Vivian Schiller '83 is new CEO of National Public Radio

Vivian Schiller '83 has been named president and chief executive officer of National Public Radio (NPR), effective Jan. 5. Schiller will join NPR from the New York Times Co., where she is senior vice president and general manager of NYTimes.com. Schiller graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in Russian and Soviet studies.

With more than 20 years of experience in the media industry, Schiller has overseen product, technology, marketing, classifieds, strategic planning and business development for NYTimes.com.

Before joining NYTimes.com, Schiller was senior vice president and general manager of the Discovery Times Channel, a joint venture of The New York Times and Discovery Communications.

She began her career as a simultaneous Russian interpreter in the former Soviet Union, which led her to documentary production work for Turner Broadcasting.

Stetson University names Cornell alumna as president

Wendy B. Libby '72, MBA '77, has been named the ninth president of Stetson University, effective July 1, 2009.

Libby will become the first female president of the independent, private liberal arts school in DeLand, Fla., also celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Libby's undergraduate degree from Cornell was in biology with a concentration in genetics, and her MBA from the Johnson School was with a concentration in finance.

Since 2003, Libby has been president of Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., one of the nation's oldest women's institutions. She is credited with uniting the campus, alumnae and community in a major strategic planning initiative, which resulted in the reduction of a multimillion dollar deficit, a dramatic increase in undergraduate enrollment and reinvigoration of the graduate and continuing studies division.

Josh Greenfield '84 publishes novel, 'Cutting Through the Knot'

Josh Greenfield '84 has recently published a humorous "coming of age" novel, called "Cutting Through the Knot."

The novel recounts a young man's trials in overcoming mental illness while on leave of absence from a major eastern university; it contains scenes that "may remind the reader of Cornell," according to the author.

Greenfield, who graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in history, is currently working on a doctorate in English literature at Fordham University in New York City. The book is available at Amazon.com.