Ithaca College removes interim tag from President Cornish

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca College (IC) board of trustees has voted unanimously to name La Jerne Terry Cornish as the 10th president of Ithaca College.

Cornish has been serving as interim president since Aug. 30. She assumed the role following the departure of Shirley Collado who accepted a job as president and CEO of College Track, which is described as a college-completion program.

In an announcement to the campus community, David Lissy, chairman of the Ithaca College board of trustees, said that Cornish “has the character, the fortitude, and the passion to lead the institution at this important, transformational moment,” per the school’s Monday news release.

“Her appointment ensures a seamless transition and unimpeded progress in advancing the college’s vision, mission, and values,” Lissy said. “Building on the foundation and the momentum of the Ithaca Forever strategic plan, Dr. Cornish represents a new era of leadership for the college. She has a thorough grasp of the challenges before us and is ready to work collaboratively with the members of the IC community on campus and around the world to ensure that we lean into the significant opportunities that we have to secure a bright future for Ithaca College.”

Cornish joined Ithaca College as provost and senior VP for academic affairs in July of 2018 and was later named provost and executive VP.

“I feel honored and blessed to have been chosen as the 10th president of Ithaca College, and I wish to thank the board of trustees, the presidential search committee, and our Ithaca College community for your trust in my leadership,” Cornish said. “This is a time of challenge but also of opportunity for the college. Together — with our commitment to the IC student experience firmly centered as our guide — we will move our college ever forward as we work to realize our vision to become a global destination for bold thinkers seeking to build thriving communities.”