He is a graduate of Louisiana State University (Ph.D.), Eastern Kentucky University (M.B.A.) and the University of Kentucky (B.S.A.). Cornell served as the faculty advisor of the Epsilon Delta Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi for 15 years, and received the National Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award in 1997. He practiced as a C.P.A. with Coopers & Lybrand for three years and as a C.M.A. with Jerrico Inc. for three additional years before pursuing his academic career.