With the largest gift from a Cornell Engineering alumna in the college’s history, Lisa Walker ’86 has established the Lisa L. Walker 1986 Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, creating an endowed professorship and accompanying research fund to support exceptional faculty in the Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Credit: Charissa King-O'Brien

Susan Daniel, the William C. Hooey Director of the R.F. Smith School, was recently named the inaugural holder of the professorship.

“We are tremendously grateful to Lisa for her vision and partnership in creating this professorship to recognize and support the very best of our faculty and students,” said Lynden Archer, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering. “Lisa’s specific vision for empowering faculty leaders committed to research and teaching excellence aligns well with Cornell Engineering priorities and with Susan’s groundbreaking contributions to science and mentorship. I cannot think of a better inaugural beneficiary of Lisa’s generosity.”

Walker made the gift as Cornell Engineering  celebrated the 140-year anniversary of the first woman enrolling at Cornell as an engineering student, a milestone that corresponded with the number of women serving in college leadership positions reaching a new high-water mark. The professorship is only the second in the R.F. Smith School and third in the college named solely after a woman. The first, the Marjorie L. Hart Professor of Engineering, was conferred in October to Rong Yang, a professor who joined the school in 2019.

Daniel said Walker has been an “incredible supporter” of women in chemical engineering and of the college at large, strengthening the momentum of women who are shaping the future of Cornell Engineering.

“For years, Lisa has helped students and postdocs grow professionally, whether through travel funding, entrepreneurial activities she's supported, or just being a generous mentor and role model,” Daniel said. “Knowing how much Lisa cares about the people in the school, it means a lot to be the first person to hold the professorship she established. I’m truly honored, and excited, to carry forward her legacy and help amplify the impact she’s already made.”

Daniel, whose research focuses on cell membrane functions and new biotechnologies to study them, said the fund associated with the professorship will not only support her role as an educator, but will give her the freedom as a researcher to explore bold, high-risk ideas that might not fit into traditional funding models, and to back exceptional students working in her lab.

Credit: Charissa King-O'Brien

Walker credited Archer and others for helping to inspire the idea for the unique professorship and research fund combination, and she expressed appreciation to her family for supporting it. She added that getting to know Daniel and following her work over the years made the opportunity to see her hold the title particularly meaningful.

“Susan has tremendous vision and bravery to go where the school hasn't gone before in focusing on how students learn,” said Walker, referring in part to a five-year project led by Daniel to update the undergraduate curriculum and completely overhaul how it is delivered. “She worked very hard to develop her skillset as a researcher, to understand students, and then put it together to lead the way in engineering education.”

Walker is a managing partner and global industrial practice leader at DHR Global, an executive search and leadership consulting firm. A graduate of the R.F. Smith School, Walker serves on the President’s Council of Cornell Women and is an emerita member of the Cornell Engineering College Council, which she chaired from 2023 to 2025.

Walker said that her gift was another way to give back to Cornell – a place she said has shaped her both personally and professionally – and to support Daniel’s commitment to creating opportunities for students.

“Susan is all about performance in terms of both research and educating. This professorship allowed me to support the school’s current leadership and their research, as well as the next generation of engineers,” Walker said.