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President's Council of Cornell Women
eNews | February 2015
CHAIRS' CORNER
Linda Gadsby '88
PCCW Co-Chair
Jill Goldy MS ILR '78
PCCW Co-Chair
Happy New Year, PCCW! We hope that your holidays were relaxing and filled with
memorable times with family and friends. Unfortunately, the holiday glow is fading
from memory very quickly. It’s a good thing that we have something else to celebrate:
PCCW’s 25th Anniversary! This is a very special year for PCCW and we are excited
about the opportunity see you all in Ithaca at our Annual Meeting, March 6–8. The
Annual Meeting Planning committee has been hard at work to make this meeting a
special one for all of us, and it will not disappoint. We have some special things
planned and some very exciting announcements, so make sure you’re there. We
wouldn't want you to miss out on all of the fun! Our Mentoring, Grants, and
Communications committees are also playing a very important role in the Annual
Meeting, and we thank them for their efforts as well. You will be proud to see the fruits
of the labor of all of our committees on display in Ithaca.
Invitations for our new class of PCCW members went out in December and we have
had a very enthusiastic response thus far. It is an amazing group of women, and we
can’t wait for you to meet them and welcome them into our community. Many thanks
to our Membership Committee and its staff liaison, Loreal Maguire, for their hard
work; and thanks to all of our members who submitted nominations. It is our hope that
many of our new members will join us at the Annual Meeting in Ithaca and begin their
PCCW membership by celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the organization.
We have had some wonderful gatherings around the country, including, New York,
Chicago, Boston, and D.C., bonding with each other and celebrating Cornell’s
Sesquicentennial! There are more gatherings to follow thanks to the leadership of our
Alumnae Engagement Committee, so stay tuned.
If you haven't yet gotten engaged with PCCW, this upcoming Annual Meeting is a
great time to start. Come celebrate with us, make new friends, interact with current
students, and rekindle those fond memories you have of your time as a student on
the hill. We promise you’ll be glad you came! See you in Ithaca!
Best,
Jill and Linda
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COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE LETTER
As your Communications Committee chairs and co-chair, we are excited to bring you
this next edition of the PCCW eNews! Our objective for the Communications
Committee is to keep you informed of PCCW activities and events and to celebrate
the accomplishments of our members and our organization.
Heidi Grenek '92
Comm. Co-Chair
Tara Murphy '94
Comm. Co-Chair
In our last eNews, we mentioned that this year we will augment our regular
communications channels with two major initiatives. First, we will be revamping and
refreshing the PCCW website to better reflect our mission and our membership.
Second, in celebration of PCCW’s 25th anniversary, we will be developing an
infographic that showcases the impact PCCW has had at Cornell. Both of these
projects are substantial in scope, and we would welcome additional participation on
our committee in support of either (or both!) activities. Information on how to get
involved is in the “Calls to Action” section of this newsletter.
We’ve been delighted to see the uptick in member posts on our social media forums
and encourage all of you to post when you see something that would be of interest to
our membership. We welcome posts celebrating member accomplishments, Cornellrelated news, and topics relating to women’s issues and thought leadership. If you are
not sure whether something is “post-worthy,” send it along to one of the
Communications committee members and we would be happy to take it from there!
Heidi, Tara, and Lisa
Lisa Rangel '92
Comm. Vice Chair
FEATURED COMMITTEE: ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING
25th Anniversary Meeting – Visionary Women: Past, Present & Future
This year’s annual meeting celebrates PCCW's 25th anniversary as an organization as Cornell University
celebrates its 150th. We will have the honor of hearing our founders, Lilyan Affinito '53 and Patricia Carry
Stewart '50, take us back in time to relive their vision for PCCW. Current co-chairs Linda Gadsby '88 and
Jill Goldy MS ILR '78 will take us through the impact PCCW has had since its founding to the present
day.
We will celebrate together with one of our key Cornell contributors, Susan Murphy '73, PhD '94, Vice
President for Student and Academic Services, who will provide the keynote address at our gala dinner on
Friday night, where we will honor our founders and past chairs. We will be serenaded by the Cornell
Women’s Choir as we wind down the first evening together before heading off to dessert with Cornell
women students.
Throughout the weekend, we will hear from female futurists on a number of topics critical to the changing
world before us. Who can argue with the importance of these topics to women and our world?
Friday brings us visionary women in the areas of urbanization and entrepreneurship.
Diana Lind, ’03, urbanization expert talks about "Why Cities Are Changing the World." Cities are the fastgrowing centers of population, the drivers behind the world's economy, and at the forefront of
sustainability and technology. Diana’s talk will provide a global snapshot of the urban planning and policy
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movements that will end up shaping our future.
Deborah Streeter, Bruce F. Failing Sr. Professor of Personal Enterprise at Cornell, will address "Why
Entrepreneurial Women Matter for our Future." Professor Streeter has spent many years interviewing
entrepreneurs for the Cornell eClips Collection and will share her reflections and a “mash-up” of some of
the wonderful females from the eClips Collection. Deb vows to leave us with some things to ponder!
On Saturday morning, after we have the pleasure of having Jane Brody moderate our introductions
during breakfast, we will hear from visionary women in the areas of big data and food security. Sue
Feldman '67, founder and CEO of Synthexis, brings us "Big Data and Cognitive Computing: The Next
Industrial Revolution?", where she will explore how we interact with computers, use information, and
make decisions. Sue will provide us with an informative and provocative discussion of the disruptive
market and technology forces that will change the role of computing in business and in our personal
lives. Rebecca Nelson, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, will
address "The Futures of Farming" and concerns for global and local food security. Such concerns are
warranted; farming is often based on practices that are unsustainable in one way or another and there is
rising awareness of the need to put agriculture on a more sustainable footing.
The afternoon brings us visionary women speaking on critical issues on the environment and health.
Rebecca Schneider, Associate Professor and Department Extension Leader, Department of Natural
Resources, will address issues around "Sustainable, Ecologically-Based Water Resource Management:
A Win-Win Approach to Buffer Impacts of Climate Change." As fresh water is increasingly scarce across
the globe, arguably replacing energy as the limiting resource, Professor Schneider will talk about how
sustainable, ecologically-based management of water resources provides a critical solution to buffer the
impacts of climate change and meet the needs of our growing human population.Pamela Barnes,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Engender Health, will address the critical global needs around
reproductive health and preventable death in her talk on "Vision and Passion—Making an Impact." She
will talk about how her organization has helped some of the poorest women in the world to have healthier
and safer childbirths.
And then join us for our keynote address with Ambassador Melanne Verveer, one of the most compelling
voices on global women’s issues. In her talk, "20 Years Since Beijing," Ambassador Verveer will discuss
women’s progress since Beijing. At that critical juncture in her role as Ambassador, Melanne was
responsible for much of the planning for the U.S. participation in the UN's Fourth World Conference on
Women in Beijing in 1995 (where Hillary Clinton made her historic "Women's Rights Are Human Rights"
speech), focusing on their role and status in global economy, development, and security. Melanne has
continued to play a major role in issues related to global women’s rights. In her talk, she will highlight the
roles and experiences of women in peace and security worldwide through cutting-edge research, global
conventions and strategic partnerships.
As if that wasn’t enough…
Sunday brings young vital voices from Cornell’s current leaders on our panel of "Visionary Women
Students." You will hear from an inspiring selection of some of Cornell's brightest and most engaged
seniors, who will talk about their current involvements and their vision of how those involvements might
bridge their life on campus to the larger global community.
All of these inspiring talks are interspersed with our recurring and invigorating networking luncheons with
undergraduate and graduate students where we pay it forward. We pay special honor at the Saturday
evening dinner and celebrate our Affinito-Stewart Grant recipients—with some comedy for
entertainment—and enjoy Sunday morning breakfast with recipients of PCCW Scholarships,
Fellowships, and Leadership Grants.
Join us for an incredible weekend. You don’t want to miss this key event in PCCW history! Register now.
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MEMBER NEWS
Erin O’Connor '85 was named by New York Business Journal as one of 78
honorees for its inaugural Women of Influence Awards.
Allison Blais '00, Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President of the National
September 11 Memorial & Museum, hosted the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge on their visit to the Memorial & Museum in December.
Nora Bensahel '93 joined the School of International Service at American
University as a distinguished scholar in residence.
COMMITTEE NEWS and CALLS TO ACTION
Annual Meeting Planning
Mark your calendars for our 25th annual meeting, March 6–8, 2015 in Ithaca! Register now:
https://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/CEL/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=184575
Alumnae Engagement
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Rescheduled Event
A PATH APPEARS, WITH NICHOLAS KRISTOF AND SHERYL WUDUNN
Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, winners of the Pulitzer Prize and the authors of the #1
bestseller Half the Sky, return with a unique and essential narrative about making a difference in
the world in A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity. The original event was
cancelled due to the snowstorm in NYC, and now will be held on Tuesday, March 24th at the
Cornell Club NYC.
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Alumnae Engagement has been holding local PCCW gatherings to coincide with regional
sesquicentennial events. Upcoming:
o Florida - PCCW dessert gathering at sesquicentennial event on Feb 14. Hosted by Ruth
Cyrus '79
o Los Angeles - PCCW dinner on March 2. Hosted by Nancy Mills '64 and Erin Flinn '00
o There will be no PCCW event in San Francisco due to the overlap of the
sesquicentennial event with our PCCW Annual Meeting, and the logistics of the SF
venue. This was a decision made jointly with Cornell Alumni Affairs.
o Up next: London
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Best Practice Highlight: New member welcomes! One of the great things about the Alumnae
Engagement committee is that we have the opportunity to complement the work of other PCCW
committees. Here is a great example of AE supporting our PCCW membership committee:
Carolyn Landis '65 has hosted a welcome dinner for new PCCW members in New Jersey for a
number of years. She includes newly elected members who live or work in NJ and organizes the
best time and place for an informal welcome with current PCCW members. These types of
initiatives are very important because they are a way we can connect with new members and get
them interested in participating fully as a member of PCCW. This is directly aligned with the
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PCCW goal of engaging Cornell alumnae. Many thanks to Carolyn for her wonderful support of
PCCW!
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The Alumnae Engagement committee meets by phone on the second Tuesday of each
month. Our 30-minute call is from 5:30-6:00 PM EST. If you would like to join us, you are most
welcome! Please email Stephanie Fox.
Archives
Archiving PCCW’s 25 Years, by Gloria Lang ’69
The late Frankie Cadwell ‘55, PCCW Founding member, first captured PCCW’s history during its 10th
Anniversary in 2000. Frankie designed the tower logo used today and helped produce the film that was
shown at the 10th Anniversary entitled, The Women of Cornell: A University of Individuals which features
Jane Brody '62, Abby Joseph Cohen '73, Ruth Bader Ginsberg '54, Janet Reno '60, Mae Jamison MD
'81, and Sheryl WuDunn '81.
The 10th Anniversary identified the significance of Cornell Women coming together when 5,000
Cornellians gathered at Barton Hall to hear Hillary Rodham Clinton, The following day PCCW filled the
Statler Auditorium with Cornell women and invited female students from the Ithaca school system to hear
Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to go into space (1992), address the progress of women
in the sciences.
During 2000 the first six PCCW Chairs identified PCCW’s key accomplishments during their terms. Each
chair summarized PCCW’s expanding recognition and financial support for Cornell women alumni,
students, faculty and administrators.
PCCW’s 20th Anniversary (2010) recorded its impact and history with a video highlighting PCCW
founders and members who each shared personal impact stories how PCCW had broadened their
association with Cornell. A “Turning 20” brochure recorded memories written by more than 25 PCCW
members and 11 PCCW Chairs. Barbara B. Orlando ’58 was the brochure editor and Alix Beeney ‘64 led
the layout and design effort. PCCW History | PCCW Videos
During 2010, PCCW’s chair Carolyn Landis ‘65 proposed an archivist role within the Steering Committee.
When asked, I accepted the PCCW archivist role and for smooth succession requested an associate
archivist. Most of the PCCW history was stored in file drawers but the digital age was emerging
quickly. Working with Mary Faber '69 and Carole Quealy from the Office of Volunteer Programs, Nadine
Magac ’90, MBA ’01 and I met with Elaine Engst, Cornell University’s Archivist. Elaine guided us through
the process allowing PCCW to enter Cornell’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection. During 2011,
Nadine and Mary devoted many hours reducing duplicate sets of PCCW history and organizing the
chronology of the collection. The chronological files were established. In 2013 Barbie Stern '80 gathered
a group of PCCW members in NYC, who identified and recorded names and faces to PCCW photos
which now reside in the PCCW collection at Olin Library. PCCW Collection in Rare Books and
Manuscripts
As PCCW celebrates its 25th Anniversary during Cornell’s Sesquicentennial, its history will be recorded
electronically. Heidi Grenek ’92, MEN ’93 and Tara Murphy ’94, co-chairs of the Communications
Committee, are ably leading the communications for PCCW’s Mar 6-8 Meeting. PCCW’s history is
secure and accessible. May each member value the past as we invite new members to join our future.
Communications
The Communications Committee is looking for volunteers to help with our two major initiatives this year.
These are short-term, specific projects, so they are perfect for members who have just a small amount of
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time to dedicate. If you are interested in working on the updated PCCW website, please contact Tara
Murphy. Alternatively, join the PCCW infographic subteam by contacting Heidi Grenek.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Visit the PCCW calendar.
PCCW GRANTS
One of the most rewarding things about being a part of PCCW is the opportunity we have to make a
difference in the lives of Cornell women—both through our Affinito-Stewart Grants, which provide support
to women faculty members doing important research as they pursue tenure, and through our Leadership
Grants, which support a variety of different programs that support Cornell women students, faculty and
staff. As we celebrate PCCW's 25th anniversary, we also celebrate the fact that over the years we have
granted a total of $953,000 to 213 Affinito-Stewart Grant recipients and $737,000 to 69 Leadership Grant
recipients. Wow, that’s nearly $1.7 million going out to support Cornell women!
When we gather for our annual meeting in Ithaca in early March, we’ll have fun meeting, recognizing and
hearing from the recipients of grants awarded in our 2013-2014 fiscal year. Below is a preview of these
honorees who have been invited to the big event:
Reception and Dinner with Affinito-Stewart Grants Recipients | Saturday, March 7
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Nozomi Nishimura (www.bme.cornell.edu/people/profile.cfm?netid=nn62): Dr. Nishimura is with
the Department of Biomedical Engineering in Ithaca, and her research aims to answer the
question, “Do Western diets lead to inflammation in brain microvasculature?”
Kathleen (Katie) Kelly (www.vet.cornell.edu/biosci/people/DrKatieKelly.cfm): Dr. Kelly’s research
addresses cardiovascular disease, the top cause of death in the US . . . specifically defining the
role of chemokine in the initiation and progression of cardiac dysfunction. While Dr. Kelly is at the
Veterinary College in Ithaca, many of us had the opportunity to meet her at Weill Cornell in New
York last September.
Bethany Cummings (www.vet.cornell.edu/biosci/people/CUMMINGS_Bethany.cfm): Dr.
Cummings is also from the Veterinary College and was with us in New York last September. Her
research addresses the epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes, specifically studying animal
models of bariatric surgery with the goal of identifying the mechanisms by which bariatric surgery
causes diabetes resolution.
While in New York last September, we had the opportunity to recognize three Weill Cornell grant
recipients: Karin Hochrainer (http://brainandmind.weill.cornell.edu/research/hochrainerkarin/iadecola-laboratory), Tracy-Ann Moo (http://weillcornell.org/tracyannmoo), and Mirella
Salvatore (http://weillcornell.org/msalvatore). Jennifer Downs
(www.weill.cornell.edu/research/researcher/jadowns/index.html) from Weill Cornell was also
awarded a grant, but was unable to join us in September.
Breakfast with Recipients of PCCW Scholarships, Fellowships, and Leadership Grants |
Sunday, March 8
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Athletics: Three grants were awarded to our women athletes, including a new scoreboard for the
Women’s Polo Team, spin bikes for the Women’s Squash Team, and GoPro Hero cameras for
the Women’s Tennis and Squash Teams.
Institute for the Social Sciences (ISS): As in prior years, we provided funding to ISS to award one
early career, tenure-line, female faculty member with a grant that supports her social science
research.
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Office of Faculty Development and Diversity: PCCW helped to fund a 2014 conference for
women graduate students, postdocs, researchers and junior faculty, entitled “Empowering
Women in Science and Engineering (EWISE): Defining your Career and your Pathway to
Leadership” (http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2014/05/panelists-discuss-paths-success-womenacademia).
Student and Academic Services:
o Women Leaders in Academic and Student Affairs Professional Development Circle:
Grant was awarded to provide professional development opportunities to this group of
eight women staff leaders who work in academic and student affairs at Cornell.
o Gannett Health Services: PCCW helped to fund an integrated bystander education
program designed to prevent men’s violence against women, particularly among
student-athletes and members of the Greek system.
o Carol Tatkon Center: We provided work-study and income support to student workers in
this center at Balch Hall, which offers programs and services to help first-year students
successfully transition to Cornell under the banner “Ask me anything”.
o The Intercultural Center: Les Femmes de Substance: PCCW helped to fund the “Annual
Women of Substance Retreat” for this pre-professional women’s group that is focused
on building strong bonds between women of color on campus and equipping them with
the tools for success beyond Cornell.
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