By David LaRocca
25 staff members of the Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science were honored on October 20 during a quarterly staff meeting—its first with an in-person component since the start of the pandemic. Pat Musa, Associate Dean for Administration, welcomed attendees and honorees reaching service milestones (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 years) in 2020 or 2021, which amounted to 390 years.
“We have people in our community who have been contributing to our success and mission long before we were a college,” said Dean Kavita Bala. “Our commitment across the board is high. Whether it’s advising, teaching, or research, or support of the faculty who are doing the teaching—it’s an incredible unit and is a testament to the family we have at Bowers CIS.”
The day’s highest milestone—40 years—was reached by Steven Gallow, a manager in the Information Technology Support Group (ITSG).
“He’s been there for all of us, for all kinds of things,” recalled Scott Yoest, Senior Director of IT. Working with Steve for many years, Scott praised his consistency, and contribution to establishing and running the ITSG, which formed about a dozen years ago.
Gallow started his Cornell journey in 1980, when he joined the College of Engineering to serve as a computer operator for geological science. He worked for a project that was implementing sonar in the subsurface of the United States (down to a depth of 100 km)—research that led to advances in the still-reliable theory of plate tectonics. Moving on from nine-track tapes, he handled the introduction of VAX and UNIX computers and was progressively promoted to develop and manage Cornell’s computer technology through the early days—bringing it and keeping it at the state of art.
When asked to speak to the hybrid crowd, Gallow mentioned how the constant change of Cornell is what he really enjoys: “It’s never boring! The research changes, the teaching changes. And we’re always looking for ways to overcome new hurdles—to give new solutions for the future.”
Highlights of the meeting also included introducing news staff and faculty members as well as reviewing plans for the new building being designed by the award-winning firm Leers Weinzapfel Associates (LWA). David Bindel (associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion) and LeeAnn Roberts (director for diversity, equity, and inclusion) reviewed the mission for the recently established Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: “to engage collaboratively with collegiate, corporate, and community partners to broaden the participation of marginalized populations and promote a cultural climate that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Roberts and Jennie Babcock, Director of Human Resources, reviewed procedures that will help the college maintain and develop a culture of belonging through the Cornell Belonging at Cornell initiative—including the importance of reporting incidents of bias, and making a practice of sharing microaffirmations of one’s colleagues.
Outside Gates Hall in Ithaca, NY: Kavita Bala, Dean of Cornell Bowers CIS [farthest left], joins staff celebrating service milestones, including [from left to right]: Nicole Roy (20), Louis DiPietro (5), Lindsay Welsh (20), Richard Bernstein (15), Donna Bunce (30), Yl Guanchez (10), Pat Musa, Steven Gallow (40), Gustavo Mendez (5), Adam Zawislak (20), Randy Hess (15), Jessica Beebe (5), and Ani Mercincavage (5).