Laura Syer, who has served as vice president for budget and planning since 2021, will leave Cornell to become vice president for budget, financial planning and analysis at New York University. Syer’s last day at Cornell is May 30.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the many opportunities, support and professional growth I have enjoyed during my time on the Ithaca campus,” Syer said. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished in the Division of Budget and Planning, reshaping the office to build a culture of partnerships, transparency, collaboration and community, and thankful for our strong team currently in place that will support the university’s future.”

Provost Kavita Bala thanked Syer for her 13 years of service to Cornell.

“Laura has truly been an invaluable leader of the Division of Budget and Planning, and I appreciate her professionalism and good nature,” Bala said. “We will miss her at Cornell but wish her all the best as she enters this next phase of her professional journey.”

Syer succeeded Paul Streeter, MBA ’95, when he retired as vice president in 2021. Previously, she served as associate dean of finance and administration in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business from its launch in 2016.

As vice president for budget and planning, Syer was responsible for managing the university’s resources and leading the annual budgeting process of the Ithaca-based campuses, in addition to engaging with the Weill Cornell Medical College on budgetary and planning matters. She also led institutional research and planning, as well as universitywide space and capital planning efforts.

Key initiatives she spearheaded included: leading a division effort to restructure the central budget to improve understanding of university financial platforms; serving on the university’s negotiation team for city and town agreements, including the community voluntary contribution and transportation program; and serving as program director for the eCornell Administrative Management Program, for which she developed curriculum and recruited Cornell faculty to teach a weeklong, on-campus professional development course for nonprofit administrators.

Syer received a bachelor’s degree in health and human services with a minor in business from Ohio University in 2000; a master’s degree in sport administration from Canisius College in 2002; an MBA from Quinnipiac University in 2006; and an executive master’s degree of consulting and coaching for change from INSEAD International Business School in Fontainebleau, France, in 2020.

Beginning June 2, L. Rebecca Hann, associate dean for administration and finance in the ILR School, will serve as interim vice president for budget and planning while the university conducts a national search for Syer’s successor.

Prior to coming to Cornell, Hann served as associate director of budget and planning at Syracuse University, and as vice president for college-affiliated enterprises at Onondaga Community College, Syracuse. She received her Ph.D. in educational leadership and administration from the University at Albany.

Syer called the move “very bittersweet” and said she and her family – including husband Ben, who just concluded his first year as head men’s hockey coach at Princeton University after 13 years with the Big Red – will miss Ithaca. 

“My family has gained so many genuine friendships in this incredible community, both professional and personal,” she said, “and we will be forever grateful.”