The Meaning of Extension: Cornell's Work in New York City

Part of the BCTR's Talks at Twelve series.

What does it mean to extend a university into the largest, most complex city in the country?

Cornell University Cooperative Extension—New York City (CUCE-NYC) has been answering that question for more than 60 years. Working across all five boroughs, CUCE-NYC translates Cornell’s research into practical programs that reach more than 30,000 New Yorkers each year—in nutrition and health, family and youth development, and STEM and urban agriculture.

In this talk, Jenny Weil Malatras ‘02, executive director of CUCE-NYC and board certified clinical psychologist, will explore what the land-grant mission looks like on the ground in New York City today — through the stories of the educators and young people doing the work, and through an honest look at the challenges facing the organization. She will also reflect on the strategic questions facing CUCE-NYC — including how to scale impact in a city of 8 million, what it means to truly put Cornell’s research in service of New York City’s communities, and how faculty, students, and community partners might be part of that work.

Malatras is the executive director of CUCE-NYC and since June 2025, she has led all of Cornell's extension efforts around nutrition, youth development, and family engagement in all five boroughs of the city.