More Than a Campus: How Cornell’s Global Community Changed My Life

It started with a parking ticket appeal… but what followed was a journey that stretched from Ithaca to Jamaica, to England, to Liberia, and beyond.

Dr. Locksley Edmondson, Professor Emeritus in Africana Studies at Cornell University, had received a citation—and after reviewing the case, I denied the appeal. But what happened next wasn’t frustration or resentment. It was a conversation. One of many moments that changed how I saw the world—those rare, first-hand conversations that make you stop, listen, and reflect.

After that initial exchange, I invited Professor Edmondson and his wife, Elizabeth, to dinner at Spicy Asian in Ithaca. They graciously accepted. Over that meal, we talked for hours—about international relations, Caribbean politics, sustainable transportation policies, and the deeply personal paths that had brought them to Ithaca. Actually, they talked—and I listened, fascinated. Their stories didn’t just span countries; they spanned disciplines, decades, and global movements. It was one of the most inspiring dinners of my life.

I was humbled by what Professor Edmondson and Elizabeth had lived through, contributed to, and stood for. Their stories didn’t just offer perspective—they expanded it. Even then, I was beginning to realize how people like them help shape the world—often in ways we rarely stop to recognize. What I didn’t realize at the time was that our conversation that night was only the beginning—soon after, they invited me to their home for dinner, where I would meet their close friend and colleague, Jackie N. Sayegh.

So…two weeks later, on a quiet Saturday evening, I stepped through their door expecting dinner—and found a gathering that would stay with me for years. We talked for over five hours, though in truth, I spent most of it listening. The room held three lives shaped by service, scholarship, and a deep commitment to community and culture. It felt less like a meal, more like a living archive of wisdom unfolding around the table.

Elizabeth, originally from Jamaica, had taught high school Spanish and worked at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston before joining Cornell. She now oversees international grant programs at the Einaudi Center for International Studies, including the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Her path to Ithaca was one of service and scholarship, and she told her story with warmth and humility.

Jackie, who currently works with Cornell’s Institute for African Development and also serves as a Program Manager at the Einaudi Center for International Studies, is a proud graduate of both the University of Liberia and Cornell. Her work focuses on supporting displaced women and youth through the study of indigenous traditions and social structures. That night, something she said stayed with me—and I ended up spending the next week learning as much as I could about Liberia, its history, and its people.

That evening didn’t feel like a Cornell networking dinner. It felt like stepping into something sacred—a space where stories, cultures, and lived wisdom converged. And it wasn’t an isolated moment.

In my 20+ years of living in Ithaca and working at Cornell (until 2023), moments like this were the norm. I’ve met people from over 80 countries—each with their own story, each leaving a mark. Whether it was chatting with a Ghanaian graduate student while helping him navigate a bus pass, or listening to postdocs share how their research on climate change and climate history was shaped by their upbringing, the learning never stopped. Then there were the incredible stories from students and scholars from places like Afghanistan, Kenya, and India. My world kept expanding. Every day.

Now, as headlines emerge questioning the role of international students on U.S. campuses, I find myself reflecting. Not in anger, but in gratitude. The students, scholars, and staff from across the globe didn’t just enrich Cornell—they enriched my life. They reminded me that education isn’t confined to classrooms or credentials. It happens at dinner tables. In hallway conversations. And even over denied parking tickets.

What we risk losing in these debates isn’t just tuition dollars or brainpower—it’s connection. It’s community. It’s humanity.

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