Reflections on the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Faculty Event at Cornell University

Strategic Insights -

A conversation about the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching consequences will take place on November 13 at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. The event, titled "In COVID's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us," features a keynote address by Frances Lee, a Princeton University professor of politics and public affairs, who co-authored the book of the same name with fellow Princeton Professor Stephen Macedo. The book offers a comprehensive analysis of how U.S. institutions fared during the pandemic. Lee's talk will be followed by an opportunity for audience members to ask questions. The event will also be livestreamed on eCornell.

Key Takeaways:

  • The event, "In COVID's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us," will feature a keynote address by Frances Lee, a Princeton University professor of politics and public affairs, who co-authored the book of the same name with fellow Princeton Professor Stephen Macedo.
  • The book offers a comprehensive analysis of how U.S. institutions fared during the pandemic.
  • The event will also include an afternoon workshop with faculty from Cornell and other universities, where scholars will share reflections and research related to the pandemic, particularly focusing on messaging and communications, closure policies, and institutional responses.
  • Peter John Loewen, the Harold Tanner Dean of Arts and Sciences, stated that the event is an opportunity for scholars to conduct a clear-eyed exam of what went well and what went wrong during the pandemic.
  • Loewen hopes that the research arising from the day can be compiled for publication.

Key Statistics:

  • The event will take place on November 13, 2025.
  • The keynote address will be given by Frances Lee, a Princeton University professor of politics and public affairs.
  • The book "In COVID's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us" is co-authored by Lee and Stephen Macedo.
  • Lee's research has appeared in leading academic journals, including the American Political Science Review, Perspectives on Politics, American Journal of Political Science, and Journal of Politics.
  • Lee was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2019.

Sources:

  • Cornell University (2025, October 21). "In COVID's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us." Release by Kathy Hovis, College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Kathy Hovis is a writer for the College of Arts and Sciences.