Cornelia was born in New York City and grew up in the country, riding horses and developing a passion for athletics. She graduated from New York University in 1966, and later moved to Tampa, FL where began her career in education, inspired by her first child beginning first grade. Cornelia became the Chairperson of the Board for Florida Independent Day School, where she studied and attended many conferences on school structure and performance. Cornelia successfully revamped and revitalized the entire governance of the school system, and has been on the board now for over 30 years.

In partnership with Dr. Joyce Swarzman, Cornie helped concretize the philosophy and strategy of the school infrastructure, which has been deeply rewarding and fullfilling. Cornelia’s other community involvements have included The Tampa Museum of Art, Champions for Children, The Crisis Center, and owning and operating a professional soccer team, the Tampa Bay Rowdies. She is a mother of four children and enjoys playing golf, skiing, and living a full, happy life.