40. Niles Donegan

Lyme, New Hampshire · Arts and Sciences

Niles.Donegan@Dartmouth.edu

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.
I’m a microbiologist who works on Staphylococcus aureus virulence at Dartmouth.  I earned my Ph.D. at Dartmouth, and stayed to be a research associate, as well as start a biotech called Saureus, which is developing an assay for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases.  Outside lab, I live just north of Hanover with my wife Rachel and daughter Maeve in a classical New England town called Lyme.  We walk with Maeve to school every day, and at night Maeve and I sing Cornell's “Evening Song” as one of her bedtime songs.  She doesn’t understand “’Tis an echo from the walls...”, but maybe one day she’ll find out for herself.  My wife works at a science museum, where she’s been introducing the modern tinkering and maker ethic to kids and grownups.  We're both enthusiastic about the maker movement and science, which I’m sure means social doom for Maeve when she grows up.

What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found the most useful?
"Ancient Art in Context” absolutely demanded critical thinking and skepticism. After studying Egyptian tombs and pottery, we were set loose on “Chariots of the Gods” and other flim-flammery.  While it wasn’t a seminar with Sagan, it was my first experience at Cornell on how to think critically.
A year of Orgo (Chem359-360-301) was the most useful, as professors Carpenter, Frechet, and Wilcox treated us as young scientists, and hated pre-meds.  We had great assignments, like doing espionage to reverse-engineer perfume scents. By the end, I had a rhythmic feel for how electrons moved in a reaction (a feeling long gone).

What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
I remember that my roommate Jon and I figured out how to get tons of free stuff in the mail by collecting dining hall UPCs.   Kellogg’s would send a Lego kit FREE for just one UPC, so every day we would grab dozens of UPCs.  The EcoHouse mailroom was not pleased when 600 envelopes arrived.  We donated most, but kept 100 minifigs for Lego flashmobs.  We then expanded UPC acquisitions for 1000 liters of RC-Cola, tested Orgo chemicals on Gak and Wacky-Wall-Walkers, and made a small ball pit from free soccer balls.  Unsurprisingly, Kellogg’s started charging for promotions soon after.

What random or surprising encounters with Cornell or Cornellians have you experienced since you left?
Once, I was sitting with my family outside a country store in Woodstock, Vermont, when I heard the notes of "Annie Lisle" quietly in the distance.  My wife had no idea why my head snapped around, and I eventually found some gentlemen singing near the town green.  They were Sherwoods, and most were at the (infamous) Fall Tonic XII of our freshman year, where the Hangovers realized that champagne and velvet curtains just don’t mix.  The Sherwoods graciously covered my terrible signing voice in another round of the Alma Mater, and I returned elated back to my family.

41. Stephanie Gendell

New York, New York · Human Ecology

sgendell@aol.com

Twitter: @SGendell

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.

I am living in NYC, trying to make NY a better place to be a child.  Specifically, I am the Associate Executive Director at a child advocacy organization (Citizens’ Committee for Children) where I analyze legislation, budgets, and policies and advocate for children. (I got a law degree after Cornell.)  Some of my big wins include funding for 3,000 preventive slots to prevent child abuse; saving child care and after-school from being cut from 47,000 children; securing funding for full-day pre-k for all 4-year-olds in NYC; and getting the legislature to add 25 Family Court Judges.  In my free time, I enjoy all NYC has to offer including sports conditioning classes in Central Park, beer gardens, Yankee games, and of course time with my friends from Cornell.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
It’s impossible to come up with one favorite memory of my favorite place—here are some of the best:  Walking onto Schoellkopf Field dressed as the Big Red Bear (and being passed through the stands); sleeping outside to get hockey tickets as a freshman and then inside Lynah as a sophomore; watching someone (whose identity I will protect) be escorted out of Lynah for throwing a fish on the ice; playing hearts; 214 Eddy; the 5 flights to my freshman dorm; Slope Day; Buckfest; Hot Truck; “my desk” at Uris Library; starting the Homework HelpLine; and of course—the gorges.  

How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?
My time at Cornell has influenced my life in so many ways and essentially shaped me into the person I am today.  I learned that life is short and you need to live each day to the fullest.  I learned to appreciate the beauty in the world around me.  I learned that my passion is child policy and advocacy (thank you Professor Gerner).  I learned how important it is to work hard and play hard— it is ok to both close down the library and the bar!  And I learned to treasure my friends—especially the Cornellians :)

What random or surprising encounters with Cornell or Cornellians have you experienced since you left?
My favorite Cornell moment (and perhaps life moment) happened after graduation.  In 2003, the NJ Devils won the Stanley Cup (YEAH!) and the Big Red’s Joe Nieuwendyk was on that team.  Players who win the Cup get to spend a day with it. Joe spent his day at Cornell.  Ken Gordon and I heard this and headed to Ithaca.  We had an amazing time at the alumni hockey game, seeing Joe and the Cup, and then touching the Cup at Dunbar’s.  Then it happened—I got to drink from the Stanley Cup (best mix of beer and champagne ever!)

42. Danielle Gensch

San Francisco, California · Engineering

Name at Cornell
Danielle Sveska

dgensch@nossaman.com

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.
I'm a partner at a California-based law firm, am married to a fellow attorney (although he went to Stanford) and have a wonderful one-year old daughter.

What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found the most useful?
I really enjoyed Prof. Stedinger's class in Risk Assessment.  It was an excellent introduction on how to accurately communicate risk to a non-technical audience, and I use the skills I learned there nearly every day as an attorney.

If you could change anything about your Cornell experience, what would it be?
While I value the skill set I gained at the College of Engineering, I didn't last long as an engineer.  I might have enjoyed urban and regional planning or history as majors.

What advice would you give to a student starting at Cornell this year?
Take advantage of as many opportunities outside your college and your major as you can -- you will spend a lot of time in class with people in your major, and it is really helpful for your sanity and for becoming a well-rounded person.

43. Amy Hunt Coslik

Forth Worth, Texas · Agriculture and Life Sciences

Name at Cornell
Amy Suzanne Hunt

acoslik@fortworthzoo.org

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.
I love spending time with my family... my husband, Erik, two daughters, Lucy, 4, and Mia,1, and our animals.  We have many pets, including 6 horses and a donkey.

I have worked as a Nutritionist/Lab technician at the Fort Worth Zoo for 15 years.  The last five years I have worked part time in order to spend more time with my family.

What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found the most useful?
Animal Nutrition 212 taught by Dr. Alan Bell.  This class is the reason I became interested in zoo nutrition as a field and why I have the career I do today.

What advice would you give to a student starting at Cornell this year?
Get to know your teachers and the graduate students in your department - there are amazing people learning and working at Cornell!

What does being a Cornell alumnus mean to you?
An incredible network of friends and colleagues.  I was Social Director and President of  the Cornell Alumni Association of North Texas for several years and was fortunate to meet and socialize with many, many wonderful people.