I remember working with Lance on the L Train story down in NYC, and we were working to keep up with Governor Cuomo and his requests!!
– Dawn McWilliams, Director of Marketing and Communications, Cornell Engineering
I always appreciated Lance’s calm demeanor and his gratitude for staff. One of my favorite memories has to be his 2019 Giving Day video!
– Syl Kacapyr, PR and Content Manager, Cornell Engineering
I met Dr. Collins at Citycentre this past year. It has been a pleasure. His intelligence ,engagement and wide swath of interests make Lance a formidable presence in all of his undertakings even yoga class where my spouse Zillah Eisenstein will miss him!
– L. Richard Stumbar, Materials Science, 1969, both current residents of Citycentre
Dean Collins’ tenure, will be remembered for a tremendous number of accomplishments from the growth of Cornell Engineering’s presence in New York City to an increase in undergraduate diversity. Despite an exemplary academic and administrative career, his true superpower may be impersonations. This past fall I happened to hear about Cornell Engineering’s involvement in the L train restoration and witnessed an impression of Andrew Cuomo that was amazing.
– Praveen Anumolu 2001
Lance, from the amazing progress in building the most diverse student engineering program in a top school, to the investments in areas such as BME and of course Cornell Tech, your leadership has had a deep and lasting impact on the university. From a personal standpoint, I’ve benefited so much from your direct wisdom and friendship. And I look forward to continue working with you in your new role!
– Greg Morrisett, Dean Cornell Tech
Lance, you are a gentle giant. Your thoughtful contributions have set the course for Cornell Engineering to thrive as one of the premiere engineering school in the 21st century.
I have always been impressed with your passion to stay involved with mechanical engineering while leading the school in such an admirable and productive way.
Best wishes for your next ambitious project.
– Peter Wright, Chemical Engineering 1975
Lance, it was a privilege and an honor to serve as your first Associate Dean for Diversity, Faculty Development, and Mentoring. I’ll never forget the splendid lesson in the value of role models in the crowds of young alumni waiting to speak with you at our reception in Washington on the eve of Diversity Program in Engineering’s receipt of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. Thanks so much, too, for your support of EAS over the years. Wishing you all the very best in your post-Cornell endeavors.
– Rick Allmendinger, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Emeritus
Lance and I met in 2008 when he was the very successful director of Mechanical Engineering and I became interim director of ORIE. We became good friends when I served as director of ORIE 2017-2019 under his leadership as Dean. I remember some good laughs about the very small percentage of people with whom we worked whom we classified as “interesting,” along with an occasional tough decision and many achievements. Throughout he was grace personified. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor or a better boss.
Thanks, Lance!
– Shane Henderson, ORIE
Lance is one of the few Deans of engineering that made us,in BEE, feel completely at home in the college during his tenure.He will be a great loss for Cornell
– Jean-yves Parlange, BEE
Dear Dean Collins,
My most recent memory is from a dinner you hosted for Cornell alumni at the Jockey Club. Your focus and leadership at the College of Engineering is inspiring. I was encouraged by your updates on Cornell Tech over dinner and how you saw that growing and complementing Cornell, Ithaca.
Too bad you would not be here to work on internationalization of the College of Engineering to Hong Kong and China, particularly the Greater Bay Area. I look forward to your visit as the Vice President of Virginia Tech, which is so fortunate to have you with them.
Council Member, Member of Industrial Advisory Committee, School of Engineering, Advisory Council Member, School of Business & Management, Honorary Advisor, School of Humanities and Social Science & Adjunct Professor, Finance
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
– Albert Yuk Keung Ip, Applied Mathematics 1975
Dear Lance,
Although you were not Dean while I was an undergrad at Cornell (you would have to be MUCH older than you are), I know you far better than “my” dean and feel that you are, in a sense, “my” dean. The one thing I will always remember and be grateful for is the achievement of gender equity in the incoming undergraduate classes. In my admissions work with CAAAN, I hear again and again from young female engineers how that attracted them to Cornell. This is an achievement that makes Cornell stand out, and will serve generations to come. Thank you for this accomplishment and for your many years of service and dedication to Cornell. I am sorry you are not staying, but I wish you all the best in your new role at Virginia Tech. I’m sure you will apply the same dedication and ingenuity to their new campus as you did to Cornell Tech.
All the best in your future endeavors, and remember you always have a home at Cornell,
– Rana Glasgal ’87, ’92 ORIE, ECC 2015-2020
I would like to thank Lance for his unwavering support and leadership of entrepreneurship within the Engineering College. From inception of his Deanship, Lance has championed the Engineering Enterprise – Entrepreneurship program as well as the campus wide EPE Program.
Thank you and wishing you the best at V-Tech.
– Harvey Kinzelberg, 1967
I remember attending Cornell Engineering’s DPE banquet each spring. While at Cornell, I was proud of the work Lance Collins did as Dean, and when I left Cornell I only became more proud of my alma mater. I felt valued at Cornell Engineering and finding support was always easy there. Thank you for all your work Lance!
– Neesha Schnepf, Science of Earth Systems & Engineering Physics, 2013
For the Class of ’70 45th reunion, the Engineering School provided displays and talks on some of the student project teams at our reunion headquarters. It was an excellent and casual way for the alums to meet students and see their impressive accomplishments. The expansion of the project teams during Dean Collins’ tenure has had a great impact on the students and the school!
– Bill Wallis BS ORIE ’70, MEng ’71
Lance is a good listener. Many engineering deans do not know what exactly operations researchers do. Lance does. This level of understanding allows him to make many good decisions for ORIE and for COE. For example, a unique challenge for ORIE faculty hiring is to compete with top business schools. Under his leadership, he allowed simultaneous offers for one faculty slot, taking some calculated risk.
Lance, we will miss you. Good luck with your new challenges and opportunities at Virginia Tech.
– Jim Dai, ORIE
I never met you in person, but I remember your speech to my class during orientation week, and I remember you pointing out how much the gender ratio had evened out in the College of Engineering. That stuck with me and encouraged me throughout my first two years of college, and will probably continue to do so. Thank you, and best of luck at Virginia Tech!
– Melissa Louie, Chemical Engineering, 2022
I remember dinner with Lance during my interview. We talked for well over an hour and he shared with me his vision for the College, his goals as Dean in the final years of his tenure, and his approach to leadership. I left that conversation knowing that I would very much like to work for him. And my short time in COE has only deepened that conviction. Lance is an exemplary mentor. And he lives his commitment to diversity in his approach to leadership. Every day, he brings a diverse range of voices and experiences to the table and truly listens and learns from them. It has been an amazing two and half years supporting Lance’s vision for the College. I am a better professional and person for having worked for him.
Lance, I wish you all the best as you tackle this next exciting professional challenge. We will miss you.
– Miranda Swanson, Associate Dean for Student Services, Cornell Engineering
Dear Lance, thank you so much for helping us launching Cornell Neurotech in 2015, and securing the multi-million dollar seed funding from the Mong Family Foundation. Thank you also for the many “brief remarks” you made at our Neurotech symposiums. They were always perfect for the occasions, and really captured the spirit and the sentiment of the moment. We will miss you!
– Chris Xu, AEP
I enjoyed meeting with Lance once or twice a year for the past 4-5 years, both on campus and during his periodic visits to the Houston area. I’m thrilled and inspired by the legacy of diversity and innovation that he leaves behind.
– Rob Crane, 1992
Hi Lance,
A Dean is a figurehead, and you have been a fine and noble figurehead through your academic accomplishments and work at the Cornell College of Engineering. You have taught me that the Dean is also a fine and noble person. It is to the person and leader that I send this memory. I remember the wonderful effort with you for the L-Line Tunnel and the excellent work that was done for the Governor and citizens of New York. Thanks for being such a great person!
– Thomas O’Rourke, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1970
I vividly recall personally meeting Dean Collins outside Bailey Hall, right after the mechanical and aerospace engineering commencement ceremony in May 2011. I had just graduated with a master in engineering (M.Eng.) degree, and in addition, received the R.N. Janeway Automotive Engineering Award.
In the brief encounter, he walked up to me and congratulated me on my accomplishments, and asked me of my future career plans.
Having spent the previous years at a HBCU (Howard, to be precise) as an undergrad, I felt a real sense of pride to be acknowledged by a dean who looks like me at an Ivy. Because as a minority (and me being African), he identified with the effort needed to navigate through Cornell to attain my achievements.
All the best at Virginia Tech, Dean Collins!
– Obinna Ehirim, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, M.Eng. ’11
I am thrilled to acknowledge Lance as the head of my ME school and Dean of my college. Several years ago, when I was belatedly inducted into Tau Beta Pi, he sent me a letter acknowledging my achievement, one of the most beautiful I ever received. Twice I submitted him as a candidate for our President, and I hope to have the honor of doing that again in the future.
– 1959 Meyer Gross, Mechanical Engineering I&EA
Lance and I became Cornell deans on the same day: July 1, 2010, just in time to manage the consequences of the global economic downturn. Lance, I can’t imagine a better partner and colleague for the past 10 years. It has been an honor to have served with you. I know that you’re headed for even greater adventures. I will miss you, and I’ll be watching!
– Kathryn Boor, CALS Dean, 2010 – 2020
Lance: I have so many memories, first working together as DGS of ME (me) & AE (you) when you first arrived at Cornell, then you as my director in M&AE, then serving as Associate Dean in the office next door to you, which is how I ended up where I am today, Director, of the Nancy E & Peter C Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, which was named and endowed under your guidance. I am so grateful for your leadership, wise counsel and friendship. Thank you!
You leave an impressive legacy in the College, particularly for diversity. I am sorry to see you go and will miss you, but know you’ll continue to do great things.
– Marjolein van der Meulen, Nancy E & Peter C Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering
Lance, It was great working with you. We worked through good times and some difficult times as well. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to serve as Assoc. Dean for diversity and faculty development. Your consistent support for diversity among students, staff and faculty has transformed who we are as a college.
– Alan Zehnder, MAE
From our day trip to Jamestown soon after I started at Cornell, through our many interactions and partnerships in the years since, I have greatly valued your insights and advice and admired your leadership and dedication to Cornell and to the college. I wish you great happiness and continued success at Virginia Tech.
– Joel Malina, Division of University Relations
Lance, thank you for countless insightful conversations, many laughs with alumni, traveling throughout the world to foster strong partnerships, and for consistently affirming how to lead with patience, humor, and grace. Best wishes to you at VT! We will miss you in AAD!
– Carol Packard, Alumni Affairs and Development
Lance, it’s truly been a pleasure and an honor getting to know you, serving with you, and learning from you. I appreciate your wisdom, grace, sincerity, and friendship. You’re the real deal! We will miss you at Cornell, and I wish you the very best in your new adventures.
– Ray Jayawardhana, College of Arts & Sciences
Never doubted that the College of Engineering was in good hands while you were dean. Appreciated the respect that you gave to the research faculty and, well, everyone. Sad to see you go, glad we got to know each other a bit, and utterly confident that you will do well in your new role.
– 1992 Steve Lantz, Center for Advanced Computing
Dear Prof. Collins,
I have great memories of you during my graduate study at Cornell, first through classes as a graduate student and then as one of the committee members for my PhD thesis defense. I really appreciate your encouragement, feedback and motivation. Wish you good luck in your future endeavor at Virginia Tech.
Best Regards,
Deep Samanta, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
– 2006 Deep Samanta, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Hi Lance,
Our family wanted to help throw a MEGA PARTY in Chicago this spring in your honor. Alas, it was not to be. But no one or thing can take away all the fantastic accomplishments you have achieved at Cornell over the last decade. The most vivid memories that come to my mind are when you had us in your offices to sell us on the concept of Cornell’s Earth Source Heat project. Thanks to your superb salesmanship, we left with a lot lighter pockets. And we cheered from the rooftops when Cornell Engineering reached gender parity in 2018. Finally, nobody does a better imitation of Andrew Cuomo than you do. Not even the Governor himself!
– 1984 Nick Groos, Mechanical Engineering
During Lance’s tenure as Dean of the College of Engineering, I introduced him to a number of donors who had big dreams of how their philanthropy could make a difference at Cornell. Lance always impressed me with his quiet, thoughtful interaction with these donors. He listened carefully and held his response until he felt he understood a donor’s aims. With that, he could engage in a dialogue that could establish purposeful next steps. I’m so delighted that Lance will be able to apply his creative genius to a new project, one for which is is eminently qualified, even if that means leaving Cornell. You will be missed, Lance.
– Jan Conrad, AA&D (retired)
I enjoyed working with Dean Collins on the Engineering College Council first as a member of the Council, and later as an emeritus member. Under his leadership, the Council became more diverse. His championing of the life sciences in engineering and in partnership with other colleges at Cornell was transformational for the college. His role in winning the competition for Cornell Tech and his continued leadership during the Tech’s early years has been outstanding. He will be missed.
– 1969 William Shreve, Engineering Physics & Engineering College Council
I remember being at a local community presentation that Lance was giving about Cornell Tech, shortly after we won the competition. People were worried about the impact of the new campus on the Ithaca community. Lance answered their questions and never got rattled. Lance, your ability to stay calm despite the noise around you is enviable. I will miss you!
– Mary Opperman, Human Resources
Lance – It has been a true pleasure working with you over the past 16 years in Cornell AAD. I recall one of our first trips to Cincinnati when you were the Director of MAE, and then later our travels to Hong Kong, Singapore, CA, NYC, Texas, Florida, and beyond. The many alumni we met all commented on your thoughtful leadership and I join with many to congratulate you on a decade of great impact at Cornell Engineering.
– June Losurdo, AAD
My first memory of Lance was a photo of him at the University of Pennsylvania when I was an undergraduate there. One of my mentors, Cora Ingrum, said that I should meet him one day and follow in his footsteps. Little did I know, Lance would be the dean that would hire me here at Cornell. Lance, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
– Jamol Pender, ORIE
As a member of an engineering class that had just one female member I want to thank Lance for his spectacular results in making Cornell Engineering attractive to women and people of color. Lance’s updates on the Engineering College at Trustee-Council Weekend were a highlight of the weekend for me. Thanks and best wishes, Lance.
– 1966 John Monroe, EE
I’ve enjoyed working with Lance on the Engineering Council, but especially remember him walking me through the plans for upgrading Upson Hall, my home for 6 years in the 60s and 70s. And his commitment to keep some of it yellow. He’s been an amazing dean and his accomplishments will be long celebrated.
– 1968 Phd. Howard Morgan, OR
I’ve always looked forward to working with Lance. His inquiring mind, incredible breadth of knowledge and depth of perspective combine to make it a real pleasure to contribute. Some topics are inevitably stressful, but Lance has a remarkably gentle management style that can defuse tensions and steer groups towards consensus.
On a more personal note, you’ve given us so much… my deepest thanks! The very best of fortune in what comes next.
– Ken Birman, Computer Science
Lance, I don’t know if you remember me, but this is Anthony Green. We grew up in the same neighborhood in Westbury, Long Island. I am a 1979 Cornell graduate in Mechanical Engineering and received my Master of Engineering in 1980 in Mechanical, so I left long before your arrival. My mother was the one that informed me when you became Dean of Engineering at Cornell. I have been following you ever since and I can see that you have achieved great accomplishments during your years at Cornell. The best of luck in your new career.
– 1979 Anthony Green, Mechanical Engineering
Dean Collins began his tenure when my daughter was a Sophomore in the Cornell College of Engineering. I distinctly remember her first two years being difficult in the sense that she was not sure she wanted engineering and not sure Cornell Engineering really wanted her. Fortunately, she stuck it out and just as fortunately, I noticed a distinct change in the level of enthusiasm for women engineers within the Engineering School. I am convinced that this change had the fingerprints of Dean Collins all over it. My daughters experience in the Engineering School completely turned around, and she eventually went on for her MEng.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and talking to Dean Collins during my visits to Ithaca. Cornell Engineering has been fortunate to have his energy and leadership over the past 10 years.
– 1977 John Molinda, Electrical Engineering
I worked with Dean Collins for multiple semesters as a member of his undergraduate advisory council. He was a great resource, and was able to stay closely connected to sentiments on campus. He worked with us and heard our suggestions while working to implement them. Dean Collins will surely be missed by the Cornell Community!
– 2018 Quinton McNeil, School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Lance:
Thanks for a great 10 years, and for making the annual trek to SF. As a member of the ECE Advisory Council, I appreciated your presence and timely and honest responses to the questions we raised about where ECE stands on the priority list. Best wishes for another success at Virginia Tech.
– Gene Weber EE ’72
Greetings Engineering Staff,
In response to your notice of Dean Collins’ retirement, I have been very pleased with Dean Collins’ leadership of Cornell Engineering and his exceptional interpersonal character. When speaking with him on a trip back to campus I expressed my hope that Princeton would not steal him away, as was speculated at the time.
– John Wilkens, B.S. Chem. Eng. 1969; M.Eng. 1971
Congratulations,
I enjoyed having to get chance to know Dean Collins a bit, and I admired how he carried out his tasks as Dean at Cornell. These were not easy times, but he moved Cornell forward. I wish him the very best in his new job at Virginia Tech.
In these most challenging times, Virginia Tech could not have picked a better person!
Kind regards,
– Dieter G. Ast
Lance, I’ve always admired the way you clarified a strategic vision for the College of Engineering and made it a reality. Your ability to cut to the heart of a problem, your willingness to take on the toughest challenges, your ability to listen to, learn from, and collaborate with people of wide-ranging viewpoints—all these qualities have made you an outstanding dean and, for me personally, a wonderful person to work with. As so many have said, Virginia Tech is lucky to have you at the helm of their new Innovation Campus. Thank you for all you’ve done at Cornell, and all the best to you.
– Michael Kotlikoff, Provost
Lance – a decade ago I had the luck and honor to begin a term as department head just as you began yours as my boss… Dean. My modest portfolio of service was a pale shadow of yours, outmatched at every level by your extraordinary energy, breadth of vision, patience and plain good humor and sense. I still wish that I had longer to learn from you – we’ll miss you sorely – good luck!
– Adrian Lewis, School of ORIE
Lance, I’ve greatly appreciated your leadership. It’s been a pleasure to work with you. Thank you for bringing your authentic leadership to this position.
– Christa Downey, Engineering Career Center
My thanks for the courtesy you always exhibited when I visited at class reunions and the regular news you sent about the school. Good luck in your new role.
– 1960 Fred Brustman, Mechanical Engineering
Lance! Your manner is mild while your intellect, warmth, and impact are deep. It has been sheer joy working alongside you on alumni affairs over many years.Thank you for sharing your recent journey with us at Cornell. We send you off to a new adventure with admiration, love, and a gentle wind that will always be at your back.
Until we meet again, Godspeed.
– 1991 Paul Hayre, EE
I met Lance when he was visiting my city İstanbul, Turkey, during a Cornell Alumni get-together. We had a very fruitful one-on-one at the open air veranda of an historic hotel in the old Pera region of the city, where the event was held. Later we joined the crowd in the main room of the ground floor, and I had a chance to brief him on a suburban Environmental Improvement Project I am still working on. I thank him for his interest on the subject and appreciate his valuable comments.
I wish him superb succes in the endeavour he is preparing for at Virginia Tech Innovation Campus at Alexandria.
(BTW, my roommate at Cornell was Prof.Dr. Erdogan Kiran, at the V.T. Blacksburg campus; running the chemical eng’g department.)
– 1970 Nejat Tuğcu, Civil Enginering
Hello Lance,
As an African American graduate of the School of Electrical Engineering back in 1977, our paths never crossed. That never stopped me from following your great accomplishments as Dean of Cornell Engineering over the last 10 years. I wish you and your family the best in your next chapter.
Congratulations!
– 1977 Vernon Anthony, Electrical Engineering
When I became CS Chair, I had the good fortune of working with Lance. He was a thoughtful and supportive Dean, and an insightful and valued mentor. Lance has had a lasting impact on the College of Engineering. Lance, you will be missed! I wish you the best of luck in your future adventures.
– Kavita Bala, Computer Science
Lance,
Thank you for your commitment to demonstrate that diversity leads to excellence. We all share in your success.
– 1976 Nathaniel Quick, Materials Science and Engineering
Hello Lance,
I couldn’t let this occasion pass without expressing my appreciation for all that you have done for Engineering at Cornell. And for me personally as you shared your knowledge of and dreams for ORIE during the dinners and lunches that we shared. My warmest wishes go with you to Virginia Tech.
In gratitude,
– Arthur Geoffrion, BME ’60, MIE ‘61
University Distinguished Professor and James A. Collins Chair in Management Emeritus
UCLA Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles
I would have never applied to Cornell for graduate school had Lance not come to my senior class to encourage us to apply there. He has been an advocate of diversity long before he became dean and certainly continued to move the needle during his tenure as dean. Thanks for all that you have done at Cornell and best of luck in your future endeavors. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next!
– 2010 Linelle Fontenelle, Chemical Engineering
My direct contact goes back before Lance was a Dean. I will always remember the support and the encouragement I received from him in an internal Cornell proposal to enhance the course I teach in bringing complex physics-based simulations to undergraduates. We would not have been funded without his support which he provided to simply help me out. I wish Lance all the best in his new position.
– Ashim Datta, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Lance, I just participated in your celebration, and feel very sorry that you couldn’t have a proper personal farewell from your colleagues. However, I’m grateful that some of your former colleagues around the world had an opportunity to share in the festivities.
Thanks for your leadership without ego, your vision and open-mindedness, your great achievements for Cornell Engineering and Tech, and your appreciation of less traditional disciplines like operations research.
All the best at Virginia Tech!
– Mike Todd, ORIE
Lance, we really appreciate your leadership and wish you the best in your next endeavor. Thank you!
– Randolph Little
As you move on to Virginia Tech will you still wish to be available to Cornell alumni engineers. I am Jose Ramos and live in Virginia. Welcome to your new home state.
– Jose Ramos
So inspiring to hear your story, Dean Lance!
– Freddie
I would like to say that I consider Lance as one of the most influential people in my career. His leadership and mentorship have allowed me to develop (and I hope to continue to develop) an analytical approach to decision-making. As an engineer, he of course sees the details, but he also is certain to consider the broader perspective before honing in on a decision. He would probably not take much credit for that…but he also has the quality we all hope to see in leadership — modesty.
– Mark Lewis, Professor, ORIE
Dear Lance, It has been an honor and a privilege to work with you. I have always enjoyed the times our paths have crossed. You are an inspirational leader! Many thanks and congratulations. All best wishes, Gerald.
– Gerald Beasley, Library
Lance-
I wish you the best of luck at Va, Tech. They are very fortunate to have you.
– 1959 Dick Johnson, Electrical Engineering
Lance, as a Ph. D. graduate of Cornell and a long time faculty member at Cornell, I have had the good fortune to know many deans here at the University. I count your humanity, openness and vision as tremendous examples of your leadership as Dean of the College of Engineering. One unique and specific example of your desire for inclusion was your hosting of the annual luncheon for the Emeritus faculty each summer. I know many of us enjoyed this event because of your willingness to include this group within the extended engineering college family where your shared both college progress and your personal thoughts.
Beyond the many successes in advancing College programs and initiatives, it is the personal qualities that you have exhibited which will be my fond memories of your service. Thank you for your contributions here as Cornell and all very best wishes in your new role as a ‘Hokie’.
– 1962 Norman Scott, Biological & Environmental Engineering
Lance, I have thoroughly enjoyed and admired your steadfast leadership and vision for the College of Engineering. From securing Cornell Tech and embracing entrepreneurship to improving our diversity in the college and achieving equal undergraduate enrollment for women and men. Your inspiration and accomplishments have left an indelible legacy at Cornell. I am so appreciative to have served with you on the Engineering College Council. All the best with your future endeavors!
– 1982 John Balen
Working with Lance for the past four years has been tremendously rewarding. I have learned much from him and thoroughly enjoyed our strategic discussions on efforts to move Cornell Engineering forward. Despite needing to jointly tackle many challenging and sticky situations, there was also shared laughter between us and my fellow associate deans. My favorite memory was the opportunity to be present in Washington, DC in 2017 when Lance was awarded the Inaugural Mosaic Medal of Distinction, recognizing his achievements in diversifying the College’s student body and creating an inclusive environment. Lance was so clearly honored by this award, and seeing his family partake in this proud moment was truly special.
– Erin Mulrooney, Associate Dean for Administration
Lance, I will remember fondly my years of service on the ECC with you at the helm. You jumped in with focus and determination to leave an indelible mark on Cornell Engineering and you did it many times over. In particular, I appreciate the confidence you placed in me to lead the Task Force on Undergraduate Engineering. You gave the task force the freedom to explore issues and recommend changes to the college. What is most exciting is the creation of a new class in the college on soft skill development using mentorship that directly came from that work. Thank you for putting your faith in me and my entire team. I am grateful to have been able to serve under your leadership.
– 1980 Dan Simpkins, EE
Lance: I will always remember your pride for the student projects you showed me during a tour of Duffield Hall a couple years ago. While I welcomed your calls and visits, I especially enjoyed seeing a glow and excitement in you when you were with students. You accomplished great things for Cornell Engineering; Virginia Tech is very lucky to have your leadership, humility, humanity, and good humor. Thank you for your friendship.
– Dave Duffield
You always had great projects for your students. One in particular was about race cars-very memorable. And it was enjoyable to drop in on you for a chat.
Va, Tech is lucky to have you. Cornell will miss you. All the best.
– 1959 Dick Johnson, Electrical Engineering
Dear Lance –
I remember an ECC dinner when we were celebrating and reviewing the opening of the NY Tech campus. You remembered that my father taught at the Technion (how you remembered – I do not know) and wove that fact into you talk. I was deeply touched and very grateful. Your combination of people skills, intellectual prowess and ability to get things done is rare and wonderful to watch. Thank you, Mike
– 1982 Michael Even, OR/IE
Lance, it has been an honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to work with you for the past ten years. As dean, you superbly led the college through incredibly challenging and exciting times such as winning the Cornell Tech bid for Roosevelt Island, participating in the L-line Tunnel project in NYC with Governor Cuomo, supporting diversity of faculty, staff and students, and guiding the college through endless changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, just to name a few. All while staying calm, and keeping your sense of humor. As you move onto your new role at Virginia Tech, let me assure you that your legacy will remain alive and well here at Cornell. You are an exceptional leader and a good friend that each of us will sorely miss.
– Debbie Guisado, Engineering Dean’s Office
You have received numerous well-deserved accolades for all the great accomplishments during your outstanding tenure as Dean of our College. Unfortunately, I had already retired when you assumed your leadership role, so that I could only take part in your many successes and accomplishments vicariously from the sidelines. You have greatly enhanced the reputation of our College and University.
Personally, my fondest memories of you are your regular luncheons with the emeritus professors of the College. I was very grateful that you kept in touch with us and took the time to provide us with your inside views of goings-on within the College. You did so in a most pleasant way. You were thoughtful, polite, informative, funny and unassuming. It was a pleasure listening to you and hearing your meaningful and frank answers to our questions during these delightful social gatherings in the Statler.
Lucky for Virginia Tech, too bad for Cornell! I wish you great success and satisfaction, as you meet new challenges in Virginia.
Thank you for all you have done for Cornell.
– Arnim H. Meyburg, Professor Emeritus, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
I remember meeting Dean Collins at an event in DC where he received an award (The Mosaic Award). It was great to just walk up and greet him because I never met the dean when I was attending. In addition, the dean is African American, and that was an inspiration to me. I was happy that the College of Engineering had come a long way. I hope that you have many successes at your next job.
– Omar Minnicks, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2000