“Active.” That’s how Cornelia Parsons “Cornie” Thornburgh ’80, who the student body. “We were losing too many good students retired at the end of June from her seven-year tenure as chair to other colleges and universities because they provided bet- of the Trinity College Board of Trustees, recently summed up ter ifnancial aid,” Raether says, adding that the agenda set her time in the role. by the board under Thornburgh’s guidance helped to bring “We’ve had to be active, proactive, and reactive,” she about change. “She’s done a fabulous job. … It’s a tough job, says. From responding to social and political unrest, to cel- and the issues keep getting more and more complicated.” ebrating the 50th anniversary of coeducation, weathering a Raether says he also feels that Thornburgh has set the col- pandemic, and beginning a comprehensive campaign, the lege up for success upon her departure. “Part of doing a great work of college governance has been varied and challenging. job is making sure that your successor is the right person and Through it all, Thornburgh—who served on Trinity’s board will continue to provide strong leadership,” he says. “Cornie for 17 years—focused on keeping the college moving forward cares a lot about Trinity, just like I do. And, she’s invested a while working to ensure that all perspectives were heard lot of time, energy, and dedication into ifnding her successor, and that the community had an opportunity to contribute in just like I did.” meaningful ways to conversations about the college’s future. Thornburgh’s impact on Trinity has earned her the admi- Engaging others in the work of supporting the college has ration of many in the college community, including her been a consistent theme of Thornburgh’s efforts. A colleagues on the board. Trustees Kevin Maloney ’79, founding member of the Women’s Leadership Sophie Bell Ayres ’77, P’12, Michael Kluger ’78, Council, she more recently helped to launch P’13, and Nina McNeely Diefenbach ’80, P’18 the Marjorie Butcher Circle for women’s led an effort to build an endowed fund to philanthropy. But to her mind, her most support women’s leadership at the college signiifcant accomplishment for Trinity in Thornburgh’s honor. “The idea of this was in convincing Joanne Berger- fund ifts Cornie’s interests and honors Sweeney to sign on as Trinity’s presi- her legacy,” explains Maloney. “When dent in 2014. this concept was explained to donors, “I am very proud of the fact that I they concurred, and the response was one of several people who worked was overwhelmingly positive.” That to bring Joanne to Trinity,” Thornburgh response, he added, was not unexpected. says. “Under Joanne’s leadership, we’ve “Cornie brought out the best in her fellow put the college in a position to confront the trustees,” he notes. hurdles we will encounter as we enter our third Generosity to Trinity in Thornburgh’s honor century. We have dramatically increased our ifnan- was bolstered by her husband, Dick Thornburgh, cial aid program, expanding access for a new generation who helped to rally family to raise funds to renovate and SURECK of talented, inquisitive, and curious students. We’ve also rename Vernon Social. Once complete, the refurbished build- recruited a strong and diverse board, and I’m so excited that ing will be known as the Cornelia Parsons ’80 Center—or the SHANA ) Lisa Bisaccia [’78] has agreed to succeed me as chair.” Cornelia Center for short—and will be among the ifrst build- Berger-Sweeney, in turn, points to her partnership with ings on campus named for a woman. CENTER ( ; Thornburgh as a key element of the college’s success. The Cornelia Center will be devoted to career and life O “Cornie is so dedicated, so savvy about people, and just an design for students to plan their paths atfer Trinity. It’s a CAIT unfailing champion of Trinity College,” Berger-Sweeney says. cause about which Thornburgh says she feels particularly CK NI “We could not have moved forward with our ifnancial aid passionate. She notes, “Part of this center is helping students ) initiative without her support. Really, she’s just remarkably learn about themselves—what is their gitf, what is their pas- GHT RI , sellfess.” sion—so when they leave Trinity, they will have the conif- T LEF Thornburgh received similar praise from her predecessor dence to share those gitfs with the world.” AR F ( : as chair, Paul E. Raether ’68, P’93, ’96, ’01, H’14, who also While Thornburgh’s retirement from Trinity’s board will S O credits her leadership in increasing the academic proifle of leave her with a little more free time, she plans to continue T PHO 38 THE TRINITY REPORTER