Robert Barker/University Photography

Incoming Cornell President David J. Skorton speaks with Cornell Chronicle editors, including David Brand, director of the Cornell News Service, at an April 5 interview.

He is banking up a steep learning curve at considerable velocity. But if Cornell University's next president is suffering the stress of academic G-forces, he is not showing it. David J. Skorton, M.D., appears to be unflustered in the midst of a maelstrom of preparatory activities. He is very much a centered man -- a study in composure despite the fact that there's a lot going on in his life right now, from saying farewell to his longtime home in Iowa to learning how best to run a major fund-raising campaign at Cornell. Not to mention finding out where to run his two enormous Newfoundland dogs in Ithaca after he takes office July 1.

On his well-known style of collaboration in handling university affairs, he had this to say in an April 5 interview with Cornell Chronicle editors on the Cornell campus:

"I think in general universities are places where one has to consult, where one has to cast a wide net for opinion." He then paraphrased Cornell's legendary historian Carl Becker, saying, "universities are places where one thinks otherwise."

He continued: "We pride ourselves on being a marketplace of ideas, so I think one has to sound the depths for those ideas, and I'll certainly be continuing the same approach here that I tried to use at Iowa because I'm a huge believer in the consultative style."

Although he has a joint appointment at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, he will spend most of his time in Ithaca, he said, although he would like to participate in some teaching rounds at the medical college and be involved "in a modest way" with biomedical engineering colleagues at Cornell.

His highest priority, however, is to learn about the university -- here, and in its numerous manifestations in New York City and beyond. Fund raising is also among his priorities.

"It is a very high priority for me. I enjoy fund raising: It's really an exercise in communication, and that communication starts with listening. It goes hand-in-hand with relationship building. I look forward to great and positive interaction with Cornell alumni and friends whose enormous generosity is legendary. And I want our contributors, friends and supporters to feel that I'm as accessible to their criticisms as I am to their monetary contributions."

In terms of academic initiatives on the Ithaca campus, Skorton will use his office as a bully pulpit for the arts, humanities and social sciences.

"The arts and humanities are the soul of the university; they are the core disciplines. You cannot equate the value of a discipline with its ability to attract external funding. So I want to celebrate the great success of the humanities and the arts on this campus. I want to celebrate the success of the social sciences here as well and help to build even greater success in all of these areas."

But don't forget, we're not just dealing with a guy who plays jazz saxophone. This is a medical doctor and a scientist. He's not just riffing on some improvised changes.

"This effort will not be at the expense of the sciences, which is where I come from literally and figuratively. ... [However] initially, I'm going to focus on the humanities and the arts and the social sciences simply because they have tended not to garner as much financial support as the physical and biological sciences."

While praising faculty and emphasizing the work of the university as student-focused, Skorton also stressed the value of the non-faculty staff.

"In most universities the staff are the most numerous employees by some large measure, and I want to have sustained contact with staff leadership and, as time will allow, maintain contact with rank and file staff so that they will not only feel valued, but there will be evidence that we are paying attention to their value in the university."

On his work thus far with the board of trustees at Cornell and the board of overseers at the medical college, Skorton summarized his input in one phrase: the continued pursuit of excellence.

"They want to raise Cornell to ever higher levels of recognition and excellence nationally as well as internationally. The pursuit of excellence is foremost on their minds. These are straightforward, communicative people who are intellectually, emotionally and monetarily committed to this institution, and I've been very happy with the nature of the interactions I've had with them."

As for troubles on the home front, the subject of race relations was very much on the mind of the president-elect.

"It was upsetting to hear about the stabbing [in February] in general and particularly because it was alleged to be racially motivated. ... Unfortunately, race relations are still a significant issue in our country, and the campus is a microcosm of greater society. So I intend to be outspoken about race relations and outspoken on any issue that not only affects people on this campus but in any arena where higher education issues have an impact on the world."

Having said this, his cell phone buzzed. It was his wife, Robin Davisson, who will join the Cornell faculty with a joint appointment in the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the medical college. He was happy to tell her there was a dog park in Ithaca where they can take their two Newfies for a stroll.

"Just today we were talking about finding some help with dog care," he said. "We haven't figured that out quite yet, but they are a major part of our lives as we prepare to move."

Inauguration date set

Thursday, Sept. 7, has been set as the date for David J. Skorton's inauguration as Cornell's 12th president. The installation ceremony will take place on the Arts Quad at 3:30 p.m., followed by a reception open to all on the quad. In case of rain, the ceremony and reception will be held in Barton Hall.

Additional details and schedule information will be made available in the coming weeks and months. For the latest information, visit http://www.cornell.edu/presidentsearch/.