Ithaca College has announced that President La Jerne Terry Cornish will conclude her tenure as the institution’s 10th president on June 30, 2027.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the college’s Board of Trustees, which also launched the search process for Ithaca College’s next president.
Cornish joined Ithaca College in 2018 as provost and was named president in 2022. College officials credited her with guiding the institution through a challenging post-pandemic period, helping stabilize operations, strengthen campus relationships, and advance institutional priorities.
In a statement, the Board of Trustees thanked Cornish for her leadership and service during what it described as an extraordinary period in the college’s history.
“President Cornish joined Ithaca College in 2018 as Provost and has served this institution through an extraordinary and consequential period,” the board said. “Since being named president in 2022, she has steadied the college following the pandemic, brought our community together, and strengthened the bonds that define Ithaca.”
Cornish will remain in her role through the 2026-27 academic year and will work with the board to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
The Board of Trustees said its search for the college’s next president will focus on advancing financial sustainability, enrollment growth, innovation, and external engagement.
A Presidential Search Committee has been established and will be chaired by Board Vice Chair Christopher Palmieri, a 1996 Ithaca College graduate. The committee includes trustees as well as representatives from the faculty, staff, student body, alumni community, and senior administration.
College officials said a national search firm will be selected in the coming weeks to assist with the process. The search committee will be responsible for developing a leadership profile, evaluating candidates, and presenting a slate of finalists to the Board of Trustees, which retains final authority in selecting the institution’s next president.
The board said students, faculty, staff, and alumni will have opportunities to provide input throughout the search process.
In her own statement, Cornish reflected on her time leading the college.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this institution during one of the most challenging periods in the college’s history,” Cornish said. “My season as the President of Ithaca College will conclude at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. With an eternally grateful heart, I thank the Ithaca College community for giving me a season to remember and in due time, treasure.”
Ithaca College was founded in 1892 and is celebrating its 134th year as the institution prepares for its next leadership transition.
