REASONS NOT TO CHOOSE CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Administrative Responsibility & Oversight: Who Was in Charge?
In November 2024, Cornell publicly confirmed that Cornell University Police, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX were involved in responding to the allegations surrounding Chi Phi.
The administrators below held leadership positions within Cornell or those relevant offices during that period. Inclusion identifies their documented positions and responsibilities; it does not necessarily mean an individual personally investigated the allegations or determined sanctions.
01. MICHAEL I. KOTLIKOFF
Interim President of Cornell University
Kotlikoff became interim president on July 1, 2024, making him Cornell's highest-ranking administrator when the alleged October 2024 assault was reported. On November 26, he called the allegations “serious and deeply disturbing” and confirmed that Cornell Police, student conduct and Title IX were responding.
Why he's relevant: He led Cornell while its investigation and disciplinary processes were underway and personally issued Cornell's public statement about the case.
02. JOHN A. SILICIANO
Interim Provost
Siliciano served as interim provost from July through December 2024 and was Cornell's chief academic officer when the allegations were reported.
Why he's relevant: He was one of Cornell's most senior administrators during the university's response. Public information does not establish that he personally investigated the case or determined sanctions.
03. LAURA RUGLESS
Associate Vice President, Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX / Title IX Coordinator
Rugless led Cornell's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX, responsible for matters involving discrimination, harassment and sexual and related misconduct. Cornell specifically identified this office as reviewing information concerning the Chi Phi allegations.
Why she's relevant: She led one of the principal offices Cornell publicly identified as involved in its response.
04. KATIE KING
Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX
King served within Cornell's Title IX operation and later became associate vice president of the reorganized Cornell Office of Civil Rights. Her responsibilities include civil-rights compliance and oversight of complaint investigation and resolution under Cornell's sexual-misconduct policy.
Why she's relevant: She was part of the university operation responsible for sexual-misconduct matters. Public information does not by itself establish her personal involvement in this particular case.
05. CHRISTINA LIANG
Director, Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards
Liang leads the office responsible for enforcing Cornell's Student Code of Conduct and addressing misconduct by students and student organizations. Cornell specifically identified this office as reviewing the Chi Phi allegations.
Why she's relevant: She led one of the offices Cornell itself identified as directly involved in its institutional response.
06. MARLA LOVE
Dean of Students / Associate Vice President for Student & Campus Life
Love's organization provides leadership for Cornell's student-support and conduct operations, including the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. She subsequently became co-chair of Cornell's Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault.
Why she's relevant: Her position was part of the leadership structure overseeing Cornell's student-conduct operation.
07. RYAN LOMBARDI
Vice President for Student & Campus Life
Lombardi has led Cornell's Student & Campus Life division since 2015. His division encompasses major parts of Cornell's student-affairs infrastructure, including the Dean of Students organization and student-conduct functions.
Why he's relevant: He occupied the senior Student & Campus Life leadership position above the administrative structure responsible for student conduct. That does not establish that he personally selected sanctions in this case.
08. STEPHANIE BALDWIN
Robert G. Engel Director of Sorority & Fraternity Life
Baldwin became Cornell's Director of Sorority & Fraternity Life in April 2024 and was responsible for strategic leadership of Cornell's fraternity and sorority community. Cornell temporarily suspended Chi Phi on November 8, 2024.
Why she's relevant: She headed Cornell's fraternity and sorority operation when the allegations involving Chi Phi were reported.
09. ANTHONY BELLAMY
Chief of Cornell University Police
Bellamy headed Cornell University Police when Jane Doe made a formal statement to CUPD on November 14, 2024. Cornell Police investigated the allegations and referred the matter to the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office for review.
Why he's relevant: He headed the university police department that received the report and investigated the allegations.
10. DAVID M. HONAN
Associate Vice President for Public Safety
Honan leads Cornell's Division of Public Safety, which includes Cornell University Police.
Why he's relevant: He was the senior administrator overseeing the division containing the police department responsible for Cornell's criminal investigation. Public information does not establish that Honan personally directed individual investigative decisions.
11. JOEL MALINA
Vice President for University Relations - 2024
Malina was Cornell's vice president for University Relations when the allegations became public. His division included Media Relations, Strategic Communications and Cornell News.
Why he's relevant: He headed Cornell's institutional communications operation during the original public response. Public information does not establish that he personally wrote or approved statements concerning the case.
12. KYLE KIMBALL
Vice President for University Relations - 2026
Kimball was not Cornell's vice president for University Relations when the allegations were reported. He joined Cornell in September 2025 and is relevant to Cornell's response to renewed scrutiny in 2026.
In September 2026, Cornell disputed claims about the disciplinary consequences imposed on students and characterized the continued presentation of what it called a false narrative about minimal consequences as “irresponsible.”
Why he's relevant: Kimball leads the university-relations operation responsible for Cornell's current public response, rather than the administration that originally handled the matter in 2024.