Jada Hamilton, M.D.: Chair (she/her)

Greetings! I am a native of Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!) and have been at Cornell University for over 7 years, following a 20 year career in the United States Navy.

I work at Cornell Health providing primary, acute and preventive medical care, in addition to serving as team physician for multiple NCAA teams.

As a Family Physician, dedicated to providing person-centered care, I am committed to understanding and dismantling the social, structural, institutional and environmental factors which serve as barriers, negatively impact the health and wellness of our community.

The Women of Color Colleague Network Group has provided me an unparalleled opportunity for growth, fellowship, engagement, support and empowerment.

Christina Liang: Vice-Chair (she/her)

My name is Christina Liang (pronouns: she/her/hers) and I currently serve as Interim Judicial Administrator at Cornell. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, by my parents, who are Chinese immigrants. I currently live in Ithaca, NY with my husband (an English as a New Language teacher at Ithaca High School) and our two cats. I joined the Women of Color Colleague Networking Group within the first few weeks of working at Cornell, which is now over five years ago. The professional and personal connections I have since made through this group have helped build a sense of community for me and have been invaluable for my professional and personal development. I feel privileged and honor to serve as the current Vice Chair for this encouraging and empowering group as we continue our efforts to build an even stronger community for WOC at Cornell.

Amanda Williams: Member- at-Large

Hello! My name is Amanda Williams and I am a Financial Aid Counselor here a Cornell. I started my career at Cornell as an Admissions Counselor with the SC Johnson College of Business but have recently moved to the Office of Financial Aid to aid current Cornell students through their financial journeys in college. I am also a Masters student in the Department of Anthropology through the Employee Degree Program. I have been the historian of this amazing group for the past three years, taking pictures, notes, and anything that helps maintain a record of the work and community that we have built. The Women of Color Colleague Network Group has been an invaluable resource for everything from professional development, personal development, and resource finding. This group gives me the space to be my full authentic self at work while also providing that support and confidence to be myself no matter where I am.

Steph-Cowling Rich (she/her): Member- at- Large

My name is Steph Cowling-Rich (she/hers) and I work as an Assistant Director of Student Advising and Engagement in the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI).  In my work, I support and advise a cohort of students in OADI through EOP/HEOP, advise our student leadership group and help to shape the experience of all students that enter the office. I also focus on co-creating a community of advisors who work together to support students and develop best practices across Cornell.  The Women of Color Colleague Network Group has been a space for uplift, encouragement, and community for me.  I continue my involvement in this group for the opportunities of learning, celebration and connection with other WOC colleagues.

Cynthia Hart Schnedeker: Member-at- Large

I work as a Nurse Practitioner at Cornell Health since January 2010. I graduated in 1981 from Human Ecology majoring in Human Development.   I’m a lifelong Ithacan, having been born and raised in Ithaca and with my husband raised three children.

The WCCNG has given me the opportunity to meet and connect with the WOC community on campus. I look forward to the monthly meetings to share concerns and engage in dialogue on topics of shared interest. 

Jennifer Majka: Member-at-Large

I’ve had the pleasure of working in various positions at Cornell since 2007 and currently serve as the founding Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the SC Johnson College of Business. I’ve been a member of the WCCNG since its inception and I also served as the first Chair. The WCCNG gives me a sense of community and an opportunity to connect with women who may share similar interests and a common bond where we can offer support to one another. It’s also a learning environment where we have the opportunity to learn from our individual narratives about our similarities and differences. While we all may identify as women of color, our lived experiences, cultural backgrounds, and belief systems may be different from one another. Learning about these differences help us grow and become more knowledgeable about one another, and ultimately it helps form more meaningful relationships across difference.