ILR’s early international path chronicled in “Beyond Borders”

When William Sonnenstuhl arrived at the ILR School in 1983, Professor John Windmuller, Ph.D. '51, was long established as an international and comparative labor relations expert. This focus area continues to distinguish the school 40 years later.

"Without him, ILR would not have the faculty and global presence we have today," said Sonnenstuhl, now an emeritus professor, explaining why he focused on Windmuller in Beyond Borders: Exploring the History of Cornell's Global Dimensions, published this spring by Cornell University Press.

"At its founding, the ILR School's founders envisioned a culture that valued the peaceful resolution of labor-management conflicts both nationally and internationally. In today's global economy, that vision is as important as it has ever been," wrote Sonnenstuhl, one of 54 authors who contributed chapters to the book.

John Windmuller created ILR's first international and comparative relations course in 1951 and taught it for 36 years, inspiring generations of students to think globally. He led ILR's International Institute of Industrial and Labor Relations and helped expand international work across Cornell.

Read the full story on ILR's website.