Come hear the critical lessons and inspiring insights from the Cornell alumnus who has founded 50 companies in the last 50 years. From the birth of the Internet Era to COVID; from Priceline.com to Apiject –Jay Walker and his invention laboratory, Walker Digital, have defined a new approach to ideation, innovation, and invention. Jay is winner of Cornell’s 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year.

Life Trustee Ezra Cornell will interview Jay on his success, passions, and predictions before fielding questions from the audience.

[Tanenbaum Speakers Program]

Rabbi Sharon Brous is a leading voice in reanimating religious life in America, working to develop a spiritual roadmap for soulful, multi-faith justice work in Los Angeles and around the country.

Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR, which was started in 2004 and has become a model for Jewish revitalization in the US and beyond. With the goal of reinvigorating Jewish practice and inspiring people of faith to reclaim a moral and prophetic voice, IKAR quickly became one of the fastest growing and most influential Jewish congregations in the country.

Brous’s 2016 TED talk, “Reclaiming Religion,” has been viewed by more than 1.3 million people and translated into 22 languages. In 2013, she blessed President Obama and Vice President Biden at the Inaugural National Prayer Service. She spoke at the Women’s March in Washington, DC in 2017 and at the opening of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in 2018. Brous was named #1 on the Newsweek/The Daily Beast list of the most influential Rabbis in America, and has been recognized by The Forward and the Jerusalem Post as one of the fifty most influential Jews.

Ezra Cornell gave his farm, wealth, and industry to establish Cornell University - New York State's land grant university. The little known story is about his investment in 500,000 acres of land grant scrip in Northern Wisconsin – one of the most successful land speculation deals in US history – and the impact this had on his university and a small Wisconsin town that bears his name on the banks of the Chippewa River – 900 miles from Ithaca, New York. It is a tale whose ending is yet to be written.

Wisconsin native, Daniel Mansoor ’79, MBA ’80, spent two years researching and exploring Cornell’s remarkable land grant investment in Northern Wisconsin that began in 1866. Along the way, he has uncovered fascinating tales – about the only alumnus to have graduated from Cornell High and Cornell University and a small city of Cornell, Wisconsin which is at the heart of this adventure.

Alumni from the Cornell Clubs of Minnesota, Northeastern Ohio, and Wisconsin, along with the Class of 1979, and the alumni from the Sigma Phi are invited to participate! Following the presentation, there is time to socialize in a breakout room with your favorite group of alumni.

Join us for this private discussion with Sigma Phi students, alumni and friends. REGISTER HERE NOW

Clinical Professor of Law & Director of Securities Law Clinic, Cornell Law School Publisher, Legal Insurrection website (https://legalinsurrection.com/) Founder, Legal Insurrection Foundation (https://legalinsurrectionfoundation.org/) Education: Harvard Law School (1984), Hamilton College (1981). Public speaking subject matter expertise:

• Free speech issues on campus and in high-tech

• “Call out” and “cancel” culture

• Conservative media and politics

• The ‘Intersectional Left’

• Antisemitism and the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) Movement

William A. Jacobson is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School, where he has taught since 2007. In 2008, he founded the Legal Insurrection website, one of the most influential conservative outlets. In 2019, he launched the Legal Insurrection Foundation, a nonprofit research and investigative group focused on promoting free speech and open dialogue, capitalism, and free enterprise, and understanding the ‘intersectional left.’

Tentative: This may be a virtual meeting depending upon Cornell COVID protocols. Tradition Friday night dinner in Ithaca

Register here:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Hear from Sigma Phi alumni and thoughtful business leaders on how to navigate the job search this year. Experienced alumni and recent graduates will share candid insights into identifying opportunities, networking, and etiquette. This is targeted at seniors and juniors in any field – with some special attention to consulting and financial careers. Participants: David Pramer ‘82 (formerly in Career Services Executive, Yale School of Management), Carl Contiguglia ‘89 (Managing Director, Morgan Stanley), Larry Slaughter ‘13 (Large Enterprise Manager, LinkedIn); Jesse Mansoor ‘19 (Business Technology Analyst, Deloitte).

Open to all students, alumni, parents.

Listen to the recording of this intimate session on democracy, elections, debates, and bipartisanship.

n this dramatic election season, we are fortunate to have former Steve Israel as one of the thoughtful, experiences, and engaging political voices to help us understand, inform, and parse the conversations, debates, and yelling that characterize this country’s upcoming milestone.

From his biography: “ Former Congressman Steve Israel left Capitol Hill – unindicted and undefeated – to pursue a career as a writer. In addition to writing two critically acclaimed satires of Washington, he heads the non-partisan Cornell University Institute of Politics and Global Affairs in New York City. Israel was a Member of Congress for sixteen years. He left in 2017, having served as House Democrats chief political strategist between 2011-2015 as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. President Bill Clinton called him “one of the most thoughtful Members of Congress.” Which, Israel states, isn’t really saying much at all.”

Sigma Phi Virtual ZOOM Happy Hour. Register here. Contact your classmates and have them “travel” back to campus!

Tentative: Cornell announced that in lieu of a return fo alumni enmass to Ithaca, they will present a virtual Homecoming program.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON FUNNY: PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMOR

[Open to the Community} For over 40 years, Bob Mankoff has been the driving force of humor and satire at some of the most honored publications in America, including the New Yorker (former cartoon editor) and Esquire. He now joins Prof David Pizarro in one of Cornell’s largest and most popular classes: Psychology 1101. This is a class you’ll never forget. Roll with laughter on the floor - but please stay 6 feet apart. This event is sponsored by Sigma Phi’s Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Distinguished Speakers Fund which brings renowned personalities to Cornell and to the fraternity. Co-sponsored by Cornell’s Department of Psychology at Cornell University. REGISTER HERE for this event.

AIFC is sponsoring Cornell historian Corey Earle: "From Alpha to Zeta: Cornell's Legacy of Greek Life Leadership." This dynamic class will be open to all students, parents, and alumni, and showcase the rich and robust history of Cornell's fraternities. Register Here

Classes begin on Wednesday Sept 3 and continue through Tuesday November 24. Classes continue after Thanksgiving remotely, followed by remote final exams. Classes resume February 9, 2021 - delayed from the usual January start date. Check Cornell’s academic calendar to confirm latest changes.

ZOOM Video Conference – Wednesday, August 26, 2020 (8:00 PM Eastern)

Common Bonds. Uncommon Lives.

You Don’t Know What I’m Thinking: Race, Cornell, and Sigma Phi

A remarkable panel of three Sigma Phi (and Cornell) alumni from 3 decades reflecting on their experiences, their work, and their aspirations for Sigma Phi, Cornell, and society: Reuben Munday ‘69 Esq, (Emeritus Chairman, Lewis & Munday), Kwame Griffith ‘01 (President of OneGoal), Larry Slaughter ‘13 (Manager, LinkedIn).

Register in advance for this meeting.

ZOOM Video Conference – Wednesday, August 5, 2020 (8:00 PM Eastern)

Common Bonds. Uncommon Lives.

Counting to 9,450 by One: An Intimate Chat with World-class Birder Peter Kaestner 1976

With a life list of 9,450, Kaestner remains one of the most prolific birders in the world, surpassed only by four others. Hear this legendary journey from a man who has seen the world (and earth) like no one else.

A video recording of the Session.

ZOOM Video-Conference – Wednesday, July 15, 2020 8:00 PM

Common Bonds. Uncommon Lives.

From Crisis to Success: A Sigma Phi Evening with Richard 1975 and daughter Charly Jaffe

For Richard Jaffe, success didn't come at the expense of his mental state, but because of it. His story shows a path to professional success, love, deep meaning and fulfillment.

Register in advance for this meeting.