Cornell Alumni Association

09/17/2026

A ribbon cutting, a runway and a celebration of a lasting legacy✂️✨

Last Thursday, Cornell Human Ecology celebrated the dedication of the Gloria Protaz and Suzanne Protaz Gold ’75 Gallery, made possible through the generosity of Suzanne Protaz Gold ’75 in honor of her mother, Gloria Protaz.

Suzanne shared how her mother returned to work to help pay for her Cornell education and encouraged her from an early age to pursue her ambitions and forge her own path. “I always knew that I wanted to do something to honor my mother and all that she sacrificed for me,” Suzanne said. “Cornell seemed like the fitting place since it provided me with the tools to become who I am.”

The new gallery will carry that legacy forward as a space to showcase student projects, creative work, research and discovery.

The celebration continued with the opening of “Approaching America: Myth, Dress, and Belonging,” collaboratively curated by students in FSAD 6451: Curating Fashion Exhibitions. The exhibition examines and complicates ideas of American identity and belonging through fashion, bringing together garments and objects that span generations of American dress, from sportswear and everyday clothing to political fashion, formalwear and contemporary design.

And then, the hallway became a runway! Guests were treated to a live fashion show featuring 1970s American clothing from the extraordinary private collection of Ken West, with commentary developed by the student curators, offering the rare opportunity to experience historic fashion in motion.

We are deeply grateful to Suzanne for honoring her mother’s legacy in a way that will create opportunities for Human Ecology students to share their ideas, creativity and discoveries for generations to come.

The “Approaching America” exhibition is open through September 16.

Photo Credit: Galib Braschler

08/27/2026

For the University's 161st anniversary year, we revisited the iconic list of Big Red experiences. Check them out at the link in the comments and let us know how many of these you have done!

08/12/2026

📸 Brad Feinknopf ’86 planned to become an architect. Instead, a photography class at Cornell changed the way he saw the world, and ultimately launched a career capturing architecture through a different lens.

The Human Ecology alum, who majored in design and environmental analysis, is now one of the nation’s top architectural photographers, with three decades running his own studio and dozens of awards and honors for his work.

“While anyone can record architecture, creating meaningful photographs requires something deeper—an understanding of architecture as a language,” Feinknopf said. “And I have been looking at architecture all my life, learning that language.”

Feinknopf originally planned to follow his father and grandfather into architecture, but a photography class with Professor Barry Perlus changed his trajectory. “It opened up a whole new world to me about using the camera as a way to look at the world around you,” he recalled.

Today, Feinknopf sees his work as much more than photographing buildings.

“I have never really thought of myself primarily as a photographer; I see myself as a collaborator, a storyteller,” he said.

His work has taken him around the world and appeared in publications including Architectural Digest and the Wall Street Journal. He’s also brought his lens back to Cornell, photographing Milstein Hall, the Lab of Ornithology and the new North Campus residence halls.

“I have a great love of architecture,” Feinknopf said. “I just decided I’d rather get paid to experience and appreciate it.”

Read more about Feinknopf’s journey from Human Ecology to award-winning architectural photographer, and explore a selection of his work: https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/feinknopf-photographer/

All images by Feinknopf Photography

08/05/2026

A couple of weeks ago, we shared a batch of vintage images of Cornell student life captured in summery weather, drawn from Kroch Library's Rare and Manuscript Collections.

Here's round two, more color-saturated photos from the 1980s to the early 2000s, stored as slides (many on glorious Kodachrome) and never before digitized. Chances are, nobody's seen them since the day they were shot.

Do you recognize anyone in these photos? See your younger self? Tell us in the comments!

See more at https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/vintage-summery-photos-2/.

Photos courtesy of the Cornell University Library and the Cornell University Library - Rare and Manuscript Collections.

08/05/2026

☕️🍄 From Human Ecology to award-winning entrepreneurship!

When Cornell Human Ecology alumnus Jinhu Park ’09 set out to honor his family's legacy, he didn't just create another coffee brand: he built a company rooted in wellness, innovation and resilience.

After the loss of his brother to cancer, Park combined his family's expertise in traditional Korean fermentation with premium coffee to launch Imunika, a South Korea-based brand that infuses seven medicinal mushrooms into specialty coffee through a proprietary fermentation process.

“Not just in Korea, but across Asia, mushrooms are renowned for their power and potency. They were revered by kings and queens, and people would travel across mountains to collect them—almost like an elixir for them to live forever.”

A policy analysis and management graduate from the College of Human Ecology, Park transformed a deeply personal journey into a global business. Since founding Imunika in 2022, the company has earned international recognition, including multiple honors at the 2026 Global Coffee Awards Asia, where its espresso was praised as "truly distinctive and beautifully crafted."

Park says his family's mission began with hope:“We came together to make this very strong mushroom beta-glucan complex. But by the time we made something, my brother couldn't take any food, and he passed away.”

That experience inspired him to find a way to make the potential benefits of mushrooms part of an everyday routine.

Ironically, the inspiration came through a drink he never liked. “I didn't drink coffee—and I still don't drink any other coffee. I once asked a friend jokingly, 'Hey, life is already bitter. Why do you pay for something that's bitter and drink it?'”

Congratulations to Jinhu on building an innovative brand that blends tradition, science and entrepreneurship, and on representing the Human Ecology community on the global stage!

Read more at https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/HERO-09_Group_03-A.jpg

07/15/2026

Blue skies and good vibes: Cornell style. We're taking a trip back through Big Red history, revisiting balmy days on the Hill from the 1970s to the early 2000s.

The response to this collection has made one thing clear: there were too many gems to fit into a single post. Stay tuned for part two in a couple of weeks.

Photos courtesy of the Cornell University Library and the Cornell University Library - Rare and Manuscript Collections.

07/13/2026

At 91 years old, two-time Human Ecology alumna Barbara Travis Osgood '56, PhD '80, attended her 70th Cornell Reunion: and what she believes may be her last.

In a heartfelt first-person reflection, Barbara shares why she has never missed a Reunion since graduating in 1956, and how one unforgettable moment at Cornelliana Night made this year's celebration especially meaningful. "I've attended every Cornell Reunion since my graduation in 1956," she writes.

For Barbara, Reunion has always been about more than returning to campus. It's about reconnecting with cherished memories, lifelong friendships and the Cornell spirit that spans generations. "For an old 'reuner' like me, there are the memories: favorite professors and courses, living in the dorm, drinking coffee in the Ivy Room, dancing to the jukebox at Leonardo's," says Barbara.

She was determined not to miss one final tradition: singing onstage during Cornelliana Night: "I knew that I would be terribly disappointed to miss singing onstage with the group; it was always the high point of my Reunion... I absolutely could not miss this at my last Reunion!"

As she made her way to the stage, current Cornell students stepped in to help. "I was immediately grasped by some undergraduates, who helped me the rest of the way and opened their arms to draw me into the group," she writes. "My Reunion was complete!"

One conversation with a student studying chemical engineering reminded Barbara that the Cornell spirit continues to inspire new generations. She reflects on how Cornell has "so many brilliant and dedicated young students with aspirations to change the world!"

And in one of the story's most moving moments, she reflected on the young man who helped her onto the stage: "I don't know his name, but he helped me to the stage. He drew me into their group. I could tell how kind he was."

"I hope he gets to save the world," she adds.

Read Barbara's inspiring reflection in Cornellians on lifelong friendships, cherished traditions and why Cornell will always feel like home: https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/osgood-reunion/

07/13/2026

There's a certain magic to Cornell in July: Slower pace, same breathtaking views.

We'd love for you to come tread the Hill, whether you're a member of the Cornell alumni community, a Big Red fan, or helping a prospective student discover Cornell.

07/07/2026

What's your favorite Cornell summertime memory?

07/02/2026

Enjoy your summer, Cornell-style! Get hot-weather tips, gardening advice, and fun activities to keep you busy all summer long. Check out your summer guide! ☀️🕶️

Whether you have some epic travel planned or you’re going full staycation mode, we’ve got tips from Cornell experts, plus recipes and activities to keep you busy all season long.