Cornell president stepping down citing differences with board

June 11, 2005, 9:35 PM EDT
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University President Jeffrey Lehman announced Saturday that he will step down at the end of the month, citing differences in strategic vision with the Ivy League college's board of trustees. Lehman, a Cornell alumnus who also is a law professor at the school, made his announcement at the end of his annual "state of the university" address to alumni attending Reunion Weekend.
Hunter Rawlings III, Lehman's predecessor, agreed to serve as interim president until a search committee identifies a new president, university spokesman Tommy Bruce said. Lehman's announcement, coming at the end of one of his most eloquent speeches, stunned alumni, family members, and Cornell staff at the weekend event, Bruce said. "There were audible gasps," he said. "Gasps, and then a standing ovation that wouldn't end." Lehman became Cornell's 11th president in October 2003. In his speech to alumni Saturday, Lehman noted recent achievements at Cornell. He said that in the past year, applications to Cornell rose by 17 percent, and alumni gifts have been at record levels for the past two years. "But as encouraging as these signs are for Cornells future, there is today an important obstacle to Cornells ability to realize its full potential," Lehman said. "Over the past few months, it has become apparent to me that the board of trustees and I have different approaches to how the university can best realize its long-term vision. These differences are profound and it has now become absolutely clear that they cannot be resolved." Lehman said he has notified Peter Meinig, chairman of the board, that he'll step down effective June 30.

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