Systems Summit Schedule

Cornell Systems Summit • November 1-3, 2026

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Sunday, November 1, 2026

  • 5:30 – 6 p.m.

    Welcome Reception

     

  • 6 – 7 p.m.

    Presentation by Cornell Historian

    Corey Ryan Earle, Lecturer and Historian, Cornell University

  • 7 – 8:30 p.m.

    Dinner

Monday, November 2, 2026

  • 7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

    Breakfast

  • 8:45 – 9 a.m.

    Welcome

    Emmanuel Giannelis, Associate Dean of Innovation, Cornell University

    Introduced by H. Oliver Gao, Director of Systems Engineering, Cornell University, Cornell University

    Setting the Stage for the Summit

    Clifford Whitcomb, Executive Director, Systems Engineering, Cornell University

  • 9 – 10:30 a.m.

    AI and Systems: From Education to Research and Innovation Panel

    Moderator: Jessica Rush Leeker, Professor of Practice, Systems Engineering and Office of Inclusive Excellence, Cornell University

    Panelists
    Thorsten Joachims, Vice Provost for Artificial Intelligence, Cornell University
    Steven Jackson, Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, Cornell University
    Matt Marx, Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and External Engagement, Cornell University

  • 10:30 – 11 a.m.

    Energy Systems Guest Speaker

    Ricardo Daziano, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University

  • 11 – 11:30 a.m.

    Health Systems Guest Speaker

    Fei Wang, Professor Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • 11:30 a.m. – noon

    Semi Systems Guest Speaker

    Paul Heremans, CTO at imec

  • Noon – 1 p.m.

    Lunch

  • 1 – 2 p.m.

    Professional Workforce Panel

    Moderator: Kurt Kuhn, Boeing Technical Fellow

    Panelists
    Charlie Chen, L3Harris
    Adam Sawicki, Boeing
    Edward W. Bauer, SSTM

  • 2 – 2:30 p.m.

    Break

  • 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

    Educational Curriculum Panel

    Moderator: Hiroki Sayama, Mary Shepard B. Upson Visiting Professor in Engineering, Cornell University

    Panelists
    David Flanigan, John Hopkins University
    Juan Amenabar, Liedos
    Tim Fraser, Cornell University
    Alice Schwarze, Utah AI Policy Office (OAIP)

  • 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

    Concurrent Breakout Focus Groups:

    Professional Workforce

    Facilitator: Kurt Kuhn, Boeing

    Educational Curriculum

    Facilitator: Hiroki Sayama, Cornell University

  • 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

    Break

  • 6 – 7 p.m.

    Systems Celebration: Awards & Evening Presentation

    Cornell Systems Engineering Al George Award

    Guest Speaker

    Hilary Soohoo Gambardella, Systems Engineer Lead, Hologic, Inc.

  • 7 – 8:30 p.m.

    Dinner

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

  • 7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

    Breakfast

  • 8:45 a.m.

    Welcome

    Clifford Whitcomb, Executive Director, Systems Engineering

  • 9 – 10 a.m.

    Concurrent Breakout Focus Groups:

    Professional Workforce
    Facilitator: Kurt Kuhn, Boeing

    Educational Curriculum
    Facilitator: Hiroki Sayama, Cornell University

     

  • 10 – 10:30 a.m.

    Presentation of Summary Findings: Professional Workforce

  • 10:30 – 11 a.m.

    Presentation of Summary Findings: Educational Curriculum

  • 11 – 11:30 a.m.

    Cornell Systems Lightning Talks (Postdocs/Ph.D.s)

  • 11:30 a.m. – noon

    M.Eng. Project Poster Session

  • Noon – 1:30 p.m.

    Summit Findings/Next Steps and Lunch

View the 2025 Schedule

2025 Schedule