Alex Gensemer came back to Cornell to discuss career exploration and professional transition as part of our Young Alumni Series! Currently, Alex is a Research Analyst at the City University of New York Office of Research, Evaluation and Program Support and previously worked as a Research Evaluation Program Manager at McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research. She graduated from the College of Human Ecology in 2013 as an HD major and obtained her Master’s of Social Work degree from New York University in 2015. Her CHE education has added value to her job and graduate school search and here is some of her great advice.
What experience impacted you the most during your undergraduate years here at Cornell?
My work at the Wells lab impacted me the most during my undergraduate years. From this lab, I was able to learn many foundational research skills, create survey measures, analyze data, reports, and much more. This was also an opportunity for me to find a smaller niche within Cornell. Going to a large university may be intimidating, but being in the smaller College of Human Ecology as well as the Wells Lab, gave me a sense of belonging. Being in a tight-knit group, I had a sense of identity and space within the College of Human Ecology that allowed me to connect with great mentors and colleagues.
What advice would you give to a student who isn’t sure what career path to take with an HD major?
Pay close attention to what makes you excited and be true to who you are and what you enjoy. A decision is not forever because you are only making a choice for the next part of your life, which is taking the first stepping block. Going into my MSW program, I was able to reaffirm my passion for research even though this was not my intended field of pursuit. Life is unpredictable, so students should always be open to new experiences and sail their ship towards what they love. Remember that every new experience provides foundation of new skills.
How important was networking in terms of finding your career path?
Networking has been crucial during every part of my career life. Keeping in touch with those within my various networks, I was able to build and maintain a huge level of support. Whenever an opportunity has risen, my networks have always been quick to notify me. Not to mention, when in need of reference letters, they would never hesitate to write one. Even though networking is an important aspect of a college education, I understand that the environment here at Cornell may be different. It may be harder to connect with faculty members and advisors here because it is such a large university. However, I suggest taking advantage of everything that Cornell has to offer, especially knowing the people in the advising offices.