Student Spotlights

Our Masters in Professional Studies (MPS) in Information Science students characterize the leadership, diversity, curiosity, boldness, and versatility needed to both succeed in a rapidly changing field and make an impact on our world. 

Below, meet some of our current students, and hear from alumni about their careers and their Cornell experiences.

Each year our students complete an exit survey to give us an idea of where they're headed, how much they'll be making and what types of work they'll be doing. See our Info Sci MPS Careers page for more information about our graduates.

Kendall Hoffman ’23 (MPS ’23)

“That hands-on focus was not unique to the MPS project course. It was a feature of other courses too. Almost every single class had a class project,” she said. “I took very few exams. The program’s emphasis on the application of what we were learning – not just the memory recall of concepts – was super useful for me and the way that I learn.”

- Kendall Hoffman ’23, MPS ’23

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Kay Zhang (MPS '22)

Zhang – who recently joined Tyson Foods as a user experience (UX) designer – emphasizes the importance of having a plan when navigating Cornell Information Science's leading Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program.

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Amber Li, MPS '22

Amber Li (MPS '22)

“Because Information Science at Cornell is interdisciplinary, every student is challenged to think critically,” said Amber Li, now a business analyst with McKinsey & Company. “That critical-thinking ability solves problems in a consulting setting.” 

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Anita Xu and Kathy Wang, recent Info Sci graduates and founders of Uplift, at the 2019 MIT Grand Hack.

Kathy Wang and Anita Xu (MPS '19)

We break from the traditional one-on-one interview with an individual student to chat with a duo – 2019 MPS graduates Kathy Wang and Anita Xu, who recently launched the startup, Uplift. 

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Ayan Ahmed (MPS '19)

Ayan Ahmed (MPS '19)

In her two semesters in the MPS  program, Ahmed has padded her portfolio with essential, real-world experience that any hiring team would note, including a consulting project for a South African handmade soap company. “At Cornell, I’d done a lot of group work, the kind of group work I like," she said. "It’s practical and realistic of how actual business teams operate.”

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Shea Belsky (Info Sci '18, MPS '18)

Shea Belsky (Info Sci '18, MPS '18)

"I’ve had the chance to work with people as varied as architecture students, chemical engineers, fine arts students, MBAs, and more. It’s been amazing to hear their perspectives, get to learn from them, and collaborate to make awesome things."

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Lola Legrand (Info Sci '17, MPS '18)

Lola Legrand (Info Sci '17, MPS '18)

From Rapid Prototyping to the Tech/Law Colloquium, diverse course offerings have allowed Lola room to explore her interests further, and she’s excelled. "I can say without a doubt that this program and this major played an integral role in preparing me with the skills I need to pursue a position I’m absolutely thrilled about."

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Eric Porter (Info Sci '17, MPS '18)

Eric Porter (Info Sci '17, MPS '18)

Eric’s interdisciplinary Information Science education afforded him room to explore the many aspects of technology. “All the skills from these programs will prove fruitful in getting these jobs I’m interested in,” he said. “Whether it’s product design, consulting or front-end development, I have the skill set to do it. Now, it’s a matter of where do I want to focus.”

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Terry Vallery (MPS, '18)

Terry Vallery (STS '17, MPS '18)

"I saw the InfoSci MPS program as the natural, professional step in solidifying my undergrad studies in HCI as well as gaining hands-on training in implementing real-world design solutions. The opportunities for project work help me to explore rapidly growing facets of HCI design and allow me to share my personal interests with clients and classmates."

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Anagha Todalbagi (MPS, '17)

Anagha Todalbagi (MPS '17)

"Cornell has been helping me realize my full potential. It has a very supportive community with a great ecosystem that has encouraged me to grow intellectually and build more rounded skills. I’m grateful for having brilliant professors and research scientists, who are ninjas in their chosen fields, as my mentors and for the opportunity to interact with outstanding peers."