Alum Marc Lacey named managing editor of the New York Times

Marc Lacey ’87, the inaugural fellow in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Distinguished Visiting Journalist Program, has been named managing editor of the New York Times, along with Carolyn Ryan.

“Marc is not only a tremendously accomplished alumnus of the College of Arts and Sciences, but he continues to engage with us in meaningful ways – serving as our inaugural Distinguished Visiting Journalist, moderating a faculty panel ahead of the 2020 election, and providing guidance to our students interested in journalism,” said Ray Jayawardhana, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences. “It’s thrilling to have one of our own, a great Cornellian, appointed to such an influential role at a preeminent media organization.”

In a memo to staff, newly appointed New York Times executive editor Joseph Kahn said the managing editors will be responsible for “overseeing the breadth of our coverage and news operation” and “advancing major priorities like independence and trust, digital excellence and cultural transformation.”

Lacey’s career as a journalist stretches back to his time as an undergraduate, when he served as editor-in-chief of The Cornell Daily Sun and as campus stringer for The New York Times, researching and writing for the education section.

“I caught the journalism bug at Cornell and it's never left me,” said Lacey. “The best part is I still enjoy what I do – delivering the news to readers – and I've been doing it now for years. No two days are the same as a journalist and I awake not sure what adventure awaits and what I'm going to learn that day.”

In 2020, when Lacey came to Cornell as a Distinguished Visiting Journalist Fellow, he was national editor for the New York Times; the following year he was promoted to assistant managing editor. In his more than 20 years at the New York Times, Lacey has also served as a foreign correspondent in Mexico City and Nairobi, Kenya, as a White House correspondent and as editor of the weekend news report.

“I was actually a freshman at Cornell when I first visited The New York Times,” said Lacey. “Back then, I had no appointment and the security guard in the lobby ushered me out. Today, one of the security guards gave me a high five.”

Prior to joining the New York Times, Lacey was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where he contributed to Pulitzer-winning breaking news coverage.

A biology and society major at Cornell, Lacey went on to receive a master’s in international policy and practice from George Washington University, as well as studying at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, in the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program.