A.D. White Professors-at-Large Program opens 2026-27 call for nominations

The A.D. White Professors-at-Large Program offers Cornell faculty a unique opportunity to bring eminent individuals of international distinction to campus for fully supported, immersive visits that enrich Cornell's intellectual and creative life.

Cornell faculty members, academic departments, and groups of departments are invited to submit nominations in the fields of Arts, Humanities, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Nominations of individuals whose work spans traditional disciplinary boundaries are also encouraged. Following a highly successful recent nomination cycle, the Social Sciences category of the Professor-at-Large roster is already at capacity.

Submissions are being accepted via the Program website and due by Monday, November 23.

Established in 1965 in honor of Cornell's first president, Andrew Dickson White, the A.D. White Professors-at-Large Program advances his vision of a university dedicated to bold thinking, intellectual exchange, and global dialogue. Bringing internationally acclaimed scholars across the arts, humanities, and sciences to campus, the Program creates opportunities for interdisciplinary and cross-cultural engagement that continue to enrich Cornell's intellectual and creative life.

Called one of the truly imaginative projects in American universities, the Program embodies a spirit of intellectual freedom and curiosity-driven engagement. A.D. White Professors-at-Large are appointed to six-year terms as non-resident visiting professors at Cornell and typically make two or three visits during their tenure, creating opportunities for conversations, collaborations, and new connections across disciplines and communities.

Rather than centering on a single event, the Program's multi-visit structure allows ideas, collaborations, and intellectual exchange to develop over time.

The current visitor schedule offers a snapshot of the breadth of visits and programming the Program hosts each year.

Since its inception, the Program has welcomed luminaries including geneticist Barbara McClintock '23, '25, '27; novelist Toni Morrison '55; primatologist Jane Goodall; jazz musician Wynton Marsalis; and actor and writer John Cleese.