Communications

Melanie Lefkowitz

Acting Associate Vice President for Communications
607-255-7164
mll9@cornell.edu

Cornell's Division of University Relations has six integrated communications teams that work together to advance the university's reputation as a global leader in research and education. We support all colleges, schools, units and partner organizations throughout the university to raise the awareness of Cornell among the broadest possible audience in support of the university’s strategic priorities.

Cornellians

Cornellians  is a reader-focused digital publication and an online community where all Cornellians can join the conversation. Its mission is to engage and inspire alumni throughout their lifetime by informing, entertaining, and connecting the Big Red community around the globe.

Cornellians is produced by its editorial staff in partnership with the Division of Alumni Affairs and Development. It is  advised by an alumni committee, including several members with decades of experience in publishing and communication. For more information, see our FAQ or email cornellians@cornell.edu.

Digital Experience

Zac Doob

Zac Doob

Senior Director
zad3@cornell.edu

The Digital Experience team builds and manages university-level brand and communications platforms for Cornell, delivering meaningful content to millions of users around the world. We provide robust tools and applications, set university standards for brand, web design and communications, enhance storytelling through interactive features, distribute high-priority communications, and create clear pathways to information our audiences need to experience Cornell at its best.

Digital Experience advances the university’s strategic priorities by advising communicators across Cornell to achieve an effective, cohesive digital ecosystem.

Areas of expertise

  • Brand management, application, and compliance
  • Content strategy, management, and curation
  • Web design, user experience, and accessibility
  • Web development, optimization, and system integrations
  • Technology strategy, planning, and implementation
  • Data strategy, metrics, and analytics

Media Relations

Rebecca Valli

Senior Director
607-793-1025
rv234@cornell.edu

Cornell’s Media Relations Office is the university’s liaison to local, regional, national and international media organizations. On both breaking news and long-term research efforts, Media Relations works across the university to connect faculty and administration leaders with traditional and new media.

Media Relations is responsible for:

  • Promoting Cornell’s academic and institutional leadership through press releases, tip sheets, and direct engagement with leading journalists.
  • Arranging and facilitating media coverage of Cornell faculty and visits to Cornell’s campuses.
  • Offering Cornell experts to the media as major news breaks, and swiftly servicing reporter requests for our world-leading scholars.
  • Connecting Cornell voices to media outlets around the world through our radio and TV studios.
  • Assisting members of the Cornell community in their interactions with the media, and in preparing for interviews through customized media training.
  • Producing video b-roll, question-and-answer interviews with faculty and short news packages for use by broadcast and web-based news outlets.

News

The News Office identifies, develops, edits and disseminates compelling stories about Cornell University’s research, programs, people and strategic priorities, to promote the university as a world-class institution of excellence in teaching, research and public engagement. The News staff publishes the Cornell Chronicle, the university’s official source of news and information. Including breaking research news, administrative announcements and in-depth features documenting Cornell’s impact within its community and around the world, the Cornell Chronicle’s website is updated daily. News highlights are shared in a daily email digest Mondays through Thursdays, and in a weekly email digest distributed to faculty, staff, students and subscribers on Fridays during the academic year.

The Chronicle’s staff of highly experienced writers and editors cover beats including physical sciences and engineering, life sciences, veterinary science, social sciences, art and humanities, architecture, business and entrepreneurship, computer and information science and sustainability. The News office collaborates closely with partners within University Relations and across the university to present and promote top-notch storytelling supported by multimedia produced by Brand Communications, and Media Relations leverages those stories to external audiences.

Resources

Follow us on Twitter for all the latest news.
Want news delivered to your inbox? Subscribe below.
Have a story idea? Contact us:

Strategic Communications

Ted Boscia

Senior Director
607-255-9453
tvb23@cornell.edu

Strategic Communications enhances and promotes Cornell University’s reputation as a top research institution and leader in higher education by crafting messaging and implementing communications strategies. We directly support the university’s leadership to advance priorities and initiatives by bringing to life Cornell’s tangible, positive impacts on individuals, communities and the greater society. Leveraging the university’s primary communications platforms, including flagship website and social media channels, we ensure that key messages are delivered to internal and external audiences. We also foster a collaborative environment by working with partners in the colleges and units to amplify storytelling that advances the university’s world-renowned reputation for excellence in learning, discovery and engagement. We also work with campus partners to mitigate risks to the university’s reputation through issues management and crisis and emergency communications.

Areas of expertise

  • Strategic Communications Planning
  • Message Development
  • Executive/Leadership Communications
  • Internal Communications
  • New Media
  • Issues Management
  • Crisis and Emergency Communications

Visual Communications

Lindsay France

Senior Director
lmf39@cornell.edu

The Visual Communications team creates distinctive, high-impact visual content — including photography, short-form video, and digital design — to support university-level communications priorities and strategies.

Working in close partnership with communications teams, academic units, and administrative departments across the university, the team delivers inclusive, brand-aligned storytelling that brings Cornell’s mission and values to life. Its creative work helps elevate the university’s most visible platforms and initiatives, adapting to evolving brand standards while maintaining consistency across channels.

Final content is featured on flagship platforms such as Cornell.edu, the Cornell Chronicle, Cornellians, and Cornell’s official social media channels, as well as on partner-specific sites and publications.

University Relations Creative Services (URCS) operates within Visual Communications. This in-house creative team focuses on supporting academic and administrative partners through high-quality, brand-consistent visual content — at no cost for services to campus units.

With a commitment to authenticity, creativity, and inclusion, the Visual Communications team transforms Cornell’s story into compelling visuals that resonate across audiences and platforms.