Meet Michael Kotlikoff: Martha Pollack's Replacement As Cornell University Interim President

After Martha Pollack ended her seven-year tenure as the head of Cornell University effective from June 30, the university announced that the current provost Michael Kotlikoff would take on the mantle of university president on an interim basis.

Kotlikoff, a biomedical researcher, academic administrator and veterinarian, currently holds the position of provost at Cornell University. He has received consistent funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1986 for his research spanning cardiovascular biology, optogenetics, mouse genetics and ion channel function.

Before joining Cornell University, Kotlikoff served as a faculty member at Penn from 1985 to 2000, where he contributed to identifying and understanding the function of ion channel proteins in muscle cells.

In 2000, Kotlikoff transitioned to Cornell University, where he led the newly established Department of Biomedical Sciences. Later, in 2007, he assumed the role of dean at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine within Cornell University.

Cornell University announced the change in order the at the University in a post on its website.

“Serving as the president of Cornell has been an amazing privilege; there are few roles that afford so much opportunity to make a positive difference in the world,” Pollack was quoted saying in the post.

“After seven fruitful and gratifying years as Cornell’s president – capping a career in research and academia spanning five decades – I’m ready for a new chapter in my life," she added.

"We’re confident that Provost Kotlikoff will do an exceptional job leading the university during this important transition," said Kraig H. Kayser, MBA ’84, chair of the Cornell Board of Trustees.