Distinguished Lectures

The statue of Ezra Cornell on the Arts Quad in fall.

We host two distinguished lectures each year in honor of prominent figures in our history, Raymond G. Thorpe and Julian C. Smith.

Raymond G. Thorpe Lecture

An annual guest lecture honoring Ray Thorpe’s dedication to excellence and over 39 years of teaching. The lecture was established in 1989 by Ray’s many friends and alumni. The objective of the lecture is to enhance the undergraduate teaching program by inviting an alumnus who typifies exceptional professional progress and service to the Cornell community.

Raymond G. Thorpe

Upcoming Raymond Thorpe Lectures

Past Raymond G. Thorpe Lectures
  • 2023 – Jefferson Tester, Cornell University
  • 2022 – Geoff Achilles, Air Products
  • 2021 – Paul Mensah, Pfizer, Inc.
  • 2020 – Craig Wheeler, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • 2019 – Lisa L. Walker, DHR International
  • 2018 – Samir Somaiya, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd.
  • 2017 – Lisa Skeete Tatum, Landit
  • 2016 – Harvey Stenger, Binghamton University
  • 2015 – Eric Degenfelder, Axalta Coating Systems
  • 2014 – Todd Zion, SmartCells, Inc. 
  • 2013 – Bob Beadle, Ret. Valero Energy Corp. and Stephen Kirk, Ret. Lubrizol
  • 2012 – Marjorie L. Hart- Ret. Exxon Mobil 
  • 2011 – Alfred M. Center, Cornell University 
  • 2010 – Robert F. Smith, Vista Equity Partners LLC
  • 2009 – Peter Wright, P.A.W. Partners
  • 2007 – Evelyn Taylor Pearson, BP
  • 2006 – Beckie Robertson, Senior Partner Versant Ventures
  • 2005 – Tim Weldon, Intel Corporation
  • 2004 – Robert Ware, senior process technologist, Rohm and Haas
  • 2003 – John Carberry, Director of Environmental Technology, DuPont Company
  • 2003 – Ann Lee, Executive Director, Bioprocess R&D, Merck Research Laboratories
  • 2002 – Leon Anziano, former President and CEO of Arch Chemicals
  • 2000 – Carol Nolan, Director of Technical Services and Validation, Wyeth Laboratories
  • 2000 – Marshall E. Frank, Managing Director and President of Chem Systems Incorporated
  • 1999 – Samuel C. Fleming, Director of CareGroup, Incorporated
  • 1998 – Kenneth E. Ackley, President of Innovative Packaging
  • 1993 – Paul Orefice, Former Chairman of Dow Chemical Company
  • 1992 – H. Laurance Fuller, Co-chairman of BP Amoco Corporation
  • 1991 – Samuel Bodman, President of Cabot Corporation
kathleen-stebe-presents-smith-lecture-2024
Jefferson Tester presents the Thorpe lecture 2024.

Julian C. Smith Lecture

An annual, two-day lecture series established by the class of 1962, and other friends and colleagues, to honor Julian Smith for his commitment and vision in promoting academic research in the school, and for his service as a member of the faculty and as director from 1965 to 1981.

Julian C. Smith

Upcoming Julian C. Smith Lectures

Past Julian C. Smith Lectures
  • 2024 – Kathleen Stebe, University of Pennsylvania
  • 2023 – Rachel Segalman, University of California at Santa Barbara
  • 2022 – Michael D. Graham, University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • 2021 – Paula T. Hammond, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 2020 – Francis J. Doyle III, Harvard University
  • 2019 – Ignacio Grossman, Carnegie Mellon
  • 2018 – Lynn Loo, Princeton University 
  • 2017 – Emily Carter, Princeton University 
  • 2016 – David T. Allen, University of Texas at Austin
  • 2015 – Frances H. Arnold, California Institute of Technology 
  • 2014 – John F. Brady, California Institute of Technology 
  • 2013 – Pablo Debendetti, Princeton University
  • 2012 – James Liao, University of California, Los Angeles
  • 2011 – Juan J. de Pablo, University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • 2010-  Roger Bonnecaze, University of Texas at Austin
  • 2008 – Carol Hall, North Carolina State University
  • 2006 – Lanny Schmidt, University of Minnesota
  • 2005 – George Georgiou, University of Texas at Austin
  • 2004 – Gerald G. Fuller, Stanford University
  • 2003 – Klavs Jensen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 2002 – Sang-Tae Kim, Lilly Research Laboratories
  • 2001 – Robert S. Langer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 2000 – Alice P. Gast, Stanford University
  • 1999 – Mark E. Davis, California Institute of Technology
  • 1998 – Douglas A Lauffenburger, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 1997 – Robert A. Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 1996 – L. Gary Leal, University of California at Santa Barbara
  • 1995 – H. Ted Davis, University of Minnesota
  • 1994 – Matthew V. Tirrell, University of Minnesota
  • 1993 – James F. Bailey, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
  • 1992 – Andreas Acrivos, City College, City University of New York
  • 1991 – Michel Boudart, Stanford University
  • 1990 – John H. Seinfeld, California Institute of Technology
  • 1989 – John M. Prausnitz, University of California at Berkeley
  • 1988 – R. Byron Bird, University of Wisconsin