Norman Uphoff Appointed Interim Director
Dr. Norman Uphoff
Norman Uphoff, long-time CIPA core faculty member and professor of government and international agriculture, has been appointed acting CIPA director while Cornell conducts a search for a permanent replacement for Professor Lewis.
"The term of interim director is not fixed, but will last until the University can appoint a new director who has excellent qualifications and a commitment to making Cornell’s MPA program even stronger and more recognized, a credit to Cornell and a contributor to the realworld. That could take one semester, it could take two," explains Uphoff. "I have served as acting director for a semester previously, and have been director of graduate studies for three years now, so I 'know the ropes.’ Also, CIPA is fortunate to have an excellent professional and committed staff so that this is really a team effort," he adds.
Uphoff is an experienced leader, having served previously as the director of the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development (CIIFAD). As interim director of CIPA, one of Uphoff’s goals is to improve the professional writing skills of CIPA Fellows, and to make sure that the new professional writing option — the Capstone Program — is well established. Uphoff is equally committed to the long-term success of Fellows. "With Tom O’Toole’s leadership on professional development, we should continue building the network with alumni and institutions so that CIPA Fellows are easily and multiply connected to the world of public affairs," he says.
