Jason Koski/University Photography

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher tours the large-animal facility with Robert Gilbert, associate dean for clinical programs, left, and Michael Kotlikoff, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Two days after Nancy L. Zimpher became the 12th chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), she toured the Cornell campus, June 3.

Zimpher met with Cornell Provost Kent Fuchs; the four deans of Cornell's statutory colleges; Ronald Seeber, vice provost for land grant affairs; two Cornell vice presidents; and numerous associate deans. Among other Cornell sites, she toured the Vet College's large-animal facility.

The chancellor's visit to Cornell kicked off her commitment to visit all 64 SUNY campuses in her first 100 days to meet with and learn from students, faculty, administrators, community leaders and other stakeholders of the SUNY system, the largest comprehensive public university system in the United States with more than 440,000 students.

"She learned a lot about Cornell and the extent of our relationship with SUNY," said Seeber. "We look forward to a productive relationship with SUNY and its new leadership."

According to Zimpher's office, the tour marks the first step in creating a SUNY-wide strategic plan. The planning process is intended to be a model for statewide collaborations -- gathering suggestions, ideas and comments from thousands of stakeholders through town hall meetings, Web conferences and other outreach.

Zimpher said the plan is aimed at "making SUNY a public higher education model not only for the nation but the world."

Prior to becoming chancellor of SUNY, Zimpher served as president of the University of Cincinnati and chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.