Cornell CALS Alumni Community

We are saddened to share the passing of Stephen Ashley '62, MBA '64. A kind, generous and one-of-a-kind person who was a great CALS and Cornell alumnus, and whose impact will be felt for generations to come with his gift last fall to endow the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment.

Stephen Ashley ’62, MBA ’64, trustee emeritus and CALS benefactor, dies at 86 | Cornell Chronicle Trustee emeritus and philanthropist Stephen Ashley ’62, MBA ’64, whose service and advocacy for Cornell spanned more than five decades, died July 29 in Richmond, New York.

Sisters Beth '97 and Courtney Hodge '99 make their New York dairy farm thrive thanks to pudding.

How Do these Sisters Make their Dairy Farm Thrive? Pudding! - Cornellians | Cornell University CALS grads Beth Hodge ’97 and Courtney Hodge ’99 have channeled their love of cows into a tasty New England business

Planning on grilling this July 4th weekend? Make sure you have the famous Cornell chicken recipe on hand!

A Staple of Upstate BBQs, ‘Cornell Chicken’ is a Grilling Tradition - Cornellians | Cornell University With summer in full swing, we offer an homage to the beloved recipe by Robert Baker ’43—plus a tofu version for vegetarians!

Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the CALS Outstanding Alumni and Faculty Awards. They will be recognized in Ithaca on Friday, September 18.

Outstanding Alumni Award Recipients: Shari Brasner ’87; Katie Schoenberg ’03, PhD ’10 (pictured); Alan Sealls ’85; Michael Turell ’70, MS ’72

Young Alumni Achievement Recipient: Marisa Sergi-Schumann ’15 (pictured)

Outstanding Faculty Award: Joseph Peters, Microbiology (pictured)

Rising Star Faculty Award: Nathan Matias, Communication

NY Capital Region alumni: join us for a farm tour and cheese tasting at Ideal Farms on Thursday, January 18. More details in the registration form: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1717/giving/interior.aspx?sid=1717&gid=2&pgid=38448&cid=59390t&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&user_id=9999999&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_term=

From our annual Liberty Hyde Bailey Lecture featuring a conversation between Dean Houlton and Kate Snow '91, to our annual reunion breakfast to touring CALS facilities, including an opportunity to visit the LH Bailey Hortorium where guests got to view samples and do souvenir leaf pressing, our CALS alumni had a great time at !

The tents are up on the Ag Quad and we're looking forward to seeing our alumni back on campus, and the Classes of '86, '91, '01 and '16 for their dinners on the quad on Friday and Saturday nights!

We're looking forward to seeing you at Reunion 2026! The first phase of the renovation of the Plant Science building is now complete. You can take a self-guided tour William and Patricia Boyle Research Wing on the west side of the building this Thursday or Friday during regular business hours or take a GUIDED TOUR on Friday at 4pm (meet in the lobby).

It was great to have CALS Dean Emerita Kathryn J. Boor '80 serve as the university marshal for Commencement this year!

Congratulations to the CALS Class of 2026! While the weather wasn't the best, nothing could dampen your spirits. And once again, the CALS Alumni Association continued the (new) tradition of providing keepsakes pennants to the class.