The Cornell College Board of Trustees has elected one new Board member at its fall meeting for a three-year term: James Swift ’76.
Swift graduated from Cornell with a bachelor’s degree in biology and enjoyed football and wrestling while on the Hilltop. The Manchester, Iowa, native went on to receive his dental degree from the University of Iowa in 1980 and complete his oral and maxillofacial surgery training at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 1985.
Swift is a tenured professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He actively practices oral and maxillofacial surgery and trains residents. In his time at the university, he has also served as the director of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for 25 years and twice as program director of the Advanced Education Program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Swift has authored over 100 manuscripts and articles and has secured research funding from the National Institutes of Health. His research interests have been in the study of inflammatory mediators of pain, and he has concentrated his research on pain and pain management. Swift has held leadership roles in numerous professional organizations and has received multiple honors from organizations such as the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and the American Dental Education Association. In 2024, the AAOMS dedicated its annual meeting in his name, the highest honor the association bestows. Swift and his wife, Lori, live in Minnesota. The couple has two adult children and five grandchildren.
In addition to Swift’s election to the Board of Trustees, Justin Futrell ’16 became a non-voting Trustee as the newly elected president of the Alumni Board.
About the Cornell College Board of Trustees:
The Cornell College Board of Trustees plays a vital role in guiding the college’s direction. The group helps shape policies that support Cornell’s mission—from academics and finances to student life. The Board consists of up to 40 members from around the U.S. and meets a minimum of three times a year. Trustees are elected for a term of three years. The Board works together to support policies and operations that allow Cornell to thrive now and into the future.