Graduate school is a fulfilling and rewarding experience, and sometimes challenging. It can be helpful to reach out to someone. In addition to talking with your already established networks (i.e. your friends, family, or mentors), other Cornell individuals can provide valuable information and caring support.

If you are in crisis, please call Cornell Health 24/7 at 607-255-5155 and identify the situation as an emergency. Cornell Health is equipped to handle crisis situations on short notice. During business hours, any student with an urgent need can walk into Cornell Health for counseling or other assistance. Students can also contact the Cornell University Police Department at 607-255-1111.

Contacts for non-emergency situations:

• Your Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)
• Your Graduate Field Administrator (GFA)
• Janna Lamey in the Office of Graduate Student Life
• Olivia Hopewell in the Office of Graduate Student Life
• Sara Xayarath Hernández in the Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement
• Student Services
• Cornell Health Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Your Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)

• Academic help, including information about academic requirements, expectations, and resources for support
• Guidance on handling dispute resolution

Your Graduate Field Administrator (GFA)

• Administrative help
• Procedures and resources

Janna Lamey in the Office of Graduate Student Life

Contact Associate Dean Janna Lamey (janna.lamey@cornell.edu) for any reason, the earlier the better, by email or at 607-255-5184 (direct line). As a first-point of contact at the Graduate School, students often meet with Janna to brainstorm options, gain support, and receive information or referrals about the following: 

Academic: 

• Explore navigating academic relationships and difficulty in making academic progress
• Consider alternatives in your academic program (i.e. switching programs, changing career path, leaving Cornell)

Health and wellness: 

• Explore options for when health concerns are impacting academic progress
• Understand sources of support when not able to focus or concentrate or loss of motivation in research/scholarship

Policies and procedures: 

• Explore options in handling difficult problems or situations
• Understand university policies and procedures better as it relates to your concern

Personal concerns:

• Address personal or family emergencies, such as injury, accident, or death
• Navigate challenging personal life situations (i.e. roommates, partner/children, visa concerns, financial, etc.)
• Discuss options when you have been treated unfairly, insensitively, or irresponsibly

What you can expect from meeting with Janna: 

• Confidentiality*
• Non-judgmental place to listen effectively to your experience   
• Brainstorm possible solutions and evaluate alternative plans for resolution   
• Assistance (that you want!) to help navigate your program 
• Resources and services for academic and personal support 
• Referrals to other services and personnel (may include other Graduate School deans)
• Support you as a whole person; reaffirm the value of self-care and being resilient 

*Meetings with Janna can be confidential, except in cases where university policy or federal law obligates me to report or address, such as situations of harm to self or others, along with situations of sexual misconduct/violence. In these situations, other campus offices (outside your program) will need to be brought into the conversation and you will be informed of this along the way.

If you would like other confidential resources, please consider going to Cornell Health, Cornell United Religious Work Chaplains, the Cornell Victim Advocate, the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), the LGBT Resource Center, or the University Ombuds.

Olivia Hopewell in the Office of Graduate Student Life

The Office of Graduate Student Life takes a holistic, student-centered approach to support the unique needs of each graduate student. Our staff offers dynamic advising through partnership, collaborative problem-solving, and empowerment. As graduate student life advisor, Dr. Hopewell is committed to understanding and supporting the full graduate student experience through the lens of anti-racism, DEI efforts, and trauma-informed student relations. Topics routinely covered include:

• Intersection of personal health and wellbeing and academics
• Campus resources (mental health, financial assistance, mentoring, etc.)
• Graduate curriculum navigation (hidden and otherwise)
• Policies and procedures
• Personal concerns
• Conflict resolution options

Sara Xayarath Hernández in the Office of Inclusion and Student Engagement

Contact Associate Dean Sara Xayarath Hernández (sh267@cornell.edu) to discuss issues related to diversity and inclusion; leadership and professional development; community and alumni engagement; and incidents of bias. Common reasons:

• Discuss how you are experiencing the climate of Cornell and explore opportunities to further enhance the climate for graduate students
• Explore opportunities to collaborate with the Graduate School and graduate student organizations on initiatives focused on community engagement, diversity, and inclusion
• Explore the programs and resources available to support the professional and leadership development of graduate students
• Learn about opportunities to engage with alumni through professional development based programs
• Discuss options for reporting and dealing with experiences related to bias and discrimination

Student Services

Contact Student Services (gradstudserv@cornell.edu) for general inquiries about registration, enrollment, funding, leaves, exams, petitions, thesis and dissertation submission, degree completion, or other student requirements.

Cornell Health Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Call CAPS at 607-255-5155 to speak to staff members confidentially about academic, emotional, or social concerns. It is a sign of intelligence and strength to recognize when you may need help. CAPS supports the “Let’s Talk” program which provides easy access for you to receive informal confidential consultations with counselors. These are free and confidential, and no appointment is necessary.

If you have questions about managing your mental health while you are away from campus, please see this resource.

Mental Health at Cornell is also dedicated to providing support and resources to meet the emotional, physical, social, and spiritual needs of the university community. 

If you do not see what you need on this page, we encourage you to contact Janna Lamey (janna.lamey@cornell.edu); she can direct you to the appropriate resource.