Join The Cornell Club for a panel discussion with Cornell alumni and first time congressional candidates Beth Van Duyne '95 and Adam Schleifer '03. Moderated by Cornell Club Member and Co-Chair of the Program Committee Matthew Palumbo '83, the candidates will discuss topics including what at Cornell steered them to run for public office, why they want to run for a seat in the U.S House of Representatives, what the role of the federal government should be, and their take on current events.
Beth Van Duyne '95
Beth's story is a truly American story. She left home at the age of seventeen and put herself through college – graduating Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with studies in City and Regional Planning, Government and Law. After returning to North Texas to start a family, she became the first woman elected to be Mayor of Irving, Texas. On May 8, 2017, Beth was appointed by the Trump Administration to serve as the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development overseeing Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
Throughout her 25-year career, she has had the opportunity to work with small startup companies, mid-size private companies and Fortune 500 corporations like Verizon, American Airlines and SAP. She also founded and ran her own consulting business, working with executives to develop strategic business plans, negotiation strategies, grassroots coalition building and federal and state legislative policy strategies. She lives in Irving and has two wonderful children, Katie and Pearce.
Adam Schleifer '03
Adam Schleifer, 38, graduated from Chappaqua's public schools in 1999 and went on to attend Cornell University and Columbia University Law School, where he served as a Senior & Staff Development Editor on the Columbia Law Review. After graduating from law school, Schleifer served two years as a federal law clerk, first in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and then in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Schleifer then built a career at one of the nation's leading law firms before reentering public service, first as a New York State consumer-protection regulator, and then as an Assistant United States Attorney. Schleifer has prosecuted regulatory and federal-criminal actions against predatory payday and subprime auto lenders; taken dangerous and illegal weapons out of communities; prosecuted crimes of sexual violence and predation; and protected our clean air by prosecuting a conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act. Adam Schleifer and his wife, Nicole, are residents of New Castle.
Matthew Palumbo '83
Matt Palumbo '83 is an international business executive with extensive experience in China. He builds organizations & coalitions from the ground up, focusing on digital & omnichannel communications and marketing. His liaison work with Chinese and Chinese-American communities led to donations of several significant pieces to Cornell's Johnson Art Museum. A partnership with China's Henan Province is bringing a new Peony Garden & more to the University. Matt has been: VP of the Cornell Asian Alumni Association; VP & Membership Chair of the Class of 1983; on the Cornell Botanic Gardens Advisory Council; Chair of the University Council Ambassador Committee; on the University Council Administrative Board; and more. He's also Co-Chair of the Cornell Club-NY programs committee.
6:00pm EDT webinar, gratis. Advance registration required. Registrants will receive the link to view the lecture in the confirmation email.
