The Ithaca College Board of Trustees held its winter meeting in Philadelphia from Wednesday through Friday, February 4–6. In addition to attending to college business, board members had the opportunity to connect with IC alumni and friends at a special event held at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Members of the Ithaca College family from around the region—along with invited high school guidance counselors—joined us for a timely conversation between President Cornish and two of the leading authorities on the state of college admissions: trustee Jeffrey Selingo ’95, a longtime higher education journalist and author of Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You; and Angel B. Perez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and author of The Hottest Seat on Campus: A Roadmap for Mastering Leadership in College Admission.
Jeff and Angel delved deep into the discussion about the college search, not just as a process but as a moment when students begin finding purpose, mentors, and the challenges they want to take on in the world. The audience was attentive and engaged, asking pertinent questions and providing insights from their own experiences as we considered the future of higher education.
Afterwards, all had the opportunity to take part in an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium complex, facilitated by fellow trustee David Fleisher ’91, parent ’20, President and CEO of Firstrust Financial Resources, whose affiliated Firstrust Bank is the official bank of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The following evening, at our traditional trustee reception and dinner, we had the opportunity to both thank David and celebrate his contributions to the board and to the college. We surprised David as his wife, Jennifer Cooley Fleisher ’92, and their children, Matthew ’20, and Anna, along with David’s parents and brother, were on hand for the announcement of an endowed scholarship in his name.
Providing need-based support for Ithaca College students, this trustee-established scholarship serves as a tribute to David’s enduring commitment to access, excellence, leadership, and responsible stewardship of the institution. With his nearly two decades of service on the board set to end with the conclusion of his term following our May meeting, we extended our deepest appreciation to the steady judgment, intellect, financial discipline, and deep care for Ithaca’s mission he brought to the board.
Deeper Dives
The majority of this board meeting was spent exploring and discussing the state of higher education and Ithaca College’s place in its future, featuring both external experts and IC leadership.
Angel Perez re-joined us for the first plenary, diving even deeper into some of the college admission issues discussed the previous evening. Known for his dedication to expanding access, championing student success, and building a culture of empowered leaders, Angel provided some real food for thought as Ithaca College considers how best to navigate demographic shifts, changing perceptions and expectations about higher education, and other enrollment pressures.
The sessions following were devoted to examining the college’s approaches to ensuring that it remains both accessible and desirable in the higher education marketplace.
- Vice President for Enrollment Management Rock Hall presented on IC’s student recruitment and admission process—from inquiry to enrollment—and on the college’s pricing and value strategy, providing context regarding how prospective students and families are making their college decisions.
- Melissa Pittinaro, Executive Director of Marketing Strategy, and Allison Usavage, Senior Director of Design and Creative, presented on IC’s brand strategy and perception, highlighting how brand work directly supports enrollment and admission efforts, and how building affinity through consistent, relevant, and engaging content helps position Ithaca as first-choice for more students.
- Shana Gore, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Operations, presented on the college’s institutional aid strategy, noting how the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has reshaped financial aid, with significant changes to the federal student loan program creating challenges not only for students and families but also for the institutions that hope to enroll them.
An educational session on philanthropy tailored specifically for trustees was presented by Robert Bull, President and CEO of Compass Group, an organization that provides planning and management for fundraising campaigns. Robert is a longtime professional and volunteer leader in the field, currently serving as a trustee for Goucher College—an alma mater he shares with President Cornish—and as co-chair of its fundraising campaign. His values-driven approach to philanthropy has helped nonprofits both large and small realize their visions, and his message was warmly received by board members.
Taken together, these plenaries provided trustees with a more complete picture of the new realities facing higher education and built a solid foundation from which to consider the best strategies for advancing Ithaca College’s mission and vision.
In the business portion of the meeting, the board recognized the accomplishments of our faculty by awarding tenure and promoting eight to associate professor, naming two as Dana professors, and designating four retired faculty as emerita/emeritus. You can read about these outstanding educators here.
Trustees also approved an expenditure of capital budget funds in FY27 to be used to procure materials for projects slated for the coming fiscal year. These include line items such as facilities updates; continued renovation of student housing; and maintenance, repair, and replacement work in areas that need it. The early release enables the college to begin the planning, scheduling, and ordering of material for this work, which will primarily take place this summer to minimize disruption to the campus.
We look forward to gathering again in May, when our board meeting will once again take place on the IC campus. Until then, we offer our best wishes for a productive spring semester.
Sincerely,
John Neeson ’84
Chair, Board of Trustees
La Jerne Terry Cornish
President