Foreword

BY DAVID J. SKORTON,
TWELFTH PRESIDENT OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY

The care with which Cornell’s eleventh president, Jeffrey Lehman ‘77, crafted his speeches, his thoughtful, erudite references—from scientific texts to classic literature to popular culture and beyond—and the way he intimately connected to each specific audience not only defined him as an outstanding and dynamic speaker but also compelled Cornell to move forward confidently toward its future.

The desire to lend a hand in moving Cornell forward is found in every one of Jeff Lehman’s speeches. Through his words and actions, he paved the way for Cornell to be considered a strong global force in human capacity building and outreach, a leader in research, and a promoter of the humanities.

I truly admire Jeff for his strong vision, high aspirations, and skill as a wonderfully effective communicator.An Optimistic Heart will be an essential part of the Cornell history. sdGm8XU0UUtrBNisrn3CGrq3cdG975K28uoTjHWIBNH95sXOMtzLdn9wNds19DRw