Kavita Bala named 17th provost of Cornell University

September 25, 2024

Dear Cornellians,

I write with exciting news that Kavita Bala has been selected as Cornell’s 17th provost. She will begin her term of office on January 1, 2025.

Kavita’s career at Cornell began in 1999 as a postdoctoral researcher, and she became an assistant professor of computer science in 2002 and chair of the computer science department in 2018. As the inaugural dean of the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, she has led robust growth of the college’s enrollment and faculty and overseen the college’s expansion into a new building set to open this spring.

I encourage you to read the announcement in the Cornell Chronicle further detailing Kavita’s many accomplishments.

I also want to thank the provost search committee, led by Anne Meinig Smalling ’87, Cornell Board of Trustees Executive Committee chair, and Lorin Warnick, Ph.D. ’94, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, for selecting an excellent candidate, and John Siliciano for his continued leadership while serving as interim provost.

Sincerely,

Michael I. Kotlikoff
Interim President