ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability is seeing a changing of the guard.

According to the Cornell Chronicle, Dr. Emily Bernhardt is joining as director. Bernhardt currently works at Duke University as a professor in biogeochemistry.

“I’m impressed that Cornell Atkinson leadership and the Atkinson family have focused on fueling great ideas that come from the faculty, rather than imposing their own views of what they think is most important,” Bernhardt said. “The Atkinson Center is pretty magical. A lot of institutions are trying to start centers like this now. Cornell and the Atkinson family were remarkable in seeing the potential for this vision 16 years ago.”

Dr. Bernhardt is no stranger to the Cornell University campus. In 2001, she completed her doctorate.

“Emily Bernhardt will bring strong intellectual leadership to the Cornell Atkinson Center at the perfect time, translating Cornell’s academic excellence into real-world impact,” Provost Kavita Bala said.

The Atkinson Center’s current director, David Lodge, is retiring in May. Bernhardt becomes only the third director in the Center’s 16-year history. Lodge has spent the past decade as director.

Bernhardt will begin her new role on Sept. 1.