Our Students

Student Passionate About Education Reform

At ILR, Tofunmi Olabode ’24 is building on educational equity and justice interests that began in high school.
Tofunmi Olabode ’24
Student Passionate About Education Reform

ILRie Elected as Student Trustee

J.P. Swenson ’25 will begin his two-year term in the fall semester.
JP Swenson
ILRie Elected as Student Trustee

Yasmin Ballew ’23 Receives Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award

Cornell Chronicle logo
ILRie will use award funding to establish a partnership between Alpha Phi Omega and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center.
Yasmin Ballew ’23
Yasmin Ballew ’23 Receives Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award

ILRie Helps Formerly Incarcerated

Sakiel Ruff ’25 spent his High Road summer developing a database to help formerly incarcerated people find housing.
Sakiel Ruff ’25
ILRie Helps Formerly Incarcerated

Nabiha Qureshi ’23 Awarded Rangel Fellowship

ILR senior plans to study public policy and learn more about the intersection of migration and governmental labor policy on a global scale.
Nabiha Qureshi ’23
Nabiha Qureshi ’23 Awarded Rangel Fellowship

Strikes up 52% in 2022: Labor Action Tracker

The ILR School database that documents U.S. work stoppages informs journalists, policymakers, activists, scholars and the public about labor activism and unrest.
Labor action tracker map
Strikes up 52% in 2022: Labor Action Tracker

ILR Student Expedites Policy Change

Casey Platkin advocated for a minimum wage increase in California’s San Mateo County, where thousands of low-wage workers will see bigger paychecks.
Casey Platkin ’26
ILR Student Expedites Policy Change

Peer Mentors Welcome New ILRies

Building a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for new ILRies is the purpose of a student-focused program.
LindaRose Piccolo '24
Peer Mentors Welcome New ILRies

Club Explores Labor and Sports Business Intersection

ILR Sports Business Society Co-presidents Matisse Nelson ’23 and Zach Welch ’23 discuss their passion for the sports industry and how ILR is helping them to cultivate it.
Matisse Nelson ’23, left, and Zach Welch ’23
Club Explores Labor and Sports Business Intersection

ILRie Leads Cornell Votes Group

Patrick Mehler ’23, a senior in the ILR School and an alderperson on the City of Ithaca’s Common Council, is a founding member and president of Cornell Votes.
Patrick J. Mehler
ILRie Leads Cornell Votes Group

Meet Cornell’s Student Assembly President

Valeria Valencia ’23 wants all students to feel a part of the Cornell community.
Valeria Valencia ’23
Meet Cornell’s Student Assembly President

ILRies Return with Summer Learnings

The multi-faceted nature of an ILR degree is reflected in the diversity of opportunities students had this summer.
Joane Kim
ILRies Return with Summer Learnings

Like Father, Like Daughter

Thirty-one years after Marty Schmelkin ’91 graduated from ILR, Hannah Schmelkin ‘22 joins her father in the ILR School’s alumni ranks.
Hannah Schmelkin ‘22 and Marty Schmelkin ’91
Like Father, Like Daughter

Graduation Deferred For A Dream

A pair of ILR seniors on the Cornell men’s lacrosse team will miss graduation Saturday when they participate in the NCAA national semifinals vs. Rutgers.
Dom Doria and Luca Tria
Graduation Deferred For A Dream

Women's Caucus Creates Safe Space

The ILR Women’s Caucus serves to strengthen the academic, social and professional aspects of its members' experiences at Cornell.
Bottom, from left: Alexa Cooper ’24, Daniella Portnoy ’24, Hannah Schmelkin ’22. Top, from left: Olivia Schwartz ’23, Rachel Barish ’24, Natalee Robayo ’22, Anika Fischer ’23.
Women's Caucus Creates Safe Space

Junior Advocates for Peers with Disabilities

Reshaping the university’s approach to disability justice to make “ability-based accommodations more accessible” is part of Duncan Cady's work.
Duncan Cady '23
Junior Advocates for Peers with Disabilities

ILRie Wins Writing Competition

Sophomore hopes “Lupita’s Shoes,” her short story, will influence people to think more critically about having empathy for immigrants.
Amalia Schneider
ILRie Wins Writing Competition

ILR Opens Doors to Many Paths

A High Road Fellowship and other experiences have helped Kevin Diaz '24 thrive at Cornell.
Kevin Diaz '24
ILR Opens Doors to Many Paths

Caroline Manning ’22

Through a credit internship, Caroline researched the history of discriminatory hiring on New York City's waterfront.
Caroline Manning ’22
Caroline Manning ’22

Michael Sanchez ’23

Before coming to ILR, Michael Sanchez spent five years serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he learned that quality leadership is the most important factor in the success of any team or company.
Michael Sanchez ’23 sitting in a military helicopter
Michael Sanchez ’23

Jenniffer Flores ’22

ILR's influence is helping Jenniffer Flores lead students toward greater financial literacy.
Jenniffer Flores
Jenniffer Flores ’22