell University, announced Director of Community Relations John Gutenberger, May 14.

Stewart will assume his new position July 1.

"We had a large number of strong applicants, but Gary Stewart stood out," Gutenberger said. "His experience and knowledge of this unique and diverse community, along with his compassion and commitment, will be a real asset as the university and community work together now and in the future. Gary will assist me and university leaders on long-range matters of intermunicipal and neighborhood importance and general community-relations issues on a day-to-day basis. I am extremely pleased that Gary has agreed to 'come up the hill'."

Stewart said he looks forward to working with Gutenberger and Vice President for University Relations Henrik Dullea on cooperative efforts to improve intermunicipal cooperation and planning. "I love the interaction and outreach that is part of life in Ithaca," Stewart said. "I'm looking forward to joining Cornell at this exciting, challenging time in its history, when communication with community members will be key, as always."

The opinion and senior editor at The Ithaca Journal since 1993, Stewart has become a well-known and respected member of the community. He has been honored for his editorial writing and public-service efforts by a number of journalism and community organizations.

During his tenure at the Journal , he has transformed the newspaper's Opinion page into one that is dominated by daily guest columnists and frequent give-and-take on local issues, while also initiating and moderating more than 60 community forums on issues ranging from town-gown relations to security concerns following Sept. 11.

Before coming to the Journal , Stewart was managing editor of The Moscow Times , helping launch and produce the first English-language daily paper in the former Soviet Union.

A native of Canandaigua, N.Y., Stewart received his B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College, Boston, in 1978. He lives in the town of Ithaca with his wife, Mary Ellen -- who works at Cornell University Press -- and their son, Ben, 4.

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