Cornell University's board of trustees appointed Sally Yates on October 6, 2026, to lead an independent review of how the university has handled sexual misconduct complaints, including rape allegations from a former student.
Yates served as Deputy Attorney General of the United States and also held the role of acting U.S. Attorney General, according to NPR. She is a career federal prosecutor.
ABC News reported the appointment was made by Cornell's trustees. The review will examine the university's response to sexual misconduct complaints, a process that NPR said was prompted in part by a former student's rape allegations.