A transformative gift launched Cornell’s Faculty of Computing and Information Science into its next phase of groundbreaking inquiry and impact.
The nine-figure commitment made by Ann S. Bowers ’59, an early Silicon Valley leader and longtime Cornell supporter, established the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, cementing the college’s status as a leading academic center for tech innovation, radical collaboration, and world-class scholarship.
The gift allows Cornell to further build its preeminence in the fields of computing, information, and statistics and data science—a legacy seeded in 1965 when Cornell founded one of the first computer science departments in the country.
Introducing
Ann S. Bowers ’59
A human resources leader at Intel in the 1970s and one of Apple’s first vice presidents in the 1980s, Ann spent her career developing and fostering an environment where technologists could thrive. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ann has been an active philanthropist for many years—including chairing the board for The Noyce Foundation, which focuses on improving math and science education in public schools.
At Cornell, Ann is a trustee emerita and has served on numerous advisory boards. She chaired the Cornell Silicon Valley advisors for many years, galvanizing the university’s presence in the Bay Area.
Cornell Bowers CIS is the first college at the university named for a woman—a fitting honor at a college that showcases and supports strong female leadership. Cornell President Martha E. Pollack and Dean Kavita Bala are both computer scientists, and 43% of CIS majors are women—far exceeding the national average.
Integrating the college’s three departments evolved from the understanding that emerging data and computing technologies would transform virtually every area of academic inquiry and human life. This fusion, built upon Cornell’s unrivaled strengths spanning computer science, information science, statistics, data science, engineering, and economics, as well as social and behavioral sciences, fueled unprecedented innovation and collaboration.
Over the last two decades, Cornell has created the blueprint for the field of computing and information science. As other institutions seek to replicate this approach, CIS continues to be on the leading edge of its contributing disciplines, all while broadening understandings, guiding ethics, and developing technologies for the information age.
Cornell Bowers CIS Innovation Fund
Support the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science Innovation Fund, and our students!
Cornell Bowers CIS teaches students the skills needed to make positive change in an increasingly technologically informed world. Our researchers work at the interface where technology transforms science and policy across engineering, medicine, science, and the arts—with the shared goal of creating an equitable and sustainable future for all.
With generous support from our donors, the college remains at the forefront in innovating approaches to examine the human experience in new ways. Every gift to Cornell Bowers CIS makes a difference in the lives and education of our students.
Join us today and support the world-changing leaders of tomorrow!