Dear Campus Community,
With mixed emotions, I share the news that my chief of staff, Odalys Diaz Piñeiro, has made an exciting professional and personal decision to join Howard University in Washington, D.C. Odalys will serve as the chief of staff to the university’s new president, Ben Vinson III, Ph.D.—the 18th president of one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious historically Black universities.
Odalys joined IC in April 2020, at the onset of the COVID pandemic, helping the college navigate what was then uncharted and turbulent waters, in protecting the health and safety of our most treasured asset, the campus community. At that dynamic time, she played important roles overseeing college communications as well as government and community relations.
As chief of staff, Odalys was also deeply involved in implementing the Ithaca Forever Strategic Plan as well as supporting my transition from provost to president. A key contributor to my leadership team, she has served as a continuously steady member of the cabinet, responsible for working with the president, vice presidents, and deans to help organize, focus, and implement the college’s broad strategic work.
Prior to coming to Ithaca College, Odalys served as a senior administrator and advisor to two college presidents in the CUNY system, at Queens College and at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College.
Odalys’ last day at IC was Friday, and she will begin the next successful chapter of her higher education journey at Howard on November 20. For now, I plan to distribute Odalys’ duties among other members of my staff while I consider a realignment of responsibilities.
I offer my sincere gratitude to Odalys for the outstanding contributions she has made to the IC experience since joining the college three-and-a-half years ago. I have appreciated both her counsel and her company. I wish Odalys continued success, much joy, and happiness in her new home at historic Howard University, one of our nation’s top producers of Black professionals and thought leaders.
With gratitude,
La Jerne Terry Cornish
President