Education with impact
The Department of Global Development is a unified development studies program dedicated to robust engagement with the world’s grand challenges at home and abroad. With a focus on education with impact, our broad interdisciplinary outlook emphasizes real-world engagement with communities in New York state and 30+ countries around the globe to improve lives, reduce inequality and protect the environment.
Our coordinated unit of projects, programs and people is dedicated to direct social impact. Here at Cornell Global Development, we are committed to promoting food security, protecting the environment and building a more just, equitable world. We harness the energies and talents of 60+ experts from a range of disciplines as we address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.
Our dynamic learning atmosphere and academic culture goes beyond purely technical work to provide deep analysis and transformative solutions. We develop next-generation leaders through engaged and active learning that connects students with field experiences as we work to solve entrenched and emergent problems all around the globe.
Meet Global Development experts
Our world-leading expertise crosses disciplines to tackle the biggest challenges faced everywhere.
Transforming ideas into action
Working to improve lives today and solve tomorrow's greatest challenges
Resilient rural communities
With a passion to drive change locally, our experts engage with communities across New York on issues of food systems, community empowerment and environmentalism. From supporting farmworkers and rural schools to training leaders in agriculture, high school students and adult learners, we are committed to life-changing initiatives right here in New York.
Food security & nutrition
For over 50 years, we have been hard at work to end world hunger. We work across disciplines to unite plants, science and innovation to tackle the global food security challenge. Through this, our experts prioritize nutrition to ensure that individuals not only survive, but thrive.
Gender equality
We cannot talk about development without talking about gender equality. We foster understanding, respect and action towards building just societies where women and men play active, meaningful roles.
Social justice
Our work analyzes human, social, economic and environmental rights across intersectionalities of identity. We work with partners on the ground to promote social justice and inclusive communities around the globe, prioritizing race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and more.
Climate change & environmental development
As the world endures through environmental degradation, we are working on innovative solutions to confront climate change, target its negative impacts and build a better future by caring for our environment as a top priority.
Sustainable development
Here at Global Development, we take sustainable development seriously. We believe in collaborative, equitable development strategies that will support healthy livelihoods without jeopardizing future generations or the environment.
Agriculture & rural development
We take an interdisciplinary approach to agriculture, fusing food systems, economics, plant breeding, supply chains, ecosystems and more. We are on a longterm quest to alleviate poverty and hunger in rural communities around the world.
A unified approach
Applying cutting-edge research, teaching, extension and practice across six continents to provide practical solutions to global challenges.
Explore more in Global Development
Our three undergraduate majors, four minors, M.S./Ph.D. and MPS programs prepare students to engage on complex issues with real-world impact. Learn more about what it means to be a next-generation leader here at Cornell.
Purpose-driven research and outreach efforts are engaging with local communities in New York State and countries around the globe. Explore how our work makes a difference.
Our 60+ experts are developing innovative strategies to confront and transform issues in sustainable development, from here in New York to countries spanning the globe. Discover more about our life-changing impact.
Connect with us
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