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Chaila Fraundorfer '16

Alumna Awarded Mosaic Taiwan Fellowship

Chaila Fraundorfer ’16 has been selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China for the Mosaic Taiwan Fellowship. Selected from thousands of submissions, she is one of 30 professionals from the United States and Canada to attend the exchange program in Taiwan this summer.

Since graduating from ILR, Fraundorfer has worked as an international tax consultant with the global consulting firm EY, previously known as Ernst & Young.

She advises individuals and companies on international tax planning, foreign income exclusions, credits, liabilities and other issues, as well as preparing hundreds of international tax returns for companies and expatriates. Last year, she earned IRS certification as an “enrolled agent” enabling her to represent her clients on tax matters to the IRS.

In addition to her work at EY, Fraundorfer serves as vice chair of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Youth Leadership Council, where she helps organize events, raise funds and mentor people with Type 1 Diabetes who live in the Washington, D.C., area.

Travel has always been important to Fraundorfer. Before arriving at Cornell, she had visited six continents and all 50 U.S. states.

In the spring of 2015, Fraundorfer studied art markets at Sotheby’s Institute in London, England. “In London, I took courses in art and business — personal passions of mine. Other courses in international tax law, art valuation and predicting art market trends furthered my excitement,” Fraundorfer said.

The wow factor of the semester, she said, were visits to museums, galleries, artists’ studios and the Blenheim Palace. The most memorable site visit she remembers was going to Sotheby’s warehouse outside central London, where thousands of fine art, as well as fraudulent pieces, are housed. Here everything is photographed, cataloged and studied before being sold on the auction floor. “I learned a part of the art market not featured in your typical textbook,” she said.

While at ILR, she also participated in a winter study team in Kenya through Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, known for its’ groundbreaking research of birds and ecosystems.

Fraundorfer said she embraced ILR because of its curriculum and world-renowned faculty. In high school, she was head of the mock trial team and interested in law, public policy and business. ILR’s small size at a larger Ivy League was compelling. She describes herself as an “experiential learner” — learning best by visiting and interacting with people.

Kevin Harris, the Frank B. Miller director of ILR’s Office of Student Services, said Fraundorfer was a bright student and deserving of the fellowship. In her senior year, she won the Eric Lawrence Ehrenberg Prize.

Her strengths position her well for the Mosaic Fellowship — studies in labor and employment, law and society, economics, labor history, statistics and business; international cultural interests; and a specialty in international law.

During the program, Fellows attend seminars, workshops and meet with representatives in academia, government and the private and public sectors. They also participate in team building and leadership exercises among peer fellows.

Fraundorfer says, “I pursued and completed all my international study opportunities from the encouragement by parents and ILR professors. I feel so lucky to receive this award to study and get to know the people, culture and country of the Republic of China.”

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