Thomas Ward '81 named director of Pillsbury Institute at Hotel School

Entrepreneur Thomas L. Ward '81 has been named director of the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell's School of Hotel Administration. The appointment became effective Feb. 1.

The institute helps students develop the knowledge and skills required to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors, while supporting and enabling innovation and new business formation in the hospitality industry. Ward will provide strategic and operational leadership and direct the institute's business development, programs and symposiums.

"Over the last century entrepreneurs have powered the global growth of our industry, with much of that growth coming through the enterprising work of Cornell alumni," Ward said. "I am very pleased to be joining the world's pre-eminent hospitality management education program."

A native Ithacan, Ward earned a B.S. from Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences then earned an M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1990. He spent five years in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence officer and has launched several companies. Previously, he was chief operating officer for Wilmington Finance Inc., mergers and acquisitions director at BTG Inc. and has worked as a consultant to Fannie Mae (the Federal National Mortgage Association).

Media Contact

Media Relations Office