News
Sandeep Parmar
Creative writing

Cornell professor co-hosts London Review of Books poetry podcast

A&S Communications

Poet and Cornell College of Arts and Sciences professor Sandeep Parmar co-hosts, with poet Sarah Howe, a London Review of Books podcast exploring poetry’s connections to life issues: work, sex, money and more. The podcast launches June 7.

Person standing in front of a theater, under a brightly-lit awning
Provided Weisberger outside the Chicago theater showing The Devil Wears Prada musical
Alumni

How Lauren Weisberger ’99 wrote a novel – and sparked a phenomenon

Cornellians

Lauren Weisberger’s novel The Devil Wears Prada is resurging with a 2026 film sequel, reflecting lasting cultural impact. The Cornell College of Arts and Sciences alum’s debut novel became a bestseller, film, and musical inspired by her Vogue experience.

Dark city street with one lit shop
Peijia Li/Unsplash Chongqing, China
Government

Xi plays global power broker as pressure mounts at home

A&S Communications

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit North Korea soon after hosting American and Russian presidents, signaling push for global influence, says Cornell College of Arts & Sciences professor Allen Carlson, who ties the outreach to domestic economic strain in China.

People looking at posters along a corridor
Credit: Savan DeSouza/Cornell University
Molecular biology and genetics

From Spoonies to sperm cells, genomics connects Cornell research

Cornell Chronicle

The 2026 joint symposium hosted by the Cornell Center for Vertebrate Genomics and the Cornell Center for Immunology in May brought together researchers in genetics, immunology, developmental biology and computational biology, including some from Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences.

Design of glowing green vertical streaks made up of tiny numbers and signs representing currencies: Euro, yen, dollar, and others
Unsplash
Economics

Econometrics + AI conference to be held June 16-17

Cornell Chronicle

Cornell University will host a major econometrics and AI conference June 16-17, 2026, convening leading researchers for nearly 200 presentations. The Econometric Society event explores AI-driven economics, data decision-making and industry applications.

Illustration of mountains, pine forest and a path through them.
Illustration by Shea Oleksa
Psychology

Big Red psychologist offers five tips to optimize summer adventures

Cornellians

Tom Gilovich, a psychologist in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, ffers five evidence-based travel tips prioritizing experiences over material purchases. He highlights journaling, exciting moments, physical preparation, thoughtful gift-giving, and strong trip endings to boost happiness and lasting memories.

two people talking
Charissa King-O'Brien Postdoctoral associates Ara Adaramola, left, and Maggie Webb, right.
Educational innovation

Conference aims to bridge divides in undergraduate education

A&S Communications

The group of 50 scholars will talk about how to build an undergraduate educational experience that crosses both disciplinary boundaries and institutional lines.

Four people stand on stone steps withe the dome of the U.S. Capitol building in the background
Provided 2026 AAAS CASE participants
Graduate student excellence

Doctoral students engage in advocacy

Cornell University Graduate School

Cornell doctoral students, including some based in the College of Arts and Sciences, engaged in legislative opportunities in Washington, D.C. this spring. Some students attended an American Association for the Advancement of Science workshop, others a Cornell-organized Advocacy Day.

two people on a game show set
Sony Pictures Television Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings, left, and Laurel Gilmer, right.

Buzzing in: Gilmer turns trivia love into a Jeopardy! moment

A&S Communications

Laurel Gilmer of Cornell University’s College of Arts & Sciences competed on Jeopardy! May 12, showcasing trivia expertise after a rigorous audition process. The music department events director highlighted preparation strategies and contestant experience on the iconic quiz show.

four musicians playing or singing
Yuko Jinu
Student musicians

Jazz septet earns national DownBeat Magazine award

Department of Music

The Herbert Gussman Jazz Septet at Cornell has been recognized with a DownBeat 2026 Student Music Award in the category of Small Jazz Ensemble/Combo - College/Undergraduate Outstanding Performance.

Four people goofing off in a brick-walled room. One wears a cardboard clock tower costume
Jason Koski/Cornell University Jane Lynch in McGraw Tower with Chimesmasters
Alumni

TV star Jane Lynch, MFA ’84, urges seniors to ‘Lighten Up and Dig Deep’

Cornellians

Comic actor Jane Lynch, MFA '84, Emmy winner and College of Arts and Sciences alum, gave the 2026 Convocation address. Her visit also included a clocktower climb and a yearbook viewing of herself on the Cornell stage.

Two hands with green gloves on handle a set of white tubes at the mouth of a cryogenic tank with vapor
AI-generated image
Physics

Improved embryo freezing technique could preserve endangered species

Cornell Chronicle

Cornell researchers including physics professor Robert Thorne announce a new method for freezing embryos 30 times father than current protocols. The method could be used to improve assisted reproduction in animals and humans, including IVF, or to conserve biodiversity.

Image of the flag of Argentina (light blue bands on top and bottom with a white band in the middle and a stylized sun with a face) overlaid by cracks
created with AI
Government

Surprising lessons for democracy from the Latin American left

Cornell Chronicle

“Polarization and Democracy in Latin America: Legacies of the Left Turn," co-authored by Cornell College of Arts and Sciences professor Kenneth Roberts, examines how inequality, elite strategy and democratic failures have fueled political polarization and challenged democracy across Latin America.

Isabel Perera
Faculty honors

Isabel Perera’s ‘The Welfare Workforce’ honored with two book prizes

A&S Communications

Cornell College of Arts and Sciences professor Isabel M. Perera won the Charles H. Levine Memorial Book Prize and the 2026 European Studies Book Award for “The Welfare Workforce.” Her book examines disparities in mental health care policy.

McGraw Tower against a blue sky
McGraw Tower
Board of Trustees

Five alumni set to join Cornell Board of Trustees in July

Cornell Chronicle

Several College of Arts & Sciences alumni are among those newly elected and re-elected to the Cornell University Board of Trustees. Tara Holm, professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics will serve as faculty-elected trustee.

Very large, while ring – a physics experiment setup – dwarfs equipment in its center and people working in it
Provided The muon g-2 ring sits in its detector hall amidst electronics racks, the muon beamline and other equipment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
Physics

From theory to experiment: CLASSE contributions recognized in 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

Cornell Research

Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences researchers helped win the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for muon g-2 research. CLASSE scientists contributed detectors, electronics and analysis enabling ultra-precise measurements that test the Standard Model and inspire next-generation experiments.

About 20 people stand together on an outdoor staircase
Serge Petchenyi/Cornell University Each academic year, the Center for Teaching Innovation's Graduate Teaching Fellows supports graduate teaching at Cornell. The program celebrated its 15th anniversary with its 2025-2026 cohort.
Student honors

CTI Graduate Teaching Fellows program marks its fifteenth year

Cornell Chronicle

Graduate students and alumni of Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences have benefited from Cornell University’s Graduate Teaching Fellows program, which trains future faculty through workshops, institutes and mentorship. The program marks 15 years this spring.

Pope Leo, in all white-clothes and wearing a big cross
Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Pope Leo XIV
Artificial Intelligence

Cornell Holocaust scholar echoes Pope Leo’s concerns about AI and human dignity

A&S Communications

Cornell Holocaust scholar Jan Burzlaff warns that AI flattens the irreplaceable details of human experience, echoing Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on protecting human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence. Burzlaff, a Jewish Studies postdoctoral associate at Cornell University, is available for expert comment.

Five people lined up for a photo: in the center a college student award recipient holds a plaque
Sreang Hok/Cornell University At center, holding her award, is Abra Geiger ’26, recipient of the 2026 University Relations Campus-Community Leadership Award. Left to right, with her are Erik Herman, creative director of the Free Science Workshop/Ithaca Physics Bus; Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations; Cassaundra Guzman, McNair Program advisor/coordinator; and Marla Love, Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Dean of Students.
Student honors

Advocate for physics, literacy wins Campus-Community Leadership Award

Cornell Chronicle

For her volunteer outreach encouraging local children to learn about physics and reading, Abra Geiger ’26 has won the 2026 University Relations Campus-Community Leadership Award.

Person sitting on the branch of a tree, reading a book
Jason Koski/Cornell University Reading on Cornell's Arts Quad
Alumni authors

Your May 2026 reads

Cornellians

Books featured by the alumni website Cornellians for May 2026 include, y Cornell College of Arts and Sciences alumni and faculty, a ‘poetic memoir,’ a study of the Gospel of John, and the final mystery from a genre luminary.

Black and white photo of many people walking together down a street, holding a large banner that reads "We Want Democracy"
Unsplash
Center on Democray

New Cornell Center on Democracy will support democratic principles at home and abroad

Cornell Chronicle

Cornell University launched the Cornell Center on Democracy to strengthen democratic institutions through research, education and public engagement. The initiative convenes scholars to address disinformation, polarization, governance and civic engagement challenges globally.

Person speaks into a microphone, directing attention to one other person in a hall full of people sitting at tables
Ben Badua/Cornell University Carolina Aguilera-Garza ’26 honors her high school debate teacher, Paul Gaba, at the 38th annual Merrill Presidential Scholars reception at Willard Straight Hall on May 19.
Student honors

Merrill Scholars honor mentors who inspired them

Cornell Chronicle

Cornell University honored 31 Merrill Presidential Scholars May 19, recognizing academic excellence and mentorship. College of Arts and Sciences senior Carolina Aguilera-Garza and peers celebrated influential teachers and Cornell mentors shaping leadership, scholarship, and public impact.

People in winter clothing collect things from rocky ground
Provided Fulbrighter Audrey Su '24 spent last year in Norway studying the effect of toxicants in large marine mammals.
Student honors

Cornellians accept Fulbright awards

Cornell Chronicle

Students and young alumni from Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences have accepted Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards. The 2026–27 Fulbrighters from Cornell, a Fulbright Top Producing Institution, will conduct research, study and teach English in countries around the globe.

Illustration of blood cells flowing through an artery
Canva
Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Immunology center announces 2026 multidisciplinary seed grant recipients

Cornell Chronicle

Researchers from Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences – Jeremy Baskin, Brian Crane and Andrew Grimson – are involved in various collaborative projects receiving 2026 multidisciplinary seed grants from the Cornell Center for Immunology to advance immune research.

Glass sculptures arranged on a tabletop, about to be given as awards
Provided 2026 Graduate Excellence and Impact Awards
Graduate student excellence

Twenty-three receive awards recognizing excellence and impact

Cornell University Graduate School

… the full story on the Cornell University Graduate School website.    …

Three people on the steps of a building so white it glows
James Kegley/Provided CIW students at the Supreme Court in fall 2019
Cornell in Washington

These students are learning on ‘The Hill’ – But not in Ithaca

Cornellians

Since the Cornell in Washington program launched in 1980, about 4,400 Cornellians have taken part in immersive lessons in the nation’s capital. Alumni have become U.S. representatives, federal judges, agency leaders and political journalists.

Dark phone screen shows a white OpenAI logo
Zac Wolf/ Unsplash
Government and technology

Musk-Altman trial highlights broader disconnect between tech sector, public

A&S Communications

A federal jury has sided with OpenAI in a court battle with Elon Musk, and the trial outcome leaves questions and debates unresolved, says Cornell College of Arts and Sciences government scholar Sarah Kreps.

layers of brick and glass buildings in a city
Diane Picchiottino/Unsplash
Politics of cities

Housing bill for artists revives bigger question: who gets to ‘make it’ in New York?

A&S Communications

A New York Senate bill seeks to make affordable housing available for artists, but Cornell University researcher Jacob Anbinder, postdoctoral fellow in history in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, warns against 'petty squabbles' about who deserves most to live in the city. He says expanding overall housing supply is key to curbing housing inequality.

Person smiling
Bella Swope: History and Environment & Sustainability

'The challenge is always worth it'

A&S Communications

Bella Swope is majoring in history and environment & sustainability.

person smiling
Olivia Kim: Economics and History of Art & Visual Studies

'The A&S requirements were permission to keep learning'

A&S Communications

Olivia Kim is majoring in economics and history of art & visual studies

Justin Lee
Justin Lee: Performing and Media Arts

'Fulfillment for me comes from my art'

A&S Communications

Justin Lee is majoring in performing and media arts.

Julian Kanu
Julian Kanu: Philosophy and Mathematics

'I've published two research papers'

A&S Communications

Julian Kanu is majoring in philosophy and mathematics.

person smiling
Elizabeth Musso: Biological Sciences and Italian

'Academic diversity is encouraged and celebrated'

A&S Communications

Elizabeth Musso is a biological sciences and Italian major.

Peson smiling
Annina Bradley: Government and French

'Humans are more similar and different than I ever expected'

A&S Communications

Annina Bradley majored in government and French.

person smiling
Sadaqat Omar: History and Near Eastern Studies

'My year abroad was transformative'

A&S Communications

Sadaqat Omar is majoring in history and Near Eastern studies.

person smiling
Josephine Wilson: Biological Sciences

'You are exactly where you need to be'

A&S Communications

Josephine Wilson is a biological sciences major.

person smiling
Keaten Wright: Government, Philosophy and Feminist, Gender, & Sexuality Studies

'The class ignited my interest in political theory'

A&S Communications

Keaten Wright is majoring in government, philosophy and feminist, gender & sexuality studies

person smiling
Jerónimo Martín Duque: Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics

'I participated in research spanning multiple disciplines'

A&S Communications

Jerónimo Martín Duque is majoring in computer science, economics and mathematics.

Emma Dalla Costa
Emma Dalla Costa: Anthropology and Government

'Faculty took my work seriously'

A&S Communications

Emma Dalla Costa is an anthropology and government major.

Leo Glasgow
Leo Glasgow: Government and China & Asia-Pacific Studies

'A difference in perspectives need not mean something negative'

A&S Communications

Leo Glasgow is majoring in government and China & Asia-Pacific Studies.

Takunda Chikuvire
Takunda Chikuvire: Biological Sciences

'Cornell offered me a degree and a world'

A&S Communications

Takunda Chikuvire is a biological sciences major.

Doryn Smith
Doryn Smith: American Studies

'I learned to appreciate different fields'

A&S Communications

Doryn Smith is an American studies major.

person smiling
Luis Hernandez Rocha: Computer Science and Mathematics

'What matters most is a genuine openness to understanding'

A&S Communications

Luis Hernandez Rocha is majoring in computer science and mathematics.

person smiling
Louisa Howe: Sociology and English

'My research shed light on important stories and perspectives'

A&S Communications

Louisa Howe is majoring in sociology and English.

Thej Khanna
Thej Khanna: English

'I learned to approach questions from multiple angles'

A&S Communications

Thej Khanna is an English major.

person smiling
Abra Geiger: Physics and Mathematics

'I have learned my limits and greatest interests'

A&S Communications

Abra Geiger is majoring in physics and mathematics.

person smiling
Zelazzie Zepeda: Linguistics

'I am deeply proud of where I came from'

A&S Communications

Zelazzie Zepeda is a linguistics major.

Marina Blackman
Marina Blackman: Biological Sciences

'I've grown so much as an aspiring marine biologist'

A&S Communications

Marina Blackman is a biological sciences major.

Sami Wolf
Sami Wolf: Computer Science and Mathematics

'The moral position of a technologist is not neutral'

A&S Communications

Sami Wolf is a computer science and mathematics major.

Arushi Kende
Arushi Kende: Asian Studies

'Let your time here inspire you'

A&S Communications

Arushi Kende is an Asian studies major.

person smiling
Joice Chen: Sociology, Information Science and Robert S. Harrison College Scholar

'Engaging with distinct perspectives has been very inspiring'

A&S Communications

Joice Chen is majoring in sociology, information science and is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar.

person smiling
Emily Vo: Computer Science and Asian American Studies

'Critical thinking is as fundamental to CS as programming'

A&S Communications

Emily Vo is majoring in computer science and Asian American studies.

Gabriel Munoz
Gabriel Munoz: French and Government

'I have become more fearless'

A&S Communications

Gabriel Munoz is majoring in French and governent.

person smiling
Gabriella Best: Computer Science

'I gained the ability to try, fail, and try over and over again'

A&S Communications

Gabriella Best is majoring in computer science.

an abstract sculpture in the foreground with a grassy college quadrangle in the distance, bordered by low buildings
Noël Heaney/Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
Teaching awards

Faculty excellence in teaching and advising honored with 2026 awards

A&S Communications

Cornell’s College of Arts & Sciences honors the winners of its 2026 teaching and advising awards. Faculty members Nicole Giannella, Karola Mészáros and Landon Schnabel stand out this year, earning major awards for excellence; many instructors and teaching assistants received recognition, as well.

person smiling
Yubin Lee: Cognitive Science

'Now is the best time to put yourself out there'

A&S Communications

Yubin Lee is majoring in cognitive science.

person smiling
Isaac Dorio: Music and Anthropology

'A&S teaches you how to be curious'

A&S Communications

Isaac Dorio is majoring in music and anthropology

person smiling
Hannah Quigley: American Studies and Spanish

'I made a commitment to exploring my heritage'

A&S Communications

Hannah Quigley is an American studies and Spanish major.

person smiling
Arina Danilina: Psychology and Robert S. Harrison College Scholar

'Language and culture can serve as a bridge, not a barrier'

A&S Communications

Arina Danilina is majoring in psychology and is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar

person smiling
Christina MacCorkle: Government, History and Robert S. Harrison College Scholar

'I wanted to understand what it means to lay claim to American identity'

A&S Communications

Christina MacCorkle is majoring in government and history and is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar.

person smiling
Elina Soskina: Mathematics

'My brother showed me such a journey was possible'

A&S Communications

Elina Soskina is majoring in mathematics.

person smiling
Alexander Won: Physics and Mathematics

'I learned how to pose a question and then answer it'

A&S Communications

Alexander Won is majoring in physics and mathematics.

person smiling
Esther Grace Brenner: Classics

'I have a broader sense of awe'

A&S Communications

Esther Grace Brenner is a classics major.

person smiling
Caroline Smiltneks: Economics and Statistics

'I have the skills to begin thinking about the world like an economist'

A&S Communications

Caroline Smiltneks is majoring in economics and statistics.

person smiling
Salimata Cisse: American Studies and Africana Studies

'There is a space for you here'

A&S Communications

Salimata Cisse is majoring in American studies and Africana studies.

person smiling
Elsie Ishami Muhirwa: Government and American Studies

'I’ve learned to speak up in rooms that feel big'

A&S Communications

Elsie Ishami Muhirwa is majoring in government and American studies.

person outside smiling
Niamh Gunning: German Studies

'Ithaca‘s beautiful gorges and trees have been there for me'

A&S Communications

Niamh Gunning is a German studies major.

person outside
Bilal Afzal Shafi: Computer Science, Mathematics and Philosophy

'Form your own perspective'

A&S Communications

Bilal Afzal Shafi is majoring in computer science, mathematics and philosophy.

person smiling
Shubham Mohole: Computer Science

'I want to make trustworthy AI something people benefit from'

A&S Communications

Shubham Mohole is a computer science major.

person smiling
Ellie Butkovich: Environment & Sustainability

'I leave with a broadened perspective'

A&S Communications

Ellie Butkovich is an environment & sustainability major.

person smiling
Rachel Makinde: Biology and Society

'Learning goes far beyond the classroom'

A&S Communications

Rachel Makinde is a biology and society major.

Person smiling
Gaby Markle: Chemisty

'Changing directions is a natural part of intellectual growth'

A&S Communications

Gaby Markle is a chemisty major.

person smiling
Samara Schiffman: Jewish Studies, Government and American Studies

'My thesis was a highlight of my senior year'

A&S Communications

Samara Schiffman is majoring in Jewish studies, government and American studies.

person smiling
Jeffrey Ho: Biological Sciences

'Cornell pushed me to explore more'

A&S Communications

Jeffrey Ho is a biological sciences major.

person smiling
Emmy Kanarowski: Science and Technology Studies and Information Science

'I trust my ability to sit with ambiguity'

A&S Communications

Emmy Kanarowski is majoring in science and technology studies and information science.

person smiling
Kevin Chang: Information Science

'I learned what real empathy looks like embedded in system design'

A&S Communications

Kevin Chang is an information science major.

person smiling
America Casanova: English, American Studies, Government and History

'Cornell taught me to never take no for an answer'

A&S Communications

America Casanova is majoring in English, American Studies, Government and History

person smiling
Max Nam: English

'My research reflects my exploration and discovery'

A&S Communications

Max Nam is an English major.

person smiling
Anees Mitri: Government and Near Eastern Studies

'I was able to deepen ties with my own culture'

A&S Communications

Anees Mitri is majoring in government and Near Eastern studies.

person outside smiling
Kira Pawletko: Biological Sciences, Cognitive Science, Psychology and Robert S. Harrison College Scholar

'Take a chance on yourself'

A&S Communications

Kira Pawletko is majoring in biological sciences, cognitive science and psychology and is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar.

Two people discuss papers laid out on a table while a third looks on from the left
Cornell Rare and Manuscript Collections Top: Johnson chats with Earle in the A.D. White Reading Room, as University Librarian Elaine Westbrooks looks on.
Alumni

Former UK prime minister delves into an ancestor's Big Red history

Cornellians

Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a lecture at Cornell on April 27, 2026. Before delivering his remarks, he visited Uris and Kroch libraries to view materials about Elias Avery Lowe 1902: his great-grandfather and one of the most notable classics graduates from Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences.

person presenting work in a museum
David O. Brown/Johnson Museum Nephele Sarrinikolaou '27 talks about her research for a spring curatorial seminar on Indonesian art.
Classroom experiences

Student-created galleries explore Indonesian collection

A&S Communications

Cornell University students in a practicum seminar curated an exhibit “Indonesia Embodied: Performing the Space Between” at the Johnson Museum. Students produced the show, highlighting Southeast Asian works and research on performance and provenance.

Jolene K. Rickard
Jolene K. Rickard
History of Art and Visual Studies

Prof. Jolene Rickard receives Lifetime Achievement Award

A&S Communications

The Native American Art Studies Association gave artist and art historian Jolene Rickard, professor in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences and in the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, a lifetime achievement award. A citizen of the Skarù·ręʔ / Tuscarora Nation (Hodinöhsö:ni Confederacy), Rickard is honored for work that has had a profound impact on contemporary Indigenous art and scholarship.

Three people hold a large social media frame up for a photo in a well-lit atrium
Provided Chang (middle) was integrated into the NUS campus and culture, where he met both local students and study abroad students.
Global Cornell

Study abroad propels careers of graduating seniors

Cornell Chronicle

Time studying abroad gave Kevin Chang, a senior in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, knowledge of new places, new skills and rich new communities. From Taiwan, Chang attended the National University of Singapore, aCornell Global Hubs partner, for a semester.

Two people in red hard hats walk through a building construction site
Jason Koski/Cornell University Adam Heisler (left), project manager for Cornell’s Facilities and Campus Services office, leads Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences, during a tour of McGraw Hall.
McGraw Hall renovation

McGraw construction melds modern with historical

Cornell Chronicle

During the rebuilding of McGraw Hall, workers have made several discoveries, and faculty are reusing and studying materials from the building in the classroom. Built in 1872, McGraw Hall is one of Cornell University's oldest buildings and home to College of Arts and Sciences departments of anthropology and history and the archaeology program.

Sky filled with stars
Ivana Cajina/Unsplash Milky Way galaxy
Astronomy research

New instrument will map the formation of early galaxies

Cornell Chronicle

Researchers in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences report on the first observations with the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment (TIME). The instrument uses a technique called line-intensity mapping to explore the early universe.

Erik Thorbecke
Erik Thorbecke
Economics

Erik Thorbecke, economist with global impact, dies at 97

Cornell Chronicle

Erik Thorbecke, a Cornell University professor of economics since 1974 and one of the creators of the widely used Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) Index for measuring poverty, died on April 26 at 97. His work on agriculture, poverty alleviation and nutrition helped shape modern development economics.

Rikki Laser
Provided Rikki Laser
Graduate student research

Student spotlight: Rikki Laser

Cornell University Graduate School

Rikki Laser, a doctoral candidate in psychological sciences and human development in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, studies how temperature and parenting shape social development. Her research reveals how environmental perception influences neurobiology, behavior, health, and well-being.

Jason Wu
Provided Jason Wu

Student spotlight: Jason Wu

Cornell University Graduate School

Jason Wu, a doctoral candidate in chemistry and chemical biology in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, develops sustainable reactions that improve pharmaceutical synthesis. His research advances nonmetal catalysis, expands medicinal chemical space, and highlights leadership and inclusive scholarship.

Illustration showing a face peering into a broken mirror in which some of the fragments are sketched over with patterns drawn in pencil
Illustration by Laura Chichisan/College of Arts and Sciences based on a photograph by Savannah Bolton/Unsplash
Broad impact in the humanities

Reclaiming experience: Approaches to trauma

A&S Communications

Scholars in Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences are redefining trauma research across humanities, examining delayed memory’s effects on individuals, culture and history. Their insights from many different academic disciplines, including literature, history, archaeology and psychoanalysis connect trauma, testimony and collective witness.

Several people pose imposingly with swords on the green lawn of Cornell's Arts Quad
David Kessler/Provided Jacob Lehman ’06 leads combat exercises on the Arts Quad during a Ring of Steel reunion in 2013.
Alumni

Stage combat group wields swords, staffs – even lightsabers

Cornellians

Founded by Cornell College of Arts and Sciences alumnus Jacob Lehman '06, student group Ring of Steel trains members to stage fight with weapons including steel swords, wooden staves, and even lightsabers. The group performs at campus events and on May the 4th, a.k.a. “Star Wars Day.”

Person standing at a podium, looking serious
E.M. Pio Roda/Scripps National Spelling Bee Jaques Bailly pronouncing during a preliminary round in 2025.
Alumni

How do you spell a National Bee legend? J-A-C-Q-U-E-S B-A-I-L-L-Y!

Cornellians

Jacques Bailly, Ph.D. ’97, a doctoral alumni of Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, is the longtime head pronouncer for the iconic Scripps National Spelling Bee. He won the competition in 1980 at age 14 and began working as a pronouncer in 2003.

three people; one in the center holds an award
Provided Brandon Boit '26 receives the Fuerst Award
Student honors

Library honors outstanding student workers

Cornell Chronicle

Two students in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences are among the student workers receiving the Fuerst award from Cornell University Library in 2026.

Two small flags on a table top
Sgt. Mikki L. Sprenkle/U.S. Army Photo
Government

Chance of substance from Trump–Xi summit ‘little more than zero’

A&S Communications

Looking ahead to the May 14-15 Trump-Xi Beijing summit, professor Allen Carlson of Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences says domestic pressures on both leaders favor symbolic wins over substantive agreements. The meeting highlights limited prospects for breakthroughs on trade, technology, and geopolitics.

Person walking past a table where others sit, looking on and applauding
Provided Students are honored at the 10th annual OADI Honors Award Ceremony.
Student honors

OADI celebrates a decade of honors achievements

Cornell Chronicle

Several students from Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences were honored May 1 at the 10th annual Honors Award Ceremony held by the university's Office of Academic Discovery and Impact (OADI. OADI serves as a hub for academic and professional development resources for Cornell students.

purple spheres representing bacteria
CDC/Unsplash
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

How ‘bacterial zombies’ play a role in immunity, evolution

Cornell Chronicle

A study from Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences finds that dead bacteria can shape infection outcomes via immune responses. Researchers Alex Vladimirsky and Stephen Ellner developed a mathematical model showing how microbial corpses sequester antimicrobial peptides.

Illustration of a hand rubber stamping a paper with "AI" written on it
AI policy

Oversight of AI ‘cannot simply mean’ political review of models

A&S Communications

Overseeing AI models is harder than it looks, Sarah Kreps, tech policy scholar in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences says as the Trump administration considers oversight of AI models. National security threats exist, Kreps cautions, while government vetting risks politicization and obsolescence.

Person seen from the back with hand raised in an audience facing a speaker
Felicia Buitenwerf/Unsplash
Government

Politicians are not ignoring you

Cornell Chronicle

In new research, Peter Enns, professor of government in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences and in the Brooks School of Public Policy, uses statistical analysis to contradict a widespread conclusion first published by Martin Gilens that U.S. government policy disregards the preferences of the median voter.

person in class
Latina/o Studies

New Latina/o Studies major opens for A&S students

A&S Communications

A new Latina/o Studies major will launch in Fall 2026 at Cornell University, a program that expands coursework, seminars, and community engagement for Arts and Sciences students.

Leonardo Santamario Montero
Provided Leonardo Santamario Montero
History of Art and Visual Studies

Student spotlight: Leonardo Santamaria Montero

Cornell University Graduate School

Leonardo Santamaria Montero, doctoral candidate in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, studies visual and material culture of 19th-century Central America. His dissertation work is supported by a Zhu Family Graduate Fellowship.