Building A Better Bridge:
The Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program

A Presidential White Paper
Addressed to the Cornell College family
from Leslie H. Garner Jr.

October 2008 

“I found the experience rewarding on a number of levels. I was able to participate in a number of classes, and I enjoyed the opportunity to present a public talk on a subject that has been central to my recent career and to which I'm academically engaged. Most importantly, I was able to meet with a number of students formally and informally to discuss prospective careers in international law and international relations. All of which is to say that I had a chance to give something back to the school that really started it all for me.”

Capt. Michael J. Boock ’82

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Alumni have always been a vital part of Cornell’s life. Alumni engagement and support have enhanced opportunities for students, helped the college grow, and given us all pride in our institution.

Until recently, though, alumni were not involved in the college’s educational program in a formal way. From time to time, we have been able to invite alumni to campus to make guest appearances in classes and meet informally with students. These sessions have uniformly been met with enthusiasm. What we have needed, however, is a program that would provide a framework to make such visits a regular part of a Cornell education. The Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program, now in its fourth year, provides just such a framework.

The Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors program annually brings three outstanding alumni in various fields to Cornell to meet with students over the course of several days and tell them about their jobs and experiences. Successful alumni like Bill Robison ’60 and Jan Thomas ’80 come to campus and lecture in courses, dine with students, visit with groups, and offer their knowledge and insights to the whole community through public lectures. The program is the brainchild of former trustee Lee Swanson ’60, who said he learned a lot from the success of other Cornell alumni and wished to pass that lesson on to the next generation.

Integration of theory and practice

The integration of theory and practice is a cornerstone of a Cornell education. We seek to supplement what’s learned in class with learning opportunities in the “real world.” We do so in order to add valuable perspective to the knowledge gained in our classrooms.

It’s one thing to watch 9/11 unfold on television, but it’s another to be on the ground in the aftermath, identifying victims. Just ask Jason Kolowski ’98, a forensic DNA analyst for New York City and a 2006 distinguished visitor.

It’s one thing for a female student to wonder if women can really have a career in banking; it’s another thing entirely to meet Sydney Smith Hicks ’69, who shared her career experiences with us in 2006.

And it’s one thing to read articles about terrorism and international law; it’s another to listen to Michael Boock ’82, a 2007 visitor, explain the intersection of old laws with modern wars from his vantage point in legal services for the U.S. Navy.

In integrating theory and practice, the Beta Omicron Distinguished Visitors Program complements other Cornell programs. Dimensions and The Berry Center make use of alumni to provide unique experiences for students on and off campus. The Cornell Fellows Program allows students to work as interns for distinguished mentors, many of whom are alumni. The Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program expands the impact of such initiatives. It is limited only by the number and experience of our alumni, allowing us to bring in experts in a wide variety of fields.

A life of meaning

Early in my academic career, I taught ethics to undergraduates. Unfortunately, I often found that students doubted that leaders were serious about ethical behavior. But when those same students were exposed to individuals who lived ethically, when they saw ethics applied in difficult situations and to challenging decisions, they found that those encounters reinforced their natural inclination to live ethically.

One of the benefits of a liberal arts education is that it prepares individuals to makeinformed, thoughtful choices, live lives of meaning, and pursue productive careers. The Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program introduces our students to leaders who care and are passionate, who demonstrate leadership and integrity, and who can answer the question “what does it mean to live a meaningful life?” In these instances, when students meet alumni who can teach values and integrity, they learn not just about a particular subject, but about career and personal growth.

A framework for alumni participation

One way to think of the Beta Omicron Distinguished Visitors Program is as a bridge between our alumni and our students. Traffic on this bridge moves in both directions. Alumni serve as a resource to students, sharing knowledge and perspective. Students serve alumni as well, providing them with a source of energy and a challenge. I know from personal experience that nothing challenges you more or forces you to learn faster than the preparation it takes to stand in front of a classroom full of eager students.

In essence the Distinguished Visitors Program encourages a steady flow of ideas between alumni and students. Alumni pass on their knowledge to our students, helping them become successful alumni who can then return to pass on their knowledge to future generations of students.

Ten alumni have already come to campus to share their knowledge as Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors:

• Bill Robison ’60, senior scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

• Sydney Smith Hicks ’69, then senior vice president, corporate strategy, Metavante Corp.

• Jason Kolowski ’98, forensic DNA Analyst, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, New York City

• Ralph “Chris” Christofferson ’59, general partner, Morgenthaler Ventures, and former president, Colorado State University

• Stephen Grummon ’69, Director of the Office of Near East and South Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State

• Jan Thomas ’80, associate professor of sociology, Kenyon College

• Michael Boock ’82, commanding officer, Naval Legal Service Office, Northwest

• Mary Ann Lyman-Hager ’68, director of the Language Acquisition Resource Center and professor of French, San Diego State University

• Mark Weston ’74, education strategist for Dell

• David Klaus ’67, lead human resources specialist, World Bank

…and around the world

Another way that “traffic” moves across this bridge is that we can bring the Hilltop to the alumni. Imagine taking students to see a baseball game with Jerry Lewis ’59, an expert on crowd behavior. Or visiting a building with the architect who designed it. By expanding the role of the Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program off-campus, we can truly say that we’re offering extraordinary opportunities in the classroom, on campus, and around the world.

Next year we will begin the off-campus phase of the program. This year, though, we’re pleased to welcome three more outstanding alumni back to campus, including Thomas Mikelson ’58, minister emeritus at First Church in Cambridge, Mass., and a visiting lecturer in ministry at Harvard Divinity School; and Gerald Hildebrand ’64, director of the Global Center for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of the Pacific. The third has yet to be named.

Conclusion

Imparting knowledge and wisdom to the next generation is one of the most valuable experiences one can have. The Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program offers alumni the chance, through a small investment of time, to have a large impact on the future generation of leaders. By offering our students the chance to learn with the leaders of today, we enhance their ability to lead in the future. If you feel you can contribute to this program, or know someone else who could, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.