Make friends with Cornellians around the world

When the pandemic interrupted the Cornell Club of DC’s monthly gatherings, Tony Chen ’12 was undaunted. He began organizing virtual Cornell events, including weekly meetings of crossword enthusiasts across the country who worked together to solve puzzles. 

These Cornell Mixers started in May 2020 and have gathered steam over the past two years. A total of 3,000 alumni across the globe have now participated in the mixers, hailing from every continent except Antarctica. The events are intergenerational, drawing participants from the Classes of 1947 through 2026.

Tony says his goal is to foster more friendships among Cornellians: “I believe Cornell isn't just the friends you had from school, but it's also the friends you'll make in the future!”

All alumni are welcome to tune in or volunteer to help host as part of the Welcome Committee. Mixers happen every two weeks on Saturdays, from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. EST. Participants chat with one another in small breakout rooms, and each mixer is moderated by a volunteer host.

Tony has received thousands of glowing comments from participants. Here are just a few:

• “Had a great time! Even ran into a friend that I met during Orientation Week.”
• “I met some folks I might like to stay in touch with.”
• “See you tomorrow for the puzzles. I love our little group.”
• “Thank you so much. New Cornell friends <3”