The Ithaca College
Board of Trustees has voted to name the campus’s new observatory
the Clinton B. Ford Observatory in honor of the late friend,
benefactor, and trustee of the College. The observatory, which
houses a 16-inch telescope and will be used in astronomy courses
offered through the Department of Physics, was built this past
summer with funds provided by Ford and by the National Science
Foundation. (See updates and further information at the observatory
news Web site.)
In their resolution approving the naming of
the College’s first observatory, trustees noted that Ford
"was a highly expert student of astronomical science, a
permanent officer of the Society of Variable Star Observers,
and a model of the lifelong learner" and that Ithaca College
students in the sciences benefit each year from research internships
supported by a Ford bequest, "thereby achieving the distinctive
scientific preparation that undergraduate research experiences
provide."
Also on the board’s fall meeting agenda was a
resolution of appreciation for Bonnie Gordon ’77, who will
be leaving in December after nearly two decades of service to
the College, most recently as vice president for college relations
and resource development. In that capacity, the board noted,
Gordon "has shared with us her considerable talent as an
administrator and fund-raiser, providing leadership to three
successful fund-raising campaigns and a number of achievements
in development." The resolution praised her dedication,
humor, and diligence in her work at Ithaca College, stating she
has "gone beyond the call of duty in assisting the president
and the board of trustees in moving the College forward."
Also during their time on campus, board members
toured construction projects; received an update on the capital
campaign for the School of Music and other fund-raising initiatives;
accepted the annual audit report; discussed the status of the
campus governance review; and met with students, faculty, and
staff at a luncheon and reception.
The Ithaca College
Board of Trustees has voted to name the campus’s new observatory
the Clinton B. Ford Observatory in honor of the late friend,
benefactor, and trustee of the College. The observatory, which
houses a 16-inch telescope and will be used in astronomy courses
offered through the Department of Physics, was built this past
summer with funds provided by Ford and by the National Science
Foundation. (See updates and further information at the 
Also on the board’s fall meeting agenda was a
resolution of appreciation for Bonnie Gordon ’77, who will
be leaving in December after nearly two decades of service to
the College, most recently as vice president for college relations
and resource development. In that capacity, the board noted,
Gordon "has shared with us her considerable talent as an
administrator and fund-raiser, providing leadership to three
successful fund-raising campaigns and a number of achievements
in development." The resolution praised her dedication,
humor, and diligence in her work at Ithaca College, stating she
has "gone beyond the call of duty in assisting the president
and the board of trustees in moving the College forward."