Jeffrey S. Lehman

Jeffery Sean Lehman (b. 1956), is an American scholar, lawyer and academic administrator. He is best known for serving as the 11th president of Cornell University from 2003 until 2005. A native of Bronxville, New York, Lehman is a member of the Cornell class of 1977, the first alumnus of that institution to serve as its president.

President of Cornell University

He was named the 11th president of Cornell University on December 14, 2002 and assumed the duties of that office on July 1, 2003. As president of Cornell, he oversaw effective large-scale fundraising efforts. In 2004, Cornell ranked third in the nation in university fundraising (behind only Harvard and Stanford), raising over US$375 million that year alone. Lehman was also known for prominently promoting his "three themes": "life in the age of the genome," "wisdom in the age of digital information" and "sustainability in the age of development." During his tenure, Cornell was criticized for plans to build a parking lot in "Redbud Woods," drawing particular fire from Cornell and Ithaca environmentalists.

Related Topics:
Harvard - Stanford - Redbud - Ithaca - Environmentalists

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On June 11, 2005, Lehman announced that he would be resigning from the presidency effective June 30, citing irreconcilable differences with the Cornell Board of Trustees?an announcement that came as a surprise to most of the Cornell community and to outsiders. Lehman's tenure was by far the shortest of any Cornell President. Upon his departure, Lehman's immediate predecessor, Hunter Rawlings, reassumed the Cornell Presidency on an interim basis.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~