Alumni Newsletter Spring 2026
Graduate School News
Photo: Cornell Law School
Donor’s Fund Enables Dedicated Humanities Research
Jonathan Zhu, J.D. ’92, would not have been able to attend Cornell without his A.D. White Fellowship. Initially pursuing study in English literature before eventually switching to law school, Zhu had a difficult time finding funding—an experience familiar to many students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences today.
“I thought, maybe I can do my little bit to help address that,” he said.
Read more about the Zhu Family Graduate Fellowships.
More Graduate School News
- Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Candidate Wins 2026 Three Minute Thesis Competition
- Doctoral Alumna Wins SUNY Chancellor Distinguished Ph.D. Dissertation Award
- Doctoral Alumna Selected for CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award
- Graduate Student Veterans Lead Baby Brigade Initiative
Graduate Student Impact
Photo: Provided
Grad Student Ignites a Passion for Science in Angolan Youth
Biomedical engineering doctoral candidate Cátia Dombaxe is bringing badly needed practical science education to impoverished areas of Angola through the STEAMpact Foundation, a nonprofit she founded in 2024.
Read more about Dombaxe and STEAMpact.
More Graduate Student Impact
- Human Patrols Boost Migrating Amphibians
- Stephen Bredin, natural resources and the environment master’s student, and Stephanie Tran, ecology and evolutionary biology doctoral candidate
- Student-led McClintock Letters Campaign Gets Research!America Award
- Isako Di Tomassi and Emma Scales, plant pathology and plant-microbe biology doctoral candidates
- Teens Prepared for Puberty Report Fewer Mental Health Issues
- Christopher Davis, psychological sciences and human development doctoral candidate
Alumni Spotlights
- Jiameng Lai, Ph.D. ’25 (soil and crop sciences)
- Diana Hernández, Ph.D. ’10 (sociology)
- Rachit Nigam, Ph.D. ’25 (computer science)
Reunion 2026
Graduate School in the Rare and Manuscript Collections + Mixer
Join the Graduate School and Cornell University Library for a special Reunion event on Saturday, June 6, from 3–5 p.m. The afternoon will begin with the Rare and Manuscript Collections open house (3–4 p.m.) featuring the Plant-Based exhibit, followed by a mixer with drinks at the Big Red Barn (4–5 p.m.).
This event brings together graduate alumni and the Library, offering a relaxed opportunity to reconnect, explore exceptional collections, and continue the conversation with fellow Cornellians.
Learn more about the Reunion event.
Cornell and Ithaca News
Photo: Alexandra Bayer/Cornell University
Historical Marker Commemorates Toni Morrison’s Time in Ithaca
On Feb. 18, Cornell faculty, staff, students, and community members celebrated Morrison’s 95th birthday by unveiling a new historical market in front of the Albany Street house where she lived during the first year of her master’s program at Cornell.
Read more about the historical marker.
More Cornell and Ithaca News
- Former Camp Barton Scout Camp to Become Three Falls State Park on Cayuga Lake
- Hillel Breaks Ground on New Building to Support Jewish Life at Cornell
- Ithaca Ranked Among Top Arts-Vibrant Towns
- Finger Lakes Named American Wine Region of the Year
Book Recommendations
Looking for Something New to Read?
Check out the book recommendations compiled by the team at Cornellians. Featuring works by alumni and faculty across a number of genres, you can be sure to find your next Big Red read.
Planned Giving
By including the Cornell University Graduate School as a beneficiary of your planned gifts, you can ensure that your legacy will help prepare future generations of leaders. Our team of experts can work with you and your advisors to make sure your personal planning and charitable giving objectives are met in a way that is fulfilling and maximizes the benefits of available tax incentives. Contact the Office of Trusts, Estates, and Gift Planning (gift_planning@cornell.edu) to get more information about the options.
Alumni in the News
Photo: Charissa King-O’Brien/Cornell Engineering
Ancient Dirty Dishes Reveal Decades of Questionable Findings
An interdisciplinary team of Cornell researchers has determined that organic residues or plant oils are poorly preserved in calcareous soils from the Mediterranean. The project began in 2019, when the study’s lead author, Rebecca Gerdes, Ph.D. ’24, was a doctoral student in the Department of Classics.
Read more about the researchers’ findings.
More Alumni in the News
MirrorBot: Fostering Human Connection
Cornell Chronicle, 4/2/26
Alumni: Serena Guo, M.S. ’24, Ph.D. ’25, and Gilly Leshed, Ph.D. ’09
Atomic Distortions Reveal New Clues About Superconductivity
Cornell Chronicle, 4/2/26
Alumni: Berit Goodge, Ph.D. ’22; David Muller, Ph.D. ’96; and Julia Mundy, M.S. ’13, Ph.D. ’14
Alum Gilles Brassard Receives Turing Award, Highest CS Honor
Cornell Chronicle, 3/19/26
Alum: Gilles Brassard, Ph.D. ’79
Ecologist, Biogeochemist Emily Bernhardt to Lead Cornell Atkinson
Cornell Chronicle, 3/18/26
Alum: Emily Bernhardt, Ph.D. ’01
Misfits Find a Home and a History in the Ongoing Story of Punk
Cornell Chronicle, 3/18/26
Alum: Greg Graffin, Ph.D. ’03
Vitamin B12 Clues Offer Hope for New Therapies
Cornell Chronicle, 1/20/26
Alumni: Martha Field, Ph.D. ’07; Luisa Castillo, Ph.D. ’25; and Katarina Heyden ’18, Ph.D. ’24
Narrative-based Performance Reviews Deemed Fairest by Employees
Cornell Chronicle, 1/5/26
Alum: Joonyoung Kim, M.I.L.R. ’18, Ph.D. ’23
U.S. Communities are Getting Older and More Livable
Cornell Chronicle, 12/9/25
Alumni: Mildred Warner, M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’97, and Xue Zhang, M.S. ’16, Ph.D. ’19
Trees of Life: Book by Ph.D. Alum Takes a Deep Dive into Evergreens
Cornellians, 12/9/25
Alum: Trent Preszler, M.S. ’02, Ph.D. ’12
Eco-friendly Ag Practices May be Easier Than Farmers Think
Cornell Chronicle, 11/13/25
Alum: Jeff Liebert, Ph.D. ’22
Grad Notes
Photo: Jason Koski/Cornell University
Cornellians Would Love to Hear From You!
Grad Notes are your opportunity to connect with your fellow alums and share news. Submit a news form or email cornellians@cornell.edu.