Elizabeth Garrett

The first female president of Cornell, Elizabeth Garrett succeeded President Emeritus David Skorton. Garrett assumed the presidency on July 1, 2015 and was inaugurated on Sept. 18, 2015. She was previously the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Southern California. Following a battle with colon cancer, Garrett died at the age of 52 on March 6, 2016.