Mary Opperman joins BTI Board of Directors

Mary George Opperman, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Cornell University, has officially joined the Boyce Thompson Institute’s (BTI’s) Board of Directors.

At Cornell, Opperman’s portfolio includes oversight of the Division of Human Resources, the Office of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity, Title IX Compliance, and the Center for Regional Economic Advancement. Opperman is a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources.

She is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management as a senior professional in human resources.  In March 2015, Opperman was selected by the editors of Human Resource Executive magazine as one of the 15 most influential women leaders in human resources.

Opperman describes her mission at Cornell as advancing a diverse and inclusive values-driven culture that promotes innovative change so that the university is socially, economically and environmentally responsive.

Opperman is an active supporter of her community and has served on numerous boards of local and national organizations. Mary has also overseen development of Cornell’s innovative Center for Regional Economic Advancement, and collaborated with Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College to found Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, a New York State-funded business incubator in downtown Ithaca.

She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Oneonta, and a master of science degree in organizational behavior from Cornell University’s ILR School.

Opperman brings an expertise in human resources and organizational leadership to the BTI Board of Directors. BTI is grateful for her dedication to supporting the mission and values of the Boyce Thompson Institute through her Board service.