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The College of Arts & Sciences
Cornell University launched the Cornell Center on Democracy to strengthen democratic institutions through research, education and public engagement. The initiative convenes scholars to address disinformation, polarization, governance and civic engagement challenges globally.
Cornell University professor Isabel M. Perera won the 2026 European Studies Book Award for research on mental health care policy. College of Arts and Sciences scholar’s book examines disparities in services across affluent democracies and government roles shaping outcomes.
Cornell University honored 31 Merrill Presidential Scholars May 19, recognizing academic excellence and mentorship. College of Arts and Sciences senior Carolina Aguilera-Garza and peers celebrated influential teachers and Cornell mentors shaping leadership, scholarship, and public impact.
Since the Cornell in Washington program launched in 1980, about 4,400 Cornellians have taken part in immersive lessons in the nation’s capital. Alumni have become U.S. representatives, federal judges, agency leaders and political journalists.
A federal jury has sided with OpenAI in a court battle with Elon Musk, and the trial outcome leaves questions and debates unresolved, says Cornell College of Arts and Sciences government scholar Sarah Kreps.
During the rebuilding of McGraw Hall, workers have made several discoveries, and faculty are reusing and studying materials from the building in the classroom. Built in 1872, McGraw Hall is one of Cornell University's oldest buildings and home to College of Arts and Sciences departments of anthropology and history and the archaeology program.
Looking ahead to the May 14-15 Trump-Xi Beijing summit, professor Allen Carlson of Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences says domestic pressures on both leaders favor symbolic wins over substantive agreements. The meeting highlights limited prospects for breakthroughs on trade, technology, and geopolitics.
Gabriel Munoz is majoring in French and governent.
Anees Mitri is majoring in government and Near Eastern studies.
Samara Schiffman is majoring in Jewish studies, government and American studies.
Christina MacCorkle is majoring in government and history and is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar.
Overseeing AI models is harder than it looks, Sarah Kreps, tech policy scholar in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences says as the Trump administration considers oversight of AI models. National security threats exist, Kreps cautions, while government vetting risks politicization and obsolescence.
In new research, Peter Enns, professor of government in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences and in the Brooks School of Public Policy, uses statistical analysis to contradict a widespread conclusion first published by Martin Gilens that U.S. government policy disregards the preferences of the median voter.
America Casanova is majoring in English, American Studies, Government and History
Annina Bradley majored in government and French.
Keaten Wright is majoring in government, philosophy and feminist, gender & sexuality studies
Elsie Ishami Muhirwa is majoring in government and American studies.
Leo Glasgow is majoring in government and China & Asia-Pacific Studies.
Emma Dalla Costa is an anthropology and government major.
Seniors in the Humanities Scholars Program (HSP) in the College of Arts & Sciences at Cornell University will showcase their research at an all-day conference May 1 at the A.D. White House. Their work spans across humanities fields and also highlights intersections with science, technology, business, law and other disciplines.
A Cornell student talks about the benefits of joining pre-professional clubs, which range from business clubs, pre-law organizations, pre-med fraternities, and groups that work toward equitable professional environments for all.
Zilala Mamat ’26, government major in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, is among three recipients of 2026 Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Awards from the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement. Mamat advocates for Uyghurs and will develop a digital archive.
In its April 2026 round-up of new books, the Cornellians website features titles by College of Arts and Sciences alumni, including a mystery novel, a book for kids about loss and a peek into the hidden lives of lab animals.
The College of Arts & Sciences at Cornell University will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Cornell Levinson Program in China and Asia-Pacific Studies – and a new faculty director for the program — at an April 24 symposium on the Ithaca campus.
As ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel prepare to join U.S.- brokered negotiations in Washington, D.C., Averell Schmidt, professor of government in Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences, says a key is that talks are even happening. The U.S. has a strong interest in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, she says.
Cornell University alumnus Fred Rubinstein ’52, LLB ’55 endowed a government professorship to strengthen civic engagement. The Susan August Rubinstein Professorship honors his late wife while supporting teaching and public participation in the College of Arts & Sciences.
An anniversary gala will mark the Cornell Black Alumni Association’s 50th anniversary April 24-26 in Washington, D.C. Hosted by alumni of Cornell University, the event honors leading alumni and launches a $1.5 million legacy fund.
Hungary’s growing rift with the EU, at issue in April 12 parliamentary elections, reflects Viktor Orbán’s strategy more than voter sentiment, says Cornell University government professor Bryn Rosenfeld. She says Hungarian Euroskepticism followed Orbán’s attacks on Brussels.
As Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun visits China urging reconciliation, the U.S. and China dominate real cross-strait decisions, says Cornell University government scholar Allen Carlson. He calls the Kuomintang trip “political theater,” with Washington and Beijing holding Taiwan’s future.
Cornell’s College of Arts & Sciences hosts a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “I Am Ready, Warden” on April 23, 5 p.m. The film’s co-producer, journalist Keri Blakinger ’14, and faculty experts will discuss death penalty impacts.
The first phase of Cornell University’s upcoming reaccreditation process with Middle States Commission on Higher Education is underway, with the naming of a steering committee that includes several College of Arts and Sciences faculty members and an invitation to the community to provide input.
Student Ambassador Alexandra Hui, Class of 2029, describes finding mentorship and belonging in Cornell Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra.
A Cornell symposium examined generative AI’s impact on science, bringing experts together to debate productivity, governance, equity and public trust at Cornell University. The College of Arts & Sciences co-sponsored the event and college dean Peter Loewen participated.
Emotional posts rarely persuade online audiences, Cornell University research finds. Experiments by College of Arts & Sciences scholar Talbot Andrews and collaborators revealed that news and social media audiences view emotional climate change messages as inauthentic, even among allies.
Cornell admits the Class of 2030 emphasizing real-world impact, enrolling 5,776 students from 102 countries. At Cornell University, the diverse cohort reflects the land-grant mission and applied learning goals across multiple colleges.
Cornell University Humanities Scholars traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for increased National Endowment for the Humanities and National Archives funding, meeting with congressional offices to highlight the impact of humanities programs on education. Their two‑day trip underscored how federal support strengthens community partnerships, language programs, and public humanities initiatives benefiting campuses and local organizations…
Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting, even after using it himself, highlight intensifying partisan conflicts over voter access. Cornell University professor David Bateman says the effort signals a Republican push to restrict Democratic-leaning voters.
Anthropic challenges Pentagon designation as supply chain risk, sparking broader AI governance debate. Sarah Kreps of Cornell University highlights how the dispute exposes uncertainties in government–AI partnerships and future national security collaborations.
The Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures at Cornell University has named 5 faculty fellows to its inaugural cohort, including Alexander Livingston and Isabel M. Perera – faculty members in government in Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences. They will receive support and funding from the Center to pursue innovative projects.
The U.S.-China rift is widening as Beijing rejects Trump’s requests to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Cornell University expert Allen Carlson, professor of government in the College of Arts and Sciences, says China sees the crisis as U.S.-made and has little reason to help.
The new class, dean Peter John Loewen said, for students to be able to confront and move through disagreements at work, at home, in their communities and in society.
“The law is consistent with a dramatic recent policy shift, to suppress the ethnic diversity formally recognized since 1949," says one Cornell expert. "The next step may be the formal abolishment of ‘ethnic minorities.’"
New York Times White House correspondent Zolan Kanno-Youngs will share insights about his work covering immigration, homeland security, criminal justice and inequality in an event March 17 with Dean Peter John Loewen.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54 was a champion for women’s equality. Her style, and the substance behind it, will be on display in an exhibit, “Fashioning Justice: Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54 and the Power of Presence.”
Fourteen members of Cornell’s faculty and staff are being recognized this year with Community-Engaged Practice and Innovation Awards from the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement; from A&S it's government professor Alexandre Livingston.
The Cornell Center for Social Sciences has selected 10 faculty members, including several from A&S, as 2026–27 Faculty Fellows, providing course release and funding to support interdisciplinary social science research with real-world impact.
The Assessing and Imagining the Impact of Generative AI on Science Symposium, March 3-5, will feature experts from across academia and industry engaging in discussions on the use and implications of generative AI.