David J. Skorton
Encyclopedia
David Jan Skorton is an American
professor of medicine and an academic administrator. He is currently serving as the president of Cornell University
.
before transferring to Northwestern University
, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in psychology
in 1970 and an M.D.
in 1974. He completed his medical residency
and fellowship in cardiology
at UCLA
.
as an instructor in 1980. In 1981, he was named an assistant professor in internal medicine, and in 1982 he became an assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering. While at the University of Iowa, he also served as vice president for research and as interim vice president for external relations, and he ultimately served as the nineteenth president of the university from 2003 to 2006.
on Saturday, January 21, 2006 and is the second Cornell president to arrive directly from the presidency of the University of Iowa
. Skorton stayed on at Iowa for the duration of the 2006 spring semester and officially assumed the Cornell presidency on July 1, 2006. His inauguration occurred on September 7, 2006. In celebration of the occasion, the Cornell Dairy
unveiled a new flavor of ice cream
, "Banana-Berry Skorton."
student conference, was criticized by some for perceived insensitivity. In his speech, he praised the successes of Asian immigrants at Cornell and stated, "My wife and I have come to form a love affair with Asia." Some Asian American participants were offended by Skorton's remarks, arguing that the speech perpetuated stereotypes of exclusion that classify Asian Americans as foreigners, exoticised by Orientalism
.
and pediatrics
at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City
and as a professor in Biomedical Engineering
at the College of Engineering
on Cornell's Ithaca
campus. Skorton chairs the Business-Higher Education Forum as well as the Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships. He established a University Diversity Council at Cornell University in 2006 and presently serves as its co-chair. He also writes monthly guest columns for the independent student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun
, as well as a bi-monthly column for the Cornell Alumni Magazine. Skorton is also heading the Reimagining Cornell program. In a winter 2010 interview with Imagineer magazine, he said about the program intended to innovate the university:
According to Cornell University, Skorton's salary is $541,233 for 2006–07.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor of medicine and an academic administrator. He is currently serving as the president of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
Education
Skorton studied at the University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
before transferring to Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in 1970 and an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1974. He completed his medical residency
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
and fellowship in cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
.
University of Iowa
Skorton began his long career with the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
as an instructor in 1980. In 1981, he was named an assistant professor in internal medicine, and in 1982 he became an assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering. While at the University of Iowa, he also served as vice president for research and as interim vice president for external relations, and he ultimately served as the nineteenth president of the university from 2003 to 2006.
Cornell
Skorton was named as the new president of Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
on Saturday, January 21, 2006 and is the second Cornell president to arrive directly from the presidency of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. Skorton stayed on at Iowa for the duration of the 2006 spring semester and officially assumed the Cornell presidency on July 1, 2006. His inauguration occurred on September 7, 2006. In celebration of the occasion, the Cornell Dairy
Cornell Dairy
Cornell Department of Food Sciences Dairy Operations or Cornell Dairy is about a 25 minute drive from Cornell University's Ithaca, New York campus and is home to over 900 milk-producing cows. The milk is used to make various signature products, including ice cream, cheese, and yogurt, which are...
unveiled a new flavor of ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
, "Banana-Berry Skorton."
Reception
Skorton's acceptance of the presidency of Cornell University was met with enthusiasm by the students of the university, with Doug Mitarotonda, a student member of the university's board of trustees, calling him "clearly the right person to lead Cornell." Professor Robert Frank, writing for the New York Times, noted that "leaders of his stature are in short supply…every university wants a Skorton." Skorton's popularity has been cited as one factor in increased donations to the university. Under Skorton's leadership, Cornell's capital campaign raised $2.5 billion in three years' time, despite a mounting global recession.Controversy
Skorton's opening speech at ECAASU 2008, an Asian AmericanAsian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
student conference, was criticized by some for perceived insensitivity. In his speech, he praised the successes of Asian immigrants at Cornell and stated, "My wife and I have come to form a love affair with Asia." Some Asian American participants were offended by Skorton's remarks, arguing that the speech perpetuated stereotypes of exclusion that classify Asian Americans as foreigners, exoticised by Orientalism
Orientalism
Orientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
.
Present activities
In addition to his presidential responsibilities, Skorton maintains two academic appointments: he serves as a professor of internal medicineInternal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
and pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and as a professor in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine: It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve...
at the College of Engineering
Cornell University College of Engineering
The College of Engineering is a division of Cornell University that was founded in 1870 as the Sibley College of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanic Arts...
on Cornell's Ithaca
Ithaca
Ithaca or Ithaka is an island located in the Ionian Sea, in Greece, with an area of and a little more than three thousand inhabitants. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It lies off the northeast coast of Kefalonia and...
campus. Skorton chairs the Business-Higher Education Forum as well as the Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships. He established a University Diversity Council at Cornell University in 2006 and presently serves as its co-chair. He also writes monthly guest columns for the independent student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun
The Cornell Daily Sun
The Cornell Daily Sun is an independent daily newspaper published in Ithaca, New York by students at Cornell University. It is the oldest independent college daily in the United States....
, as well as a bi-monthly column for the Cornell Alumni Magazine. Skorton is also heading the Reimagining Cornell program. In a winter 2010 interview with Imagineer magazine, he said about the program intended to innovate the university:
With input from faculty, students, staff, outside consultants, our board, and alumni; we have an effort to look at those things you are asking about: What have been recent trends? What’s the environment like? What is the budget of the university likely to look like? What can we do to be the highest quality university we can going forward, assuming that resources are not infinite, but that they are finite and a bit constrained for the foreseeable future? What we are trying to do is be in a planning mode where we talk with each other on campus and listen to those who have been here like alumni and management experts. We try to do the best job we can of conceptualizing how to do things in a better, up-to-date way.
According to Cornell University, Skorton's salary is $541,233 for 2006–07.