Burns

The race is on. Cornell's faculty has begun voting for a new dean of the university faculty to succeed William Fry, professor of plant pathology, who has served since 2008 and is stepping down June 30.

Running for the position are Joseph Burns, the Irving P. Church Professor of Engineering and professor of astronomy, and Risa Lieberwitz, professor of labor and employment law.

Voting began March 14 and will close at noon, March 30. University faculty members can vote online.

The Faculty Senate held a forum for the two candidates at its regular monthly meeting March 14. Each candidate gave a five-minute presentation and answered questions posed by members of the senate, followed by five minutes of general discussion.

Both candidates have extensive records of service to the university and in their respective academic fields. The candidates' full biographies and statements are available online.

Lieberwitz

Burns was vice provost for engineering and physical sciences 2003-2007 and is former chair of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. In a statement he noted that Cornell's success requires partnerships among faculty, administrators, trustees, staff and students. "If elected, I will strive to ensure that these groups act as allies, not combatants. As the faculty's representative and spokesperson at meetings with central administrators, I will be a constructive and independent voice. I will seek to enhance faculty responsibilities for governance. I will listen to my colleagues, and be a visible and vocal advocate for them."

Lieberwitz chaired the Department of Collective Bargaining, Labor Law and Labor History 2003-2006. One of her primary areas of research is academic freedom and faculty governance in the university and the role of higher education in a democratic society. In a statement, she asserted that her expertise and service in this area make her well qualified to fulfill the dean's many roles. "As dean of faculty, I would continue to build on current efforts by the University Faculty Committee to negotiate with the provost to improve faculty governance through procedures for greater transparency, early consultation and meaningful faculty participation in university governance."

Election is by the Hare System, in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. The candidate who receives a majority of the votes cast is then appointed dean, subject to confirmation by the Cornell University Board of Trustees. The Faculty Senate can extend the dean's term for no more than two years.

The dean represents and advocates the interests of the faculty to Cornell's president, trustees and general community and assists the faculty and the senate in formulating judgments on questions of concern to the faculty. The dean is available for consultation and advice to members of the faculty, to students and to members of the university community and helps resolve problems that may arise.

Also being elected is associate dean and secretary for the Faculty Senate. Michael Fontaine, associate professor of classics, is the sole candidate.

Three faculty members are running for one faculty trustee vacancy: Barbara Baird, the Horace White Professor and Chair of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Jonathan Culler, Class of 1916 Professor of English and Comparative Literature; and Ed McLaughlin, the Robert Tobin Professor of Marketing.