Elizabeth Garrett in July became the first woman to serve as Cornell University's president. She has now unfortunelty died a month after learning she had colon cancer. Robert Harrison, chairman of the board of trustees at Cornell said "it was clear to me that she had the intellect, energy and vision not only to lead Cornell, but to be one of the greatest presidents in our 150-year history," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo paid tribute to Garrett as well recognizing her as leader who challenged the status quo