Providing Students with Transformative Experiences
The Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution has long believed that the most meaningful education extends far beyond the classroom. Through experiential learning opportunities, international engagement programs, internships, and student leadership roles, the Institute provides students with the chance to translate theory into practice while building the professional relationships and real-world skills that define successful careers in labor relations, conflict resolution, and social justice advocacy.
For many students, including four graduating seniors, these opportunities become transformative experiences—shaping not only their professional goals, but also their understanding of leadership, communication, and the complexities of today’s global workforce.
Student Leadership Through the Scheinman Newsletter
For students like Axel Eisen and Megan Gmytrasiewicz, serving as editors for the Scheinman Newsletter became far more than a campus extracurricular activity. The role offered direct engagement with some of the most influential voices in labor relations, collective bargaining, mediation, and workplace conflict resolution.
As a student editor, Eisen interviewed labor leaders, practitioners, academics, and negotiators working at the forefront of the field. Through these conversations, he gained firsthand insight into the evolving challenges shaping labor relations across industries—from union organizing campaigns and workplace equity issues to the future of collective bargaining in a rapidly changing economy.
The experience also strengthened practical communication and leadership skills that cannot easily be replicated in a traditional classroom setting. Researching complex labor issues, conducting professional interviews, and translating industry conversations into accessible and compelling stories allowed Eisen to sharpen both his analytical abilities and his confidence as a communicator.
For Gmytrasiewicz, the position opened a window into the breadth of professional opportunities available within conflict resolution and labor relations. Through her editorial work, she was exposed to the many career paths that exist within mediation, arbitration, labor advocacy, human resources, and public policy. The role also demonstrated the power of storytelling in the labor movement. By helping document the experiences and perspectives of practitioners in the field, she developed a deeper understanding of how communication can shape workplace culture, public discourse, and organizational change.
Both students described the experience as uniquely valuable because it placed them in direct conversation with professionals who are actively shaping the future of work. The newsletter became not simply a publication, but a professional bridge connecting students to a broader labor relations community.
Global Learning in Vietnam
This past winter, Isabella Ireland participated in the Vietnam Engaged Learning Program, a collaborative initiative between the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution and the Cornell ILR International Programs Office. The immersive international experience gave students the opportunity to examine labor practices and workplace systems within Vietnam’s garment industry while engaging directly with workers, labor advocates, and industry stakeholders.
For Ireland, the program represented a rare opportunity to apply the knowledge she had developed through coursework, extracurricular involvement, and prior global experiences to real- world labor issues in an international setting.
Throughout the program, students explored the intersection of globalization, labor rights, economic development, and supply chain production. By visiting factories, meeting with labor organizations, and participating in discussions surrounding workplace protections and manufacturing conditions, students were able to examine how labor systems operate within one of the world’s most important garment production sectors.
Ireland reflected that the experience fundamentally expanded her understanding of labor relations on a global scale. Beyond academic learning, the program challenged her to engage more thoughtfully across cultural differences and to develop stronger listening and communication skills.
She noted that the experience pushed her to ask deeper questions, remain open to perspectives different from her own, and critically examine the role consumers play within global labor systems. The program also strengthened her commitment to pursuing work connected to labor advocacy and ethical workplace practices in the future.
Experiential learning programs like Vietnam Engaged Learning reflect the Institute’s broader mission of preparing students to navigate increasingly global and interconnected labor environments. By combining academic theory with direct international exposure, students leave with both practical insight and a stronger sense of social responsibility.
Advocacy and Collective Bargaining at the American Federation of Teachers
Senior Eva Egeghy gained hands-on experience in labor advocacy through an internship with the American Federation of Teachers, one of the nation’s largest and most influential labor unions representing educators, healthcare professionals, and public employees.
Working as part of the collective bargaining team, Egeghy supported local union affiliates during contract negotiations and labor discussions. The internship provided an inside look at the complex work involved in protecting worker rights, negotiating fair contracts, and supporting unionized employees across diverse workplaces.
Through her experience, Egeghy developed a deeper understanding of the importance of conflict resolution systems that amplify worker voices rather than silence them. Observing negotiations firsthand demonstrated how effective labor relations systems can create more equitable workplaces while balancing organizational and employee needs.
One of the defining moments of the internship was her participation in the AFT Collective Bargaining Conference, where hundreds of union leaders, labor advocates, and negotiators gathered to discuss emerging workplace issues and collective bargaining strategies.
The conference exposed students to large-scale labor advocacy efforts and provided valuable networking opportunities with experienced professionals in the field. For Egeghy, the experience reinforced the importance of collaboration, strategic communication, and negotiation in advancing workplace justice.
The internship also highlighted the practical impact of the skills students develop through the Scheinman Institute’s programs. Courses in negotiation, mediation, labor law, and conflict resolution became directly applicable in professional settings where workers’ livelihoods and workplace conditions are shaped through bargaining and advocacy.
Building the Next Generation of Labor and Conflict Resolution Leaders
Programs like the Scheinman Newsletter, the Vietnam Engaged Learning Program, and internships with organizations such as the American Federation of Teachers demonstrate the Institute’s commitment to experiential education. These opportunities allow students to move beyond theory and engage directly with the people, organizations, and challenges shaping labor relations today.
By combining professional mentorship, hands-on learning, global engagement, and direct exposure to industry leaders, the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution continues to prepare students not only for successful careers, but also for meaningful leadership in the future of work.
