Creating New Partnerships
for Communities and Campuses

Strengthen Your Town-Gown Relations

Does your college or university want to cultivate ties with surrounding governments, nonprofits or businesses? Or does your community want to connect with your hometown campus on collective interests?

Campus-Community Collaborations helps higher education and communities build partnerships through shared skills, strategies and resources. With collaborative planning, college towns can drive economic development, launch programs to work on key issues, and enhance their communities in myriad ways.

Gary Stewart, who worked in government and community relations at Cornell University for more than 20 years, founded Campus-Community Collaborations.

To learn how the initiatives Gary created during his career in higher education might work for your “town or gown,” contact us for a free consultation.

Towns can create partnerships with colleges
Colleges and universities can benefit from partnering with surrounding towns and cities.
We will help colleges and universities and towns develop plans for new partnerships.

Assessment of the issues your institution is facing, including interviewing key stakeholders on campus and in your community

Build Lasting Change for Your Community or Campus with Our Services

New programs such as town-gown awards created by colleges or universities boost relationships with surrounding communities.

Design of new programs that will strengthen the partnerships between your campus and community organizations or government agencies

We will oversee the implementation of the plan we develop for your campus or government agency.

Implementation of the strategic plan for your campus and community to ensure that it leads to positive change

Gary Stewart was the associate vice president for community relations at Cornell University for 22 years.
Gary Stewart brings more than 30 years of experience in community relations at Cornell and 10 years of experinece in journalism.

About Gary

Gary Stewart led Cornell University’s Office of Community Relations for 22 years. During that time, he launched several key initiatives that forged new connections between Cornell, surrounding communities and campuses.

A sampling of programs Gary created with community and campus leaders include:

  • Cornell’s annual Town-Gown Awards

  • The Cornell-New York State Hometown Alumni Awards

  • “All Things Equal,” a local weekly radio show

  • “East Hill Notes,” a column in a local weekly newspaper

  • An annual Cornell economic statement

Gary also served on key town-gown boards and groups that addressed race relations, the economy, environmental issues, health care, air and bus service, and partnerships with community colleges. In addition, he regularly worked with Cornell colleagues in Albany, New York and Washington, D.C. on issues tied to local needs and interests.

After graduating from Emerson College, Gary served as an editor at several newspapers throughout the United States, including in Ithaca, New York, home of Cornell. Gary was also the first managing editor of The Moscow Times when the paper was launched in 1992, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Reflections on Gary’s Work

  • “Over 20 years, I have found Gary's professional acumen and demonstrated commitment to the betterment of the community to be consistent and insightful. He recognizes the value of partnerships and brings his well-honed knowledge to the table every time."

    Amy Kremenek, President, Tompkins Cortland Community College

  • “Gary is highly skilled at connecting people and demystifying the workings of local government to the campus community and vice-versa. He builds effective relationships in a very personal way, with consistency, warmth and good humor."

    Lisa Holmes, Tompkins County Administrator

  • "Gary is uniquely gifted and qualified to lead new and visionary partnerships on shared and diverse interests. Undoubtedly, communities and campuses throughout North America will be better for it!"

    Cal Walker, Community Leader and former Cornell University Campus-Community Outreach Liaison

  • “Gary always seeks mutually beneficial outcomes and real, lasting change. His political savvy and understanding of the local landscape have been critical to every partnership he has led over 30 years here, both in newspapering and at Cornell."

    Jennifer Tavares, President, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce

  • "Gary uniquely put forth sustaining and relevant content over our airwaves weekly for well over a decade. His content from inception to execution built the bridge from college and university to community. He created the 'town-gown' conversation that continues to this day."

    Chet Osadchey, President, Cayuga Radio Group

  • "I have known and worked with Gary for over 25 years. He is a true community asset, a hard worker respected by all segments of our diverse community. Gary brings different views and backgrounds together to work on common goals, always with the eye on moving the ball forward."

    John Gutenberger, Former Ithaca Mayor, business owner and special adviser to Cornell’s Office of Community Relations.

  • "Gary Stewart has been an instrumental colleague in addressing K-12 opportunities, challenges, partnerships and growth over several years. He has worn several hats as a representative of Cornell, and just as importantly, the community at large."

    Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent, Ithaca City School District

  • "With his years of experience in media, higher education and community relations, Gary has clearly mastered the art of forging town-gown bonds. He has a remarkable gift for assembling stakeholders, some with disparate perspectives, to help them find common ground and build mutually beneficial relationships."

    Scot Vanderpool, General Manager, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit

  • "I am thrilled that Gary Stewart has launched this new venture. He is the consummate networker, collaborator and strategic thinker when it comes to town-gown issues. I've lived and worked in several college towns and know the unique challenges and opportunities. Gary will bring firsthand experience and insight to this work."

    Michael McGreevey, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Otterbein University

Contact

Contact

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Cities can benefit by creating partnerships with local collges and universities.
Colleges and universities can create stronger relations with surroudning towns on a variety of shared interests.