Truth matters: a conversation with Republican John Kasich

As part of its ongoing effort to encourage bipartisan dialogue and problem solving, the Cornell Institute for Politics and Global Affairs (IOPGA) and Government Department co-hosted a conversation with former Governor John Kasich and former Representative Susan Molinari (R-NY)—two life-long Republicans who both endorsed Joe Biden’s Presidential bid at the Democratic National Convention in August … Read more

Cornell moments: ten hallmark stories of 2020

This was a year of firsts As we look forward to the New Year, we wanted to take a few moments to reflect on 2020. This was a year of firsts, as many of us transitioned to working, learning, and connecting online. We learned hard lessons: from how to keep the Cornell campus open in … Read more

“Zoomed-out”: extracurricular life in the time of COVID-19

When Cornell closed its campus in March 2020, the state of New York was the global hotspot for COVID-19. In the months that followed, Cornell faculty and staff worked together to create a plan to reopen campus, based on best scientific practices. The plan required every community member to make sacrifices, including a massive transition … Read more

Cornellian addresses underrepresentation in computer science

Jehron Petty ’20 doesn’t shy away from a problem. After realizing during his time at Cornell that there was underrepresentation of Black and Latinx students in engineering and computer science, he set out not only to change that at his alma mater, but at universities around the country. “It motivated me to look at the … Read more

Caring for our international students

About 1,200 of Cornell’s 7,000+ international students are studying outside of the United States this semester. These are undergraduates, graduate, and professional students who are joining their classes remotely from their homes and from Study Away campuses around the world. The majority of these students were unable to return to campus in fall 2020, due … Read more

Navigating the 2020 election

One thing a majority of Americans agree on is that 2020 has been a challenging year. According to the American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America” survey, 72% of Americans think that 2020 has hit a new low point in our nation’s history. More than two-thirds of Americans agree that the 2020 election has been a … Read more

Journaling project, now global, welcomes COVID-19 stories

As the coronavirus pandemic unfolded this past spring, students in Janis Whitlock’s graduate seminar on translational research found themselves in a unique position – being able to participate in a widespread journaling project to record their hopes, fears, and routines, chronicling COVID-19’s effects on their daily lives and relationships. It is a project that is both … Read more

Green is the new normal: faculty talk about teaching in fall 2020

Over the past ten months, Cornell faculty have been working to adjust and adapt to the new normal. Faculty have had to quickly master new technologies and new modes of instruction as they’ve transitioned from whiteboards to online polls. They’ve had to think through questions of equity and inclusion, as they attempt to balance the … Read more

Black alumni partner with student groups to support racial equity

Cornell alumni have always made it their mission to support the next generation of Cornell students. This is especially true in 2020, and helping current students is a key priority for the Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA). CBAA members provide support for Black alumni and students through scholarships, networking opportunities, social programming and other resources. … Read more