Graduate School

Ph.D. Career Stories: The Good, The Messy, and The Pivot
2025-08-05 16:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Curious about how a social science Ph.D. can open doors to meaningful careers beyond the tenure track? Join us for Ph.D. Career Stories: The Good, the Messy, and the Pivot—a virtual conversation series spotlighting Cornell alumni who have translated their doctoral training into impactful roles inside and outside academia.
In this session, you’ll hear from three professionals working across urban policy, service design, AI ethics, visual anthropology, and community-based research. Whether they’re leading research at nonprofits, producing documentary films, teaching at universities, or advising on emerging technologies, each guest brings a unique perspective on building a career that blends human-centered values with impact-driven work.
What to expect:

Honest, informal conversation—no slides or scripts
Balancing university teaching with consulting or freelance work
Practical insight into navigating uncertainty, finding direction, and translating academic training into impact

If you’re actively exploring life beyond the academy or curious about hybrid paths that combine teaching, research, and creative work, this event will offer clarity, connection, and inspiration.
Register to attend.

Sena Aydin Bergfalk, Ph.D. is a cultural anthropologist who works at the intersection of design research, strategy, and facilitation. She shapes service design projects across B2B and B2C ecosystems using a critical ethnographic lens to uncover assumptions and design services that connect business goals with human experiences. Sena earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Cornell in 2023 and is currently the Lead Service Designer at Sngular.

Marisa Turesky, Ph.D is a community-based researcher and educator focused on equity in urban policy. She is Director of Research at Mockingbird Analytics, a Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley, and serves on the Board of Drag Performers United. Her work integrates trauma-informed and participatory action research to explore how identity shapes access to space and services. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning & Development from the University of Southern California and a M.R.P. from Cornell University.

Mariangela Mihai, Ph.D. is a political and visual anthropologist whose work bridges generative AI, collaborative documentary, and social justice. She is an Assistant Professor at Western Washington University, a Red Teamer on Meta’s Generative AI Trust Team, and co-founder of the Ethnocine Film Collective, where she produces feminist films and impact campaigns. Her research and teaching focus on refugee rights, queer activism, Indigenous resistance, and ethical media practices across global contexts.

Weekly Trivia
2025-08-05 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-08-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Trivia is back for the summer starting June 10th! Summer trivia will be weekly on Tuesdays starting at 6:30 PM at the Big Red Barn. Come with a team or show up on your own and see Jacob to be matched with an existing team. All are welcome!

Primer Series: Identifying Resources to Succeed as a Teaching Assistant at Cornell
2025-08-06 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom
Wednesday, August 6, 9 – 10 a.m. – Register
Will you have teaching responsibilities this fall? Are you thinking about a faculty career track and want to develop your skills as an instructor? If your answer is “yes,” or you just want to find out more about teaching, join us to explore the many resources that are available to you at Cornell. At this session we will discuss the various teaching roles graduate students experience and identify areas you could develop to ensure a successful teaching experience.

Presenters: Colleen McLinn, associate dean for professional development, and Derina Samuel, associate director, graduate student development, Center for Teaching Innovation

Weekly Karaoke
2025-08-06 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-08-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
A brand new BRB program is launching: weekly Wednesday Karaoke! Grab some friends, bust out your favorite playlist, and come ready to sing some songs! To enter the queue, all songs must be non-explicit and submitted to the Google form provided at the event.

Primer Series: Enhancing Language Skills for Graduate Success
2025-08-07 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom
Thursday, August 7, 9 – 10 a.m. – Register
Do you use English as an additional language? Are you concerned about potential challenges related to speaking, listening, reading, and writing during your graduate program? Join the directors of the English Language Support Office and International Teaching Assistant Program to learn about approaches for navigating graduate school in English. You will leave this session with strategies you can start using right away to enhance your language learning and resources you can use as soon as you arrive at Cornell.
Presenters: Derina Samuel, associate director, graduate student development, Center for Teaching Innovation, and Michelle Crow, senior lecturer and director, English Language Support Office

Weekly Salsa
2025-08-07 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-08-14 17:30 - 19:30 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
You are invited to join our vibrant Latino dance community! Learn new salsa footwork and combinations in line and circle format. All levels welcome! No partner necessary. Photos and videos may be taken for promotional materials, if you would like to opt out please speak to our organizations leadership during lessons!

T.G.I.F.
2025-08-08 16:30 - 19:00, 2025-08-15 16:30 - 19:00, 2025-08-29 16:30 - 19:00, 2025-09-05 16:30 - 19:00, 2025-09-12 16:30 - 19:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Our weekly Tell Grads Its Friday will continue over the summer at our typical time. T.G.I.F. is catered to the graduate and professional student body. These students can bring guests, up to one per person. The age requirement for Cornell Affiliated non graduate students is 23 years or older.

Primer Series: Exploring Career Options in and Outside Academia
2025-08-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
Monday, August 11, 2 – 3 p.m. – Register
You might be thinking it is too early to think about the end as you are starting, but in this session you will learn how important it can be to keep your options open and how you can take advantage of your time at Cornell to gain experiences that help you rule in or rule out different career sectors based on what you value and in what environments you thrive. You will leave with three things you can do that don’t take long at all that will increase your agency.
Presenters: Susi Varvayanis, executive director, Careers Beyond Academia, and Christine Holmes, director, postdoctoral studies

Grad Tours: Big Red Barn (Graduate Student Center)
2025-08-18 11:00 - 12:30 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Are you a first-year graduate student? Are you serving as a peer mentor this semester? Do you simply want to know more about the BRB? We welcome all your new program peers and the entire graduate and professional student body to our first orientation week event: a tour of the Big Red Barn! Our barn coordinator will provide a presentation, answer questions, and give out some goodies from our little slice of central campus. We hope to see you all there!

2025 Summer Success Symposium
2025-08-19 10:00 - 15:30 | G10 Biotechnology Building, 526 Campus Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
This community and professional development event invites new and continuing research students from across all graduate fields to engage with successful alumni, faculty, professionals, and each other. Register here!

New Student Trivia
2025-08-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Join your friends at the Big Red Barn for our annual New Student-themed trivia! Questions will be curated toward Cornell fun facts, including Ithaca topics, famous alumni, and more! Bring a team or come alone, and we will match you with one. We’re excited to welcome you all to the Barn!

Letterbox I.R.L.: 2025 Media Discussion
2025-08-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
What better way to make connections than through a shared love of genre! The big red barn is excited to pilot a new event idea, where students of any kind are welcome to come and discuss their favorite iconic moments in 2025 media! Organized by vibes (also known as genres), discussion can range from cinema, TV series, the Met Gala, pop culture moments, and more! All opinions shared are welcome and encouraged, while maintaining a kind and safe environment.

Dean's Welcome for New Graduate and Professional Students
2025-08-21 09:00 - 10:00 | Bailey Hall, 230 Garden Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Welcome, new graduate and professional students! You’re invited to the Dean’s Welcome on Thursday, August 21, at 9 a.m. in Bailey Hall. The formal program features the Cornell president, the Graduate School dean and vice provost for graduate education, and a panel of esteemed faculty and students.

Grad Connect 2025: A Resource Fair for Graduate and Professional Degree Students
2025-08-21 10:00 - 13:00 | Ramin Room, Bartels Hall, 554 Campus Road, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
This collaborative resource fair will allow graduate and professional degree students from across programs to engage with each other while learning more about the resources, offices, and organizations that help support their development and progression at Cornell. Open to incoming and current students. View this year’s tables.
If you need accommodations to participate, please email gradstudentlife@cornell.edu.

BRB Ice Cream Social
2025-08-21 14:30 - 15:30 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
The Big Red Barn in partnership with the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly will be providing free ice cream to all guests! First come, first served and while supplies last.

Orientation T.G.I.F.
2025-08-22 16:30 - 19:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Confident in your knowledge of the Big Red Barn? Ready to answer the next generation of graduate students’ burning questions about life at Cornell?
We welcome any graduate and professional students interested in sharing their experiences with the Incoming Graduate student body in a peer-to-peer informal social space. TGIF will continue as usual; however, if you wish to participate, grab a name tag from the check-in table and spark a conversation!

T.G.I.F. is catered to the graduate and professional student body. These students can bring guests, up to one per person. The age requirement for Cornell Affiliated non graduate students is 23 years or older.
This weeks T.G.I.F is a special Orientation theme with event details soon to come!

Primer Series: Understanding Doctoral Funding at Cornell
2025-08-28 14:00 - 15:00
Understanding Doctoral Funding at Cornell with Jason Kahabka, Associate Dean for Administration and Student Services
Thursday, August 28, 2-3pm in Bradfield Hall 101 (space is limited, so please register in advance!)
At Cornell, almost all Ph.D. students receive funding that pays tuition and provides a living stipend through a combination of fellowships, assistantships, and external scholarships. This presentation will explain how stipends are paid, what your responsibilities are, and provides insight on how to be an active participant in your own funding plan.

CV to Resume Workshop
2025-09-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
This webinar will help you target common terms used in industry, non-profit and government jobs; basic resume structure and tips on highlighting your Ph.D. skillsets to position YOU as the preferred job candidate.
This webinar is open to all Ph.D. students and postdocs.
To Register
For more events, please visit gradcareers.cornell.edu.
Accessibility Requests
We strive to make our events accessible to all community members. Individuals who would like to request accessibility accommodations should contact gradcareers@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met.

Weekly Language Circle
2025-09-08 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-09-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Join us every Monday to learn a new language, brush up on an old one, or get more fluent through conversations with fellow graduate students who study these languages or are native speakers.
This fall, languages include Italian, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic, Russian, Norwegian, and French. Facilitators will be present for all!

If you are interested in facilitating Spanish, Korean, or any other non-English language, please email Hetvi [hsd37@cornell.edu]

BRB Trivia
2025-09-09 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Trivia is back weekly on Tuesdays 7 PM to 9 PM at the Big Red Barn. Come with a team or show up on your own and see our trivia host, Jacob, to be matched with an existing team. All are welcome!

Guided Nature Walk
2025-09-12 15:30 - 16:30 | Big Red Barn, 135 Presidents Way, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
Take a guided nature walk on campus with Nature Rx and BRB Wellness to inspire awe! Our first walk of the series will be Friday, September 12th. We will Meet at the Patio at 3:30PM and depart at 3:45PM. Walks will continue biweekly and will feature special guests as guides, so keep an eye out for our series! The series will continue through rain, snow, or shine.
