Alumni Stories

At ILR we are proud of all that our alumni accomplish. They represent diverse fields, including human resources, business, finance, law, labor, nonprofits, and entrepreneurship. They are leaders and innovators in their communities, nationally and globally.

Student Research Yields Findings on Women Coaches

Eliza Sherman ’21 researched WNBA and NBA gender-based coaching barriers with guidance from Associate Professor Emily Zitek.
Eliza Sherman '21
Student Research Yields Findings on Women Coaches

Benamram Named to Forbes “30 Under 30”

An ILR statistics course piqued an interest in data, and he became a software company CEO rather than a lawyer.
Josh Benamram ’14
Benamram Named to Forbes “30 Under 30”

Alumna Sees Potential in Data

The Executive Master of Human Resource Management graduate says she particularly valued the on-campus residencies, where “you get to know people on a deeply personal level. We were such a diverse class.
Jackie Czaplinski, EMHRM ’18
Alumna Sees Potential in Data

Alumni Pay it Forward

Two alumni from the 1990s establish scholarships honoring a beloved professor.
Sam Bacharach
Alumni Pay it Forward

Graduate’s Story Reflects Versatility of ILR Degree

The career of Nicole Goodkind ’11 is emblematic of how the ILR curriculum supports many different paths.
Nicole Goodkind '11
Graduate’s Story Reflects Versatility of ILR Degree

ILR Learning Helps Propel Tech Research

Ishan Sharma ’20 studies issues at the intersection of innovation and foreign policy. His journey is an example of how skills and ideas developed at ILR develop into real-world impact.
Ishan Sharma '20
ILR Learning Helps Propel Tech Research

Big Red Lessons

Cornellians logo
A fortuitous chance meeting with Cornell President Frank H.T. Rhodes marked the beginning of David Hackney’s collegiate experience. At ILR, he studied collective bargaining with Professor Harry Katz, who he credits with teaching him how to write well, said Hackney, whose story is celebrated in "Cornellians" magazine.
David Hackney '87
Big Red Lessons

A Talent for Recruiting

Marjorie McFarlane Lucas, MPS ’17, learned how to move an agenda as an ILR graduate student, and that skill has helped her advance diversity, equity and inclusion in her workplace. Read more.
Marjorie McFarlane Lucas, MPS ’17
A Talent for Recruiting

Woman of Many Firsts Makes Lasting Contribution

Harriet Morel Oxman ’48 joined ILR the year it opened, and became a high school teacher and principal. Beginning with a $10 donation in 1957, she went on to become a leading ILR benefactor. Read more.
Harriet Oxman ’48
Woman of Many Firsts Makes Lasting Contribution

Alumna Explores the “Inner Mammal”

Loretta Graziano Breuning ’75 studies evolutionary psychology.
Loretta Graziano Breuning ’75
Alumna Explores the “Inner Mammal”

Friends and Family Establish Steven Spencer Memorial Award

Funds will provide an annual award of $1,000 to a rising or current senior in the ILR School.
Steven Spencer ’75
Friends and Family Establish Steven Spencer Memorial Award

Unwavering Commitment

A champion for the unemployed, Harold Oaklander ’52 has introduced students to the struggles of the jobless through classroom learning and opportunities to help people who are rebuilding their work identities.
Harold Oaklander
Unwavering Commitment

HR Executive Master’s Program Builds Lifetime of Support

Students who can learn from one another and who have similar levels of experience and expertise in HR, but who come from diverse industries and geographies, form each year's cohort.
EMHRM Summer Cohort 2021
HR Executive Master’s Program Builds Lifetime of Support

Making Incremental Change

ILRie Jim Miller supports students through internships, scholarships and career opportunities.
James E Miller ’88 Cornell Graduation 1988
Making Incremental Change

Pandemic Reaffirmed Power of Education

Dustin Liu earned a Harvard degree in isolation, but it didn’t slow him down.
Dustin Liu ’19
Pandemic Reaffirmed Power of Education

Katie Falb DeNitto ’15

Katie Falb DeNitto ’15 took the lessons she learned at ILR and used them to help the Big Red men’s lightweight rowing varsity eight win consecutive IRA National Championships.
Katie Falb DeNitto '15 holding the Platt Cup
Katie Falb DeNitto ’15

John Frinzi, MPS ’21

MPS student John Frinzi used the skills he learned at the ILR School to help his company adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.
John Frinzi, MPS ’21
John Frinzi, MPS ’21

Barbara Loreto Peltz ’55

A graduate shares the experiences of the mid-1950s ILR, including the bus rides, Quonset hut classes and May Day singing.
Barbara Loreto Peltz photo
Barbara Loreto Peltz ’55

Nickle LaMoreaux ’01

From crisis to recovery and reimagination, IBM’s chief human resources officer has helped lead the company through the pandemic.
Nickle LaMoreaux ’01
Nickle LaMoreaux ’01

MILR “Just Clicked”

Liz Heitner, MILR ’06, has been tapped by Penn Mutual to lead its human resources division through the post-pandemic world.
Liz Heitner, MILR ’06
MILR “Just Clicked”

Full Speed Ahead

Jordan Berman ’95 leads fellow alumni beyond COVID-19
Jordan Berman ’95 selfie at Schoelkopf Field
Full Speed Ahead

Andres Alvarado ’21

ILR senior shares his experiences as an ILRie in Ithaca and in New York City, where he worked with artists and advocates motivated by community building, gun violence prevention and disability rights.”
in the Coler Hospital Library teaching Peter Yearwood about using the Microsoft Office Suite.
Andres Alvarado ’21

Jeannette Boot, MPS ’21

Lawyer Jeannette Boot, MPS '21, enrolled in the graduate program to help her manage the most meaningful project of her career.

Jeannette Boot MPS class of '21
Jeannette Boot, MPS ’21

Dr. Jonas Chartock

Through Chartock’s career in education and current work overseeing the professional learning of tens of thousands of teachers at both a policy and a district level, he continues to apply the skills he learned at ILR.
Jonas Chartock
Dr. Jonas Chartock

Laura Bach ’16

Laura Bach credits her degree emphasis on politics, economics, business and history as giving her a framework of understanding for her development work.
Missing alt
Laura Bach ’16

Randall Brown ’09

From an early age, Randall Brown `09, has been intellectually curious, eager to learn new concepts and ready to take on new projects.
Randall Brown
Randall Brown ’09

Laurie Ann Atienza ’11

Laurie Ann Atienza ’11 has been able to live her values, thanks to a career that allows her to fight for working people.
Laurie Ann Atienza ’11
Laurie Ann Atienza ’11

Angelica Allen-McMillan ’91

Learn about one ILRie’s path to public education leadership.
Angelica Allen-McMillan ’91
Angelica Allen-McMillan ’91

Bob Hoyt ’96

Alex Colvin spoke with Bob Hoyt about the effects of the pandemic on financial services and banking firms.
Portrait of Bob Hoyt
Bob Hoyt ’96

Interview: Diane Burton speaks with Leigh Amaro about the impact of the Pandemic

ILR's Diane Burton spoke with Leigh Amaro about the impact the pandemic has had on the payment industry.
Portrait of Leigh Amaro
Interview: Diane Burton speaks with Leigh Amaro about the impact of the Pandemic