Jim Brown named Interim VP

Jim Brown, special assistant to the president, will serve as interim Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission, effective Aug 6. Brown replaces Sharon Grice, who served as interim vice president since July 1. Grice will resume her duties as Director of Admission Operation as the college’s fall recruitment season begins.

Brown has worked at Cornell since 1990. He has served as a psychology professor, Associate Dean of the college, and Director of Institutional Research and provided interim leadership in the Registrar’s Office and Information Technology. He served as the college’s interim president during fiscal year 2010-11.

He is an honors graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz (psychology), with master’s and doctoral degrees in developmental psychology and psychophysiology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Brown spent 15 years as a professor and academic administrator at San Diego State University before coming to Cornell.

Brown said he was looking forward to working with the Admission office during this year’s recruitment efforts.

“They’re a great group, and they do tremendous work,” Brown said. “I’m eager to work with them, and think with our experienced staff, we will be very successful in our recruitment efforts.”

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand said the nationwide search for a new, permanent vice president was ongoing, and praised Grice’s work as interim vice president.

“My deep thanks go to Sharon for stepping in on such short notice as our interim vice president,” Brand said. “College admission is a year-round effort and, as a devoted member of Cornell, she willingly assumed the leadership role at a crucial time—as we were solidifying our incoming class and also preparing for the next recruitment cycle.”

Marie Schofer, Associate Director of Admission, has also agreed to take on additional leadership responsibilities in the office as a way of assisting Brown and the entire office. Schofer has worked in Admission since 2006 and holds a B.A. from Rhodes College in international studies (cum laude).