Celebrating the CALS Class of 2021

Hometown: Shirley, N.Y.

Major: Global and Public Health Sciences

Minors: Inequalities Studies w/ Health Equity track; Infectious Disease

An unexpected CALS experience: What surprised me the most was experiencing how diverse CALS' academics are. I came into CALS thinking it was mostly a science-based college, but I quickly learned and embraced how interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary the classes, research and mission are. Through CALS, I found and explored both old and new interests that I will carry with me into my professional and personal life after graduation.

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Major: Information Science

Most memorable undergraduate research moment:  I am fortunate to have had a few different research experiences while at Cornell, but my most memorable one was a year-long engagement with a Ph.D. candidate in sociology. I bumped into said Ph.D. candidate at an ice cream store late one night. During our brief interaction, we discovered that he needed a research assistant with experience in data science to help with his research projects. We stayed in touch and I ended up working for him for a year. We were studying how ideas propagate throughout the world, specifically from the east to the west. I was in charge of data-related tasks and helping brainstorm a data-driven approach to various social science problems. I enjoyed a free exchange of ideas with someone who was much more experienced than I was, and learned a lot from hands-on computational social science work. A casual chat from an ice cream parlor turned out to be my most rewarding research experience at Cornell!

Hometown:  Canandaigua, N.Y.

Major:  Viticulture and Enology

Minor:  Plant Science

Most memorable undergraduate research moment: In November of my first year, we had to take vineyard soil samples right after several days of rain. I remember getting up before the sunrise, driving an hour to a vineyard on Seneca Lake, and pulling 80 meter-deep soil samples out of the mud for the next four hours. By the end, we were completely caked in mud, but still in high spirits. When I say I'm down to get my hands dirty, this is what I'm talking about!

Hometown:  Daraa, Syria 

Major:  Biology and Society

Minor:  Communication 

Most memorable undergraduate research moment:  My most memorable undergraduate research moment occurred during my time at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. The Cornell community is everywhere, and I'm glad I found one in Qatar. I felt like I was still immersed in the Cornell spirit, even in another country. I observed the power and the change possible when Cornellians come together and work towards one goal. This opportunity allowed me to learn about the Cornell community and the change Cornellians are making abroad, which motivated me to continue pursuing my dream of making change possible in another country, not just in my immediate community. 

Hometown: Flemington, N.J.

Major: Food Science

Minor: Viticulture and Enology

An unexpected CALS experience: The relationships I've built with faculty, especially in the Department of Food Science, are so much deeper and more personal than I could have imagined. One of the perks of being in a smaller major is that I really got to know my food science professors, and they really got to know me. One of those personal connections is how I got involved in undergraduate research. I had been working for Cornell Catering, and a professor of mine, Julie Goddard, saw me at several events while I was working as a food server or bartender. The following semester, she invited me to speak with her about joining her lab. She knew that I worked at Cornell Catering as part of the Federal Work Study program, and offered me a position in her lab, so that I could replace my catering hours with something more career-oriented. While I ended up doing both jobs for a while, and gained valuable skills and experiences from both, the fact that a professor would remember a small detail like that and use it to help a student months later is representative of the amazing people who teach in CALS. 

Hometown: Anomabo, Ghana

Major: Biology and Society

Minor: Health Equity

What I will miss most about Cornell: The Cornell faculty are one-of-a-kind. I got help from any professor I spoke with, even when my challenge was not in relation to their class or expertise. The advisors and mentors I encountered at CALS mean so much more to me than my academic achievements, and I will always strive to be as approachable and ready to help or listen as they were for me.

Hometown: Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.

Major: Animal Science

What I will miss most about Cornell:  As an undergraduate I ran the @BigRedBun Instagram account with my bunny, Finn! It was the best opportunity I could have imagined, and gave me a large platform to reach much of the undergraduate population. Using the account, I worked on improving mental health initiatives and even had the opportunity to speak with VP Lombardi about mental health on campus. Leaving is bittersweet, as I will no longer be a part of the Cornell undergraduate population, and Finn and I will no longer live on campus!

Hometown:  Singapore, Boston and Indonesia 

Major:  Environment and Sustainability

Minors:  Business, Climate Change and International Development

To be a Cornellian, means:  To be immersed in a community of people who are incredibly passionate about what they do. Every student at Cornell is dedicated to and loves their work, whether it be in academics, visual arts, athletics — the list goes on. Surrounded by this every day makes Cornell an inspiring place to learn.