Elizabeth "Liz" (Magill) Billingsley

College of Human Ecology

Tell us about what you're doing with your life
My husband and I live in Lancaster PA - moved there from Hershey PA after raising three kids. We bike, ski, travel and spend time on the eastern shore of Maryland Chesapeake Bay. We love living in Lancaster - great little city! I am a Mohs surgeon and Professor of Dermatology at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
So many - lots of laughter! But the sounds of McGraw Tower chimes and the rumble driving over the cobblestones on Stewart Avenue are powerful good memories.

Left to right: Lauren Krupa, Liz Magill, Ruth Heller and Eileen Moroney pictured at Reunion 1999. Lauren was Liz’s freshman roommate in Baker Tower and one of her best friends at Cornell. Lauren was from Nyack NY. She played Varsity Womens Lacrosse all 4 years and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. Lauren was well known on campus as a powerful, happy, energetic and fun human being—always laughing and optimistic. After gratuation, she returned to the Nyack area and became a teacher and a very well loved and well respected lacrosse coach. Lauren passed away in 2002.

How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?
I absolutely love going back to campus - Reunions are a blast! I like going on the off years too - lots of friends from years ahead and behind us. Always so much fun being back on campus, checking out whats new, and whats old, and also exploring all around Ithaca and the area. Such a special place!

What random or surprising encounters with Cornell or Cornellians have you experienced since you left?
Our son attended Cornell and met his wife there, whose mother was Ann Noble, a  Tri Delt sister of mine.  They randomly connected through a Dunbars bartender conversation (how appropriate!) which led to "my mom knows your mom" and the rest is history! They had a fantastic wedding in Ithaca in 2019 with almost 100 Cornell alumni present!!

Almost 100 Cornellians were in attendance at the September 2019 Ithaca wedding of Liz’s son Andrew Billingsley ‘15 to Brodie Shephard, daugther of Ann Noble ‘85 and Tom Shephard ‘85

What advice would you give to a student starting at Cornell?
Take classes in all the schools, especially the ones not in your major. Explore all that Cornell has to offer!

Mel and Liz Billingsley with son Andrew during Reunion