Cornell Names New Sustainability Center Director

Emily Bernhardt to lead Cornell Atkinson Center starting in September

Mar. 19, 2026 at 8:04am

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Cornell University has appointed Emily Bernhardt, a freshwater ecologist and biogeochemist from Duke University, as the next director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Bernhardt will succeed current director David Lodge, who is retiring in May after 10 years in the role. As the third director of the center, Bernhardt plans to expand collaboration across disciplines and further translate Cornell's academic excellence into real-world sustainability impact.

Why it matters

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability is a leading hub for environmental research and innovation, with nearly 800 faculty fellows and 140 active grants. Bernhardt's appointment comes at a critical time as the center looks to deepen its interdisciplinary approach and drive greater real-world application of its work.

The details

Bernhardt, who earned her doctorate at Cornell, will hold an academic appointment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She plans to build on the center's track record of fueling great ideas from the faculty and expand collaboration into fields not traditionally tied to environmental sustainability.

  • Bernhardt will begin the director role on September 1, 2026.
  • David Lodge, the current director, will retire in May 2026 after 10 years in the position.

The players

Emily Bernhardt

A freshwater ecologist and biogeochemist who currently serves as a professor at Duke University. She will become the third director in the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability's history.

David Lodge

The current director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, who will retire in May 2026 after 10 years in the role.

Kavita Bala

The provost of Cornell University, who said Bernhardt will bring "strong intellectual leadership" to the center at the "perfect time."

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What they’re saying

“Emily Bernhardt will bring strong intellectual leadership to the Cornell Atkinson Center at the perfect time, translating Cornell's academic excellence into real-world impact.”

— Kavita Bala, Provost, Cornell University

“I'm impressed that Cornell Atkinson leadership and the Atkinson family have focused on fueling great ideas that come from the faculty, rather than imposing their own views of what they think is most important.”

— Emily Bernhardt

“So often, whether or not a group of faculty become engaged in these high-level, transdisciplinary efforts depends on one person in those spaces being a real leader.”

— Emily Bernhardt

What’s next

Bernhardt will officially begin her role as director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability on September 1, 2026.

The takeaway

The appointment of Emily Bernhardt, a respected scholar with a track record of interdisciplinary collaboration, signals Cornell's commitment to leveraging its academic strengths to drive real-world sustainability solutions. Bernhardt's focus on expanding partnerships beyond traditional environmental fields could help the center further amplify its impact.