Cornell Human Ecology Annual Fund

The Cornell University College of Human Ecology explores the complexity of human life. CHE students and faculty are taking innovation out of the classroom and into communities—both close to home and around the world—to strengthen connections among research, policy, and practice to foster human thriving.

Whether exploring precision nutrition at the cellular level or using data to better understand and inform policies that impact individuals and communities, CHE faculty and students are rising to meet contemporary challenges in every context and at every scale. To continue and expand this work, Dean Dunifon is prioritizing affordability—with additional scholarship funding, continuous discovery through faculty support, and responsive curricular adaptations—to meet the evolving needs of students.

Make your gift to Human Ecology now

Lilly Smith ’26 participated in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) through the CCE Summer Internship Program, supporting local agriculture and nutrition security for people receiving food assistance by providing coupons to redeem for produce at local farmers markets.

In the past, Human Ecology Annual Fund dollars have supported:

Human Ecology scholarships enable nearly 50% of our students to pursue their education without the burden of financial worry. Thanks to this support, Lucas ’24 has been able to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. Rather than focusing on his financial concerns, Lucas can explore his interest in medicine—through participating in Doctors Without Borders and conducting research in a CHE nutrition lab.

Cornell Human Ecology’s Center for Precision Nutrition and Health (CPNH) is bringing together experts in nutrition, health, and technology to give us unprecedented insights into each person’s unique responses to food. Division of Nutritional Sciences Professor Saurabh Meta is harnessing the power of AI to overcome the one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition: “We can now personalize nutrition recommendations efficiently to a single person or group of people.”

Future priorities for the Human Ecology Annual Fund include:

Investing in our students continues to be our highest priority. Nearly half of CHE students depend on financial aid to cover the cost of their Cornell education. To continue fulfilling our land-grant mission of “… any person … any study,” we need to bolster scholarship funding. Just this past summer, we were able to provide internship stipends to only eight students out of 63 who applied for Cornell Cooperative Extension summer internships.

We anticipate hiring at least four new faculty members for the upcoming academic year. Initial funding needs range from $100,000 to over $1 million. Investments in start-up packages will dramatically impact our ability to attract top candidates and shape the journey of our newly hired faculty. Immediate and flexible funding for faculty will ensure that CHE can continue growing and hiring experts who will advance the science of human thriving.

Gifts to the Human Ecology Annual Fund support research for faculty like human-centered design Associate Professor Tamer Uyar. He and an interdisciplinary team have identified an innovative way to harness the antioxidant and antibacterial compound lawsone to make nanofiber-coated cotton bandages that fight infection and help wounds heal more quickly.

How Cornell Human Ecology would use future gifts at the following levels:

$6,000will allow one student to participate in a summer internship with Cornell Cooperative Extension, partnering with organizations throughout New York to address local issues and gain valuable experience outside the classroom.
$10,000will enable faculty members to develop new courses, such as HE 2000: Pathways to Racial and Social Justice. This new course examines the forces that fuel racism and inequity; students explore the effects of systemic oppression as well as efforts to mitigate them to enhance human lives.
$25,000will provide seed funding for faculty research projects, allowing them to acquire preliminary data that provides proof of concept and to compete for larger grants.

Message from the dean

Rachel Dunifon, Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean, Cornell Human Ecology

“Gifts to the Human Ecology Annual Fund provide flexible and immediate funding to the people and programs that bring the groundbreaking work happening in the college into communities—both local and global. Our faculty and students are continuously pushing boundaries of exploration and innovation—from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the places we work, play, and live. Having the resources to say ‘yes’ when a scholar comes to me with a great idea makes all the difference; the annual fund allows me to do that. Your gift bolsters faculty hiring, supports trailblazing research, and funds transformative experiential learning opportunities for our students—all in the name of improving human lives.”

—Rachel Dunifon
Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean, Cornell Human Ecology

Contact Human Ecology

Connect with us to learn more about ways to give to the Cornell Human Ecology Annual Fund by emailing the development team at HEaad@cornell.edu.

Every dollar adds up

We can do so much more with your support this year—and every year.

Make your gift to Human Ecology

In the past, Human Ecology Annual Fund dollars have supported:

Summer research stipends for our students.

Scholarship support to remove financial barriers.

Programs like our Center for Precision Nutrition and Health.

Future priorities for the Human Ecology Annual Fund include:

Affordability and investing in our students.

Experiential learning outside of the classroom.

Faculty hiring and start-up packages.

How Cornell Human Ecology would use future gifts at the following levels:

Message from the dean

Contact Human Ecology

Every dollar adds up