Anthropology Ph.D. Candidate Named Newcombe Fellow

Natalie Nesvaderani, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, was recently selected as a recipient of the Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. Administered through the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Nesvaderani is one of 23 recipients for the 2019-20 academic year.

Nesvaderani is studying the intersection of documentary film, migration, and children’s labor in Iran.

“Through community-based collaborations, participatory filmmaking, and visual anthropology methods, my research works to disrupt mainstream narratives about immigrants and migration,” Nesvaderani said.

Read the full Newcombe story

Cornell Community Enjoys Special Reunion Weekend TGIF

Photos by Associate Dean Jan Allen

Cornell graduate students, alumni, and postdocs came together over free drinks and snacks on Friday, June 7 for a special Reunion Weekend TGIF at the Big Red Barn.

Attendees were encouraged to interact with one another to share experiences as members of the Cornell community and provide advice on life after graduate school. Also made available were gratitude postcards to encourage all in attendance to express thanks to those who supported them during their time at Cornell.

The special TGIF was co-sponsored by the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center, and Cornell Career Services’ Graduate and International Student Career Advisor.

Explore the Botanic Gardens

Photos by Associate Dean Jan Allen

Enjoy the weather and take a walk through the Cornell Botanic Gardens to see what’s blooming!

The Botanic Gardens are open year round, free of charge, from dawn to dusk. With over 3,600 acres of biologically diverse landscapes, the Botanic Gardens is a living museum with a mature botanic garden and arboretum.

For ideas on where to walk, explore the interactive Garden Map. The interactive map allows users to understand areas based on interest and helps lead explorations of gardens, natural areas, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and outdoor sculptures, as well as practical amenities. A window pops up with a link to more information or directions for each point of interest on the map.

U.S. Legislative Advocacy Opportunity

Pell Grants for Income-Eligible Graduate Students

A group of bipartisan elected members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), introduced the Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act, H.R. 3334 on June 19.

The bill would allow graduate students who received Pell Grant support as undergraduates to rollover any “unused” semesters of Pell Grant support towards their first graduate degree as long as they remain income-eligible. Current law provides eligibility for up to 12 semesters of Pell Grant support for students with low income, but prohibits the use of Pell Grants for graduate degrees.

In many cases, Pell Grant recipients use less than the 12 full semesters eligibility. Under this introduced bill, students who received a Pell Grant during their undergraduate education would be able to use their remaining Pell Grant eligibility toward their first graduate degree.

H.R. 3334 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor.

Students interested in voicing opinions can find House email addresses on the U.S. House of Representatives Directory of Representatives webpage or by contacting the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Student Spotlight: Matheus Baseggio

Matheus Baseggio is a doctoral candidate in plant breeding and genetics from Passo Fundo, Brazil. Having completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of Passo Fundo in Brazil and a master’s degree at the University of Florida, he opted to pursue a doctorate from Cornell due to the reputation of its plant breeding and genetics program.

Read the full student spotlight

Interested in what other graduate students are doing both on and off campus?

Check out our student spotlights, Q&As with current students about their research, hobbies, and experiences at Cornell.

Kudos!

City and Regional Planning Doctoral Candidate Selected as Young Leader

Seema Singh was selected as a young leader under the Young Leader in Sustainable Transport (YLST) Program jointly launched by the Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT) and the Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF). Six participants were selected in the first batch of this program in June 2019; these participants comprise young researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. As part of the program, participants will engage in research with special focus on evidence-based policy advocacy in the field of sustainable transport. The research topics will support research at the nexus of sustainable development and climate change in transport. More information is available on the SLoCaT website.