2026 ILR School McPherson Honors and Awards – ICS Recipients

Steven Spencer Memorial Award

Casey Platkin, BS ILR ’26

ILR ICS Scholars

Mindy Pan, MILR ’26

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be an ICS Scholar and to work with the ICS team. I’ve gained hands-on research experience and had the chance to explore compensation research from a different perspective through this experience. It's been both challenging and rewarding. I’m especially thankful to Diane and my mentor Simon for their support and guidance along the way.”

Laura Lozano Taba, MILR '26

When I joined the ICS program at Cornell ILR, I hoped to deepen my understanding of compensation as a strategic lever for attracting, retaining, and developing talent. Through my research and coursework, I discovered a stronger passion for connecting data, fairness, and business strategy to create more transparent and meaningful people practices. Winning the ICS Scholar Prize is a reminder that my voice and perspective as an international HR professional can contribute to important conversations about the future of work. My advice to future ICS students is: stay curious, ask thoughtful questions, and use this experience to connect technical knowledge with the real lives of employees.

Kaylee Maietta, MILR ’26 

“Receiving the ICS Scholars Prize during the ILR School McPherson Honors and Awards means so much to me. During my time in the ICS Scholars Program, I took a series of courses related to compensation and its required skills, completed an online eCornell certification, and was able to gain a great mentor. This recognition motivates me to continue to develop my compensation expertise throughout my career. I’m grateful to Professor Brian Dunn and Professor Diane Burton for their guidance throughout the program.”

Hannah Nerdin, MILR ’26

“Receiving the ICS Scholars Prize from the ILR School McPherson Honors and Awards means so much to me. During my time at ICS, I learned so much about the ins and outs of compensation. This recognition motivates me to say yes to opportunities to learn and grow. I’m grateful to Professor Dunn and Professor Burton for introducing me to this program and being a big support throughout this journey.”

Candidates for Graduation with Honors

Celine Chauviere, BS ILR ’26

Joining the ICS program at Cornell ILR has been an integral part of my Cornell experience. It has given me the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, both academically and in the field, and to complete a Senior Honors Thesis--one of the most rewarding experiences I have had at Cornell. My advice to future ICS students would be to remain open-minded and embrace new opportunities. You never know what might spark your interest or where it may lead you!

Casey Platkin, BS ILR ’26

General Mills Award for Exemplary Graduate Teaching Assistant

Simon Gim, PhD, Human Resource Studies, ILR ’28

“Receiving the 2026 General Mills Award for Exemplary Graduate Teaching Assistance from the ILR School McPherson Honors and Awards is especially meaningful to me because teaching and mentoring have become an important part of my academic identity. During my time at ICS, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Professor Diane Burton on research projects related to compensation, labor markets, and workforce inequality. I have also learned a great deal from mentoring and collaborating with undergraduate and master’s student research assistants, which has strengthened my commitment to making research accessible, rigorous, and meaningful for students. I am deeply grateful to Diane, the ICS team, and the ILR community for their encouragement and support.”