Eliza VanCort: Claim Your Success. How to Identify and Neutralize Your Antimentor

After enduring traumatic kidnappings as a child and then surviving a life-altering bicycle accident as an adult, Eliza VanCort has become a renowned communications expert and empowerment advocate.

Eliza will use her academic expertise and decades as an acting instructor to transform her audience’s lives with innovative leadership and actionable communication tools and tips.

Eliza is a Cook House Fellow at Cornell University and a Govern for America League of Innovations member. She is also a co-founder of Think Twice Labs with Alma Derricks, former CMO of Cirque De Soleil, who wrote the book foreword. Think Twice takes a fresh approach to building emotional intelligence and improving communication across differences.

When: Tuesday, March 21, doors open at at 1pm, event starts at 1:30pm ET; Q&A, book sale, and signing to follow
Where: Lecture Hall 4 & 5, College of Veterinary Medicine

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation presents a six-part series of engaging conversations with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and current events. 

Upcoming Event: Wednesday, December 14, 2022, 11am EST, Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 932 2334 2232
Passcode: 851002

Radhika Nayak, a Career Development Specialist from the Office of Organizational and Workforce Development will present this conversation. The conversation will focus on your career at Cornell. This session will focus on taking charge of your growth and career development.

Join Cornell University literary historian and author Derrick Spires in this webcast as he challenges the assumption that there was little or no Black print culture in 19th-century America before the Civil War. Register Now.

When: Wednesday, December 1, 5:30pm EST

Nikole Hannah-Jones is the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project and a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. She has spent her career investigating racial inequality and injustice, and her reporting has earned her the MacArthur Fellowship, known as the Genius grant, a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards and the National Magazine Award three times. Hannah-Jones also earned the John Chancellor Award for Distinguished Journalism and was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists and the Newswomen's Club of New York. In 2020 she was inducted into the Society of American Historians and in 2021, into the North Carolina Media Hall of Fame. View the Cornell Calendar event.
When: Thursday, September 9, 5pm EDT
Where: Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium, Klarman Hall (Available by Live Stream)

Many of us have heard of micro-aggressions, actions that perpetuate the marginalization of certain groups. Presented by Reginald White, Senior Director of Human Resources for the Cornell Research Division, this lecture will discuss the antidote, micro-affirmations. Learn how actions which affirm our humanity can make a big difference
When: Tuesday, August 24, 2pm EDT
Zoom Link: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/95118815049?pwd=Zm53V09SaFVKRXhJc2dzT2dIOXh5Zz09 
Passcode: 030726

Celebration Conversations are spaces to celebrate the stories, accomplishments, cultures, and heritages of Cornell staff, centering on historically marginalized voices. These conversations provide opportunities to bring us closer together and create a better understanding of our colleagues at Cornell. We encourage all staff to attend to connect with each other, support their colleagues, and deepen everyone's sense of belonging at Cornell. Register in advance for this event.
When: Thursday, July 22, 12pm EDT

During this seminar, participants will learn about the key concepts of bias and bystander intervention. Participants will then learn about and incorporate strategies and considerations for intervening in bias incidents, including what to do when they commit or witness a bias at Cornell. This event is open to the Cornell community—registration required.
When: Wednesday, May 12, 2pm, EDT

The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Presidential Advisor on Diversity and Equity Avery August, and Vice Provost for International Affairs Wendy Wolford have organized an anti-Asian bias teach-in to hear from the community about the depth of these issues and strategies for fighting the rising discrimination.
When: Friday, May 7, 12-2pm, EDT

This roundtable discussion will examine key aspects of the Derek Chauvin trial; what the verdict means for the evolution of race in the law; and the role of organizations as catalysts for policy change and social impact in general.
When: Tuesday, April 27, 4:30–6pm EDT

The Cornell University Chorus, directed by Sarah Bowe, partners with ONEcomposer for a panel discussion with Dara Taylor about the need for diversity in the world of musical composition, and the action steps required to make the study of composition more welcoming to women and people of color.  The event is free and open to the public.
When: Sunday, April 11, 4pm EDT

The College of Arts and Sciences presents another event as part of their "Racism in America" yearlong series. Panelists will focus on the impact of racism on access to health care and health outcomes. The event is free and open to the public—registration required.
When: Monday, March 29, 7pm EDT

Many members of the Cornell community conduct some form of fieldwork – but the safety of individuals conducting that fieldwork can be compromised when they are not recognized as scientific researchers. These risks are even higher for individuals who identify as minorities based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, and/or religion.

To help identify Cornell researchers at field sites, the Cornell Store now has safety vests as well as car magnets available for sale which can be ordered directly by your department/lab using single sign-on and an account number for purchase: