Why Cornell?
Cornell got my attention as a senior when I went to the annual AIChE Conference. I knew I was interested in graduate school, and after a nice conversation with some representatives, I decided I would apply. As I was choosing between schools for my graduate studies, the quality of research at Cornell did help me narrow it down to one of my final options. Ultimately, I chose Cornell for a few reasons that stuck out during my accepted students visit weekend: The high amount of interdisciplinary work and collaboration between labs and departments; The camaraderie apparent in the school was on display through the visit weekend “buddy” system and the game night we had; The beauty of the campus and surrounding areas.
Leadership Positions?
The bulk of my leadership positions were held within DIP (Diversity and Inclusion Program). I have been the seminar initiative lead, the deputy coordinator, and the coordinator of DIP. In these positions I planned events such as workshops with the Cornell Interactive Theater Ensemble, scheduled seminars about topics such as faculty attrition across gender, talks on topics such as difficult conversations and imposter syndrome, and events such as cultural potlucks. Through my activities with DIP, we have been working towards making Olin Hall as welcoming a place as possible. Outside of the school, I was a beginner level teacher for the Cornell Dancesport Ballroom team.
Major Accomplishments as a Leader?
Accomplishments that I am particularly proud of include bringing back coffee hour to the school and getting DIP awarded a Belonging at Cornell Mini Grant through the Presidential Advisors on Diversity and Equity to hold an event called the Inclusivity in Careers Symposium. Any successful event or workshop that builds bridges within the community is an accomplishment.
Advice for Future Leaders?
I would encourage future leaders to not get discouraged by rough patches in attendance. Some events do not get well-attended. Sometimes most of the club is busy during a general meeting. However, clubs exist because people care, and a dependable core of people in the club will form over time. If you think an event is important to hold, you should hold it. And if you think a student group is important and you are passionate about its mission, you should stay involved with it.
Post-Graduation Goals?
I want to make a difference in a way that makes the world more sustainable. My goals post-graduation are to get involved in an industry that has to do with sustainability, ideally positively impacting the energy-water-food nexus. Whether that is done in a governmental, industrial, or academic role is not too important to me at the moment.
Favorite Olin Hall memory?
My favorite memory in Olin Hall was the first cultural potluck event. So many people turned out and brought a huge variety of delicious dishes from around the world. While I like all of our potluck events, such as the school’s Thanksgiving events, I think the Cultural Potluck was something extra special. To top it all off, we had a large world map where people marked where they were born, which was hung up in the graduate student lounge. The event has since been repeated and continues to be successful, so I hope it becomes a tradition.