Peer Mentor Spotlights

Charlie ('29) is double majoring in E&S and Landscape Architecture, with a student-designed concentration in urban greenspace. Coming from the Philadelphia area, his interests center around environmental architecture and its ability to recalibrate human-nature systems. He co-leads a project team focused on designing a primary school in Nepal through CUSD and works on plant propagation in the Botanic Gardens. He also coordinates events for Cornell's ballroom dance club, is involved in Epsilon Eta (Cornell's honors sustainability fraternity), and spends his weekends working in the Landscape Architecture makerspace. Charlie loves to spend his school breaks traveling and exploring new places!

Lydia Blum, concentrating in EBAE (can expand acronym if need be) but also on a pre-vet track. Student Orgs include Student Assembly (VP of Policy, Environmental Committee), Plastic Free Cornell, CALS Ambassador (Recruitment Coordinator), Sunrise Cornell, and Cornell Democrats (Treasurer). Enjoy eco activism on campus, and advocating for other student orgs (ex. Anabels) to continue serving the Cornell community. Spend my summer working at my local vet clinic, and completed an internship at the National Aviary.

Luke '27 is a senior majoring in E&S (CALS) with a concentration in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology (EBAE). He is also majoring in Biological Sciences. Coming from Westchester, New York, he is passionate about the relationship between climate-induced heat stress and ecosystem stability and is conducting his honors thesis research on this topic in his research lab. Besides being an E&S Peer Mentor, Luke has served as President of the Taiwanese American Student Association, President of Court-Kay-Bauer Dormitory Hall Council, Treasurer of Early College Awareness, Programming Chair of the Korean American Students Association, and the Hydroponics Subteam lead in Engineers for a Sustainable World. Luke also participated in the CALS Global Fellows program in Portugal and the Climate Science REU at Penn State. Outside of academics, Luke enjoys playing soccer, learning Korean, singing, and spending time with friends.

Tara (CALS' 27) is from Syracuse NY and is concentrating in Environmental Biology & Applied Ecology (EBAE). She is Chair of the CALS Ambassadors organization and serves as the Bird Friendly Student Leader at the Lab of Ornithology. She also previously served as Director of the Cornell University Sustainable Design team (CUSD) and as a tennis instructor at Reis Tennis Center. Her passions include marine and avian conservation as well as science communication. In her free time, Tara enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing tennis.

Elise is part of the CALS Class of 2027 and is from Boston. She is concentrating in environmental policy and governance and minoring in sustainable business and economic policy. She is interested in public policy, corporate sustainability, renewable energy, and understanding human interactions with the environment. This past summer, she worked in the Adirondack region of upstate NY conducting research on Indigenous hunting and fishing cases for The Nature Conservancy. Outside of the classroom, she is on the Women's Rowing team and enjoys spending her free time hiking, drinking coffee, and listening to music!

Hadley is a Junior majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Governance. She is also a Biology and Society major. On campus, she works as a team lead for the Garden Ambassadors at the Cornell Botanic Gardens, is a Nexus Scholar, a member of Cornell University Sustainable Design project team, and is a peer mentor for Cornell's Empathy, Assistance & Referral Service (EARS). She is passionate about community engagement and the role grassroots movements play in policymaking. In her free time, she loves exploring the Ithaca art scene and any activity outdoors!

Jacqueline ‘26 (a.k.a. Jackie) is a junior in E&S and CALS concentrating in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology. Coming from Salinas, California, she is passionate about the intersection of sustainable agriculture, agroecology, food systems, and food justice. This inspired her to pursue a minor in Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems. Besides being a Peer Mentor in E&S, Jackie is a Co-President of the Mexican Students Association, a captain of the Big Red Club Volleyball team, an active member of Epsilon Eta (the professional sustainability fraternity), a volunteer at Anabel’s Grocery, and Treasurer of ALMA (Aprendizaje, Liderazgo, Motivación y Autoestima), a new initiative under the Latinx Student Empowerment Office which aims to create a welcoming space and community for Latina identifying students on campus to unite. Outside of academics, Jackie enjoys cooking, exploring Ithaca’s gems, and spending time outdoors with friends and family.

Born and raised in NYC, Ty (CALS ’26) is passionate about the intersection of economic development, food systems, and sustainability. Beyond E&S, Ty is minoring in Sustainable Business and Economic Policy, Food Industry Management, and Viticulture & Enology. Outside of the classroom, Ty has served as the Project Manager of the Sustainable Beverage sub-team for Cornell Sustainability Consultants, developing sustainability strategies for local breweries and wineries. His other involvements include serving as the Vice President of Epsilon Eta, Cornell’s honors sustainability fraternity, and as an undergraduate student researcher for two research groups on campus. In his free time, Ty loves exploring the natural beauty of all of Ithaca’s waterfalls and gorges! 

Lola is a junior in E&S with a concentration in environmental policy and governance and a minor in community food systems. She is highly passionate about food security and sustainable nutritional policy. Outside of school, she is a co-president of the Cornell Running Club and a member of the sustainability fraternity, Epsilon Eta. Lola also participates in research centered around increasing food security and nutritional health in Malawi through agroecological practices. This research is a partnership with Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities (SFHC) in Malawi where Lola interned this summer. Lola loves running, hiking, pickleball, and pretty much anything outdoors!

Ellie is a junior concentrating in Ecotourism and Sustainable Operations. She’s also pursuing minors in Spanish and Data Science. At the intersection of these studies, she’s primarily interested in how to make consumers have positive environmental and sustainability experiences. Additionally, she works at Cornell Dining as a Student Sustainability Coordinator, the Statler Hotel as a Team Coordinator for the Meetings & Events department, and as an undergraduate researcher in an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology lab. This past summer Ellie interned at Wawa, in their Social Purpose department, and designed a food waste tracking and reduction project. Outside of these obligations, most of her free time is spent reading!

Jade Foxall is a junior in CALS concentrating in EPG with an intended SBEE minor. Outside of academics, she is an active member of Epsilon Eta and volunteers with Food Recovery Network. She is currently interning in a government office in her hometown of Oakland, CA. In her free time, Jade enjoys running Ithaca’s trails, going to the farmers market, and thrifting.

Sabine is a sophomore studying Environment and Sustainability in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is minoring in Entomology, Feminism Gender and Sexuality Studies, Law and Society, and Indigenous Studies. She is interested in how the dynamics of social insects can be used to understand and solve political issues. Around campus she is involved with the Residential Student Congress as the Director of Advocacy, the Cornell University ACLU, and is an active member of the Bee Club. In CALS, she is a CALS ambassador and an Environment and Sustainability Peer Mentor. Outside of Cornell she is the co-founder of Code Red, an organization dedicated to bringing menstrual products to impoverished residents of NYC and reducing the stigma around women’s health. She can be found identifying niche insects around campus!