In Brief — Spring 2022
5 majors launched
To support our strategic plan initiatives, faculty have been busy evaluating the needs of students and what fields of study will be most beneficial to their future careers. As a result, five new majors have been launched:
- Data science
- Applied statistics
- Environmental science and sustainability
- Ecology and evolutionary biology (replaces biology major)
- Environmental justice and sustainability (replaces environmental studies major)
“These exciting new majors and minors are the result of a careful strategic planning process–faculty have designed programs that reflect emerging, interdisciplinary areas of knowledge and suit our applied liberal arts model by providing significant experiential learning opportunities for students,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs Ilene Crawford ’92. “That careful design will ensure students taking advantage of these new programs are prepared for career opportunities in a broad range of new and evolving fields.”
Condon awarded scientific distinction
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has elected Cornell Professor of Biology Marty Condon to its newest class of AAAS Fellows, among the most distinct honors within the scientific community.
Condon studies biological diversity and has discovered several species of flies in the tropics. She’s spent decades studying the evolutionary biology of the flies, the flowers they live on, and their predators, to better understand the diverse species.
“AAAS is proud to bestow the honor of AAAS Fellow to some of today’s brightest minds who are integral to forging our path into the future,” said Dr. Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the “Science” family of journals.
Denniston receives national mentor award
Cornell College’s Rhawn Denniston has mentored over 50 students while researching climate change at home and abroad since 2000. Now the William Harmon Norton Professor of Geology has been recognized with the 2021 Undergraduate Research Mentor Award.
The award is given annually by the Geosciences Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR).
“I love teaching in the classroom, but spending time in the lab and in the field with my students is the best part of my job. My students regularly impress me,” he said in accepting his award.
Denniston is the recipient of numerous National Science Foundation grants.
Beyond the Summit
As part of Cornell’s fall 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Summit, Cornell faculty and staff formed small discussion groups that continue to meet periodically.
“Collaborating with a diverse group of faculty members, staff, and coaches on how we can better serve our students was quite incredible,” said Assistant Professor of Computer Science Ajit Chavan. “Working in a small cohort allowed me to understand different aspects of the same question and to form associations that will continue beyond the summit.”
Cornell adds women’s wrestling
Cornell has added women’s wrestling as its 20th NCAA Division III intercollegiate varsity sport. Competitions will begin in 2023-24.
Cornell is the 110th institution nationwide that will have women’s wrestling teams in the next two years, including 29 in Division III.
“Wrestling has been a cornerstone of Cornell athletics, and we are delighted to provide competitive opportunities for women and build on the rich history of our storied program,” Cornell Director of Athletics Seth Wing said. “Today is a giant step for the college.”
With the addition of women’s wrestling, Cornell now sponsors 10 men’s sports and 10 women’s sports in its varsity athletics program. Men’s and women’s lacrosse were the last programs added, in 2015.
A national search is underway with the expectation that a coach will be named by early April.
