Ann M. (Flanigan) LaFave was born on August 13, 1968, the first of Joe and Elaine Flanigan’s four children. Ann’s love of agriculture started on their 50 cow dairy farm located on Notre Dame Street Extension and her love of learning began at Maple Street Elementary School. She was a very active 4-H member and enjoyed showing cows and horses every summer. She also served as the Washington County Dairy Princess and was the first Hudson Falls Jr. Miss.
She graduated from Hudson Falls High School in 1986; attended SUNY Cobleskill and transferred to Cornell University to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1990. While in college, Ann was drawn toward agriculture and education courses allowing her to pursue careers that aligned with her passions.
Upon graduating from college, Ann was hired by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County in Canton, New York as a 4-H Youth Educator. Ann also worked in Otsego and Cortland counties while employed with Cooperative Extension and received grants, recognition and awards for her innovative efforts with “school to work initiatives”. Ann fostered collaborations between schools and businesses to expose students to the world of work and create awareness of educational needs for employment or college after high school.
Ann began working at Cornell University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Admissions Office in 1997. The importance of agriculture is core to the college’s mission and Ann was thrilled to bring her experiences to this role. She focused on college access initiatives and increased the number of farm students enrolled in the college by implementing state and national recruitment strategies. While serving as Director of Admissions she significantly increased the diversity of the college enrollment and actively recruited first generation college students – many who would not have otherwise considered an Ivy League education.
In 2010, after fourteen years in admissions, Ann assumed a new role as Director of Student Services and is now overseeing all student support services for the 3,400 students in the college. She has been instrumental in the re-organization of the office ensuring students are successful at Cornell regardless of their family background or socio-economic status.
Ann will receive a Master’s Degree in Education from Cornell in 2012. She is active in her community and volunteers with the fire department auxiliary, church, and FFA booster club. She is also a 4-H club leader and was recently elected to her local school board. Ann married Doug LaFave in 1992 and lives near his family’s crop farm in Locke, New York with their son Logan and daughter Kelsey. They enjoy traveling to Hudson Falls to visit family and friends.