Chronicle Online e-News
Alice Pell named Cornell vice provost for international relations
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/June08/pell.vicep
rovost.aj.html
June 10, 2008
By Anne Ju
amj8@cornell.edu
Alice N. Pell, Cornell professor of animal science in the College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), has been named vice provost for
international relations, effective July 1. She has been director of
Cornell's International Institute for Food, Agriculture and
Development (CIIFAD) since 2005.
Pell succeeds David Wippman, who is leaving to become dean of the
University of Minnesota Law School.
"In her own research on three continents and as director of CIIFAD,
Alice Pell has developed a keen understanding of the role that
universities can play in building human and institutional capacity on
a global scale," said Cornell President David Skorton. "As Cornell
continues to expand its studies and activities internationally and to
explore a variety of models for international education and research,
I know she will build upon and extend the good work of David Wippman
as our new vice provost for international relations."
Said Cornell Provost Biddy Martin: "Alice has a long history of
international research, teaching, outreach and capacity building. I
am delighted that she will devote her energies, now as vice provost,
to enhancing international studies, international outreach and
institutional partnership in key regions of the world."
Under Pell, the vice provost's office will assume oversight of two of
Cornell's universitywide international programs: CIIFAD, now located
in CALS, and the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies,
currently part of the College of Arts and Sciences. Pell said that
she and the directors of CIIFAD and Einaudi will work to ensure that
the breadth and quality of Cornell's international programs are
apparent to people within and outside Cornell.
"We want these two centers to be truly cross-university programs that
bring together the many exceptional efforts under way at Cornell,"
Pell said.
Susan Henry, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS, said: "Alice provides
incomparable leadership for the Cornell International Institute for
Food, Agriculture and Development in developing sustainable food
systems and reducing rural poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
By mobilizing faculty and students to work globally on projects that
ensure political stability, food security, rural development, public
health and effective education, Alice has consistently shown
exceptional vision, drive and determination. Alice is an outstanding
choice to serve as Cornell's next vice provost for international
relations, and I know she will greatly enhance Cornell's reputation
as the 'land-grant university to the world.'"
Pell's colleague Ronnie Coffman, professor of plant breeding,
described her as "an accomplished researcher, an outstanding teacher
and adviser" and someone who "cares deeply about international
development and improving the welfare of people."
He said, "The vice provost for international relations is a key
position for Cornell, and it is good to see the torch being passed
from one outstanding individual, David Wippman, to another, Alice
Pell."
As vice provost, Pell also will oversee Cornell's ongoing Africa
Initiative, which includes development efforts, academic symposia and
research.
Pell expressed optimism that she will be able to continue her
research in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Most of her current
research centers on tropical farming systems, with an emphasis on
Africa. One of her main projects involves interdisciplinary research
on the relationship between poverty and environmental degradation in
the densely populated Kenyan highlands.
An avid reader, Pell said she feels the arts and humanities play a
key role in outreach work in developing countries and other parts of
the world, and she hopes to find ways to exemplify that importance
during her leadership.
"The best way to learn about a country's culture is not to read a
guidebook, but to read its literature," Pell said. She also pointed
to the diversity of Cornell's campus as a starting point for coming
to know a wide variety of cultures and influences.
Pell is a graduate of Radcliffe College with an A.B. in architectural
science. After serving in the Peace Corps, she earned a master's
degree in international education from Harvard University. She also
earned a master's degree and Ph.D. in animal science at the
University of Vermont, before coming to Cornell in 1990 as an
associate professor.
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