In February 2025, President Kotlikoff and Provost Bala established a task force charged with understanding and addressing sexual assault involving undergraduate students on the Ithaca campus.
In March 2026, university leadership endorsed the task force’s final report (PDF) and committed to implementing the recommendations. The recommendations include strategies to target social conditions that enable assault and to foster a sexually safe and healthy campus, rooted in a framework that addresses individual behavior, community culture, and institutional accountability. Among the key measures to be implemented are launching a public health campaign; increasing students’ knowledge and clarity of reporting options and confidential resources; developing new educational opportunities, including courses focused on sexual citizenship; prioritizing evidence based prevention strategies; and expanding training for students, leaders, and residential staff.
The task force co-chairs have formed an implementation committee to put the report’s recommendations into practice with the aspiration to instill a culture where students are protected, empowered, and informed about sexual violence prevention. Share questions and feedback with the task force at tfsa@cornell.edu.
Task Force Members
- Rachel Dunifon (co-chair), the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the Cornell Human Ecology
- Marla Love (co-chair), the Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Dean of Students
- Stephanie Baldwin, the Robert G. Engel Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life
- Julie Edwards, assistant vice president for student health and wellbeing
- Durba Ghosh, professor of history, Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and the Taylor Family Director of the Society for the Humanities
- Logan Gibbs-Porter, student, Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
- Jason Hecht, institutional survey research associate
- Arnav Kamulkar, student, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
- ZZ Khalid, student, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Ray Kim, director of advising, Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
- Katie King, associate vice president, Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX
- Lauren Korfine, senior lecturer of psychology, Cornell Human Ecology
- Paul Merrill, the Herbert Gussman Associate Professor of the Practice, director of jazz, Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
- Nicki Moore, the Meakem Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education
- Trisica Munroe, director of administration, Cornell Duffield College of Engineering’s Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Ashleigh Newman, associate clinical professor, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Kevin Perry, director, Tatkon Center for New Students
- Charles Snajdr-Trinch, student, Cornell Human Ecology
- Miranda Stewart, student, Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences
- Scott Voss, assistant director, Conduct and Care, Cornell Housing and Residential Life
- Laura Weiss, program director, SHARE Office / victim advocate