Skip to main content
Students cross the foot bridge over Beebe Lake during an afternoon class walk.

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.

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

Colin Benedict '21

Coming from the Akwesasne Mohawk territory, Colin Benedict ’21 has mentored fellow Indigenous students and advocates for Indigenous rights on campus, work he hopes to continue after graduating.
Colin Benedict ‘21
Colin Benedict '21

Interview: Harry Katz speaks with Carolyn Richmond on the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry

ILR's Professor Harry Katz spoke with Carolyn Richmond about how the pandemic has impacted both her law practice and employers and employees in the hospitality industry.
Screenshot of Carolyn Richmond from zoom
Interview: Harry Katz speaks with Carolyn Richmond on the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry

Interview: Ariel Avgar speaks with Tonya Hallett about General Motors' HR strategy

Tonya Hallett, as an HR leader at General Motors, speaks with ILR's Ariel Avgar about how GM has changed its strategies to deal with the pandemic.
screenshot of Tonya Hallett from a video interview
Interview: Ariel Avgar speaks with Tonya Hallett about General Motors' HR strategy

Louis Montgomery, Jr. '81

For Louis Montgomery, an ILR degree was the beginning of a successful and robust human resources career.
Louis Montgomery, Jr. `81: Inspirational Leadership
Louis Montgomery, Jr. '81

Lauren Myers '97

Follow the dream that’s in your heart. That’s what guides Lauren Myers ’97.
Lauren Myers
Lauren Myers '97

Dick Fincher '73

Fincher was the first in his family to go to college. He credits his ILR degree with giving him confidence and critical thinking skills. Since graduation, he has had four distinct careers, all related to ILR.
Photo: Dick Fincher
Dick Fincher '73

Kelly Race, MILR '95

Alumna uses expertise to better her community
Photo: Kelly Race at Rosie's Place
Kelly Race, MILR '95

Saba Vahdat '13: ILR Training Put to Test

In real estate firm, Vahdat works from ground up
Missing alt
Saba Vahdat '13: ILR Training Put to Test

Leigh Amaro ‘00

Having Benn born in New Zealand, Leigh Amaro was looking for an undergraduate program that would exposed to diverse cultures and give her the opportunity to learn about international companies. She chose ILR.
Photo: Leigh Amaro
Leigh Amaro ‘00

Jonathan DeGraff ’12: Helping People

Alum who chose management over medicine sees positive outcomes
Missing alt
Jonathan DeGraff ’12: Helping People

Cathy Creighton ’87: Union value and common decency

As a child growing up in New York City, labor lawyer Cathy Creighton ’87 saw firsthand the value of unions.
Cathy Creighton
Cathy Creighton ’87: Union value and common decency

Michael F. Nozzolio ’73: ILR-Educated Legislators

New York State Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio ’73 says, “The ILR School provided me with an excellent foundation to establish my life’s work.”
Senator Michael F. Nozzolio and Senator David Carlucci
Michael F. Nozzolio ’73: ILR-Educated Legislators

Barbara Molloy '93

Barbara Molloy had her sights set on a master’s degree from Cornell since her days as an undergraduate psychology major, with a business minor, at Ithaca College.
Barbara Molloy
Barbara Molloy '93

Andrew Zepp ’85: In a Land of Lakes

The western cascade of the Lick Brook gorge inspired an ILR graduate to prepare for a job that didn’t exist. Andrew Zepp ’85, CALS ’89 is now executive director of the Finger Lakes Land Trust.
Missing alt
Andrew Zepp ’85: In a Land of Lakes

John McDonald ’91

McDonald used the broad-based understanding of economics, statistics and business he gained at ILR to build his career.
John McDonald
John McDonald ’91

Building Innovation Capacity

Roomkin gift supports ILR response to changing workplace
Myron and Janice Roomkin
Building Innovation Capacity

Leona Barsky ’80/M.S. ’81: Working for Equality

Forty years after its founding by Leona Barsky, ILR Women's Caucus continues to connect students with alumnae
Missing alt
Leona Barsky ’80/M.S. ’81: Working for Equality

Professorship Celebrates Family Legacy

Elyse ’80 and Andy Nathanson ’79 met as classmates in the mid-seventies, married years later, and had three children, two of whom also attended ILR — Brian ’12 and Kevin ’17. Their daughter, Alison, graduated from Cornell’s Dyson School in 2014.
Nathanson Family
Professorship Celebrates Family Legacy

Lindsay Boyajian '13 '14

Lindsay Boyajian, BS ILR ’13 and MILR ’14, was drawn to the ILR student body’s spirit of being involved as leaders on campus and found her place in that dynamic at Cornell’s eLab.
Missing alt
Lindsay Boyajian '13 '14

Lloyd Robinson '87

When Lloyd Robinson ’87 reflects on his time at ILR, he remembers the small classes, talented students, and professors who care deeply about their students.
Photo: Lloyd Robinson
Lloyd Robinson '87

JC Tretter '13

JC Tretter ‘13 chose the ILR School because he wanted the flexibility to study what interested him most after completing core courses. Tretter always wanted to be a sports agent, but he has put this dream aside for a bigger dream – playing for the Green Bay Packers.
JC Tretter
JC Tretter '13

Ozlem Denizmen '94

Ozlem Denizmen was 17 when she moved to the United States from Turkey, where she learned English while working as an au pair. Her sights set on an Ivy League education and with the objective to spend her life working for justice and equality, Denizmen applied to the ILR School.
Ozlem Denizmen '94
Ozlem Denizmen '94

Seth M. Siegel '74

Queens, N.Y. native, Seth Siegel, describes himself as an accidental ILRie. As a child, Siegel pursued a general interest in international affairs and later applied to what he thought was the International and Labor Relations School. Later discovering what the “I” actually stood for, he decided to apply anyway.
Seth M. Siegel
Seth M. Siegel '74

Dayna (Sherman) Martin '97

Dayna Martin fell in love as an ILR undergraduate with what she describes as the dichotomy of economics, where theories are built on the assumption that people act rationally, when in fact people do not act rationally.
Dayna Martin and her Executive Stand Steady standing desk
Dayna (Sherman) Martin '97

Beauty Industry Powerhouse

Bluemercury spas and luxury cosmetics spread to Macy's stores
Missing alt
Beauty Industry Powerhouse