Marc Lacey at an even with students — Making an impact

Public engagement: local and global

The College of Arts & Sciences is committed to education and research that engages with the world -- no ivory towers on this campus. As a land grant university with a longstanding imperative to contribute to the greater good, an ethos of public service and engagement runs deep at Cornell. In Arts & Sciences we are forging community partnerships, solving local and global challenges and creating knowledge to benefit humanity.

Programs and initiatives

Open your mind

Arts Unplugged series

The College of Arts & Sciences’ Arts Unplugged series brings research and creative works into the public sphere for discussion and inspiration. These outreach events invite a broad audience to explore the work of scholars and faculty from all disciplines, all backgrounds and all time periods and to celebrate the impact that work continues to have on our daily lives.

Explore recent and upcoming Arts Unplugged events.

Engagement for an informed society

Distinguished Visiting Journalist Program

The College of Arts & Sciences' new Distinguished Visiting Journalist Program brings accomplished journalists to Cornell for extended visits. The program aims to recognize excellence in journalism and to provide opportunities for select journalists and the university community to engage with each other.

Learn more about the program.

Realities of rural America

Rural Humanities initiative

Rural Humanities is an Andrew W. Mellon supported initiative in public and engaged humanities that uses the tools of the humanities to critically approach, learn from, make visible, and support the realities of rural America, particularly in Central-Western New York: its histories, cultures, challenges, and futures.

Learn more about the Rural Humanities

Illustrated poster for "Racism in America: Economy" event

Exploring our greatest challenges

Racism in America series

Organized in partnership with the American Studies Program and open to the general public, this webinar series explores research-based discoveries and potential solutions for combating systemic racism and improving equity.

Faculty experts examine how racism is embedded in education, criminal justice, health care and economic systems, as well as within U.S. government policy.

Explore recent Racism in America events.

More ways to make an impact

Engagement programs across Cornell

Cornell's commitment to public engagement extends across the university with many exciting programs for both students and faculty. Here are a few more ways to make an impact.

Public engagement news

Cornell poet’s play “Trap Door” opens an aperture into Ithaca history
Engaged Research Grants 5/14/2021 By | Kate Blackwood
Prison education alums work with undergrads on theater piece
Performing and Media Arts 5/10/2021 By | Emily Hopkins
Radio show features Derek Chang on anti-Asian/Pacific Islander bias
History 5/5/2021 By | Kate Supron
Science journalists on the pandemic: ‘We couldn’t trust our regular sources’
Distinguished Visiting Journalist Program 4/30/2021 By | Kathy Hovis

Faculty Engaged with the World

Faculty engaged with the world

Kim Haines-Eitzen, the Paul and Berthe Hendrix Memorial Professor in Near Eastern Studies, helps Morgan Freeman decode the "number of the beast" on National Geographic's "The Story of God."