Staff Stories: Zora Blitz

The art of crafting a career at Cornell

By Grace DePaull

For Zora Blitz, rejection didn’t stop her — it was the spark that set her career at Cornell in motion. What could have been a discouraging setback became a catalyst for growth, carrying her from role to role, sharpening her skills and shaping her into the leader she is today while fueling a renewed sense of possibility within the university. 

When Blitz first arrived at the institution, she saw herself primarily as an artist — a sculptor whose work uses abstracted natural forms and the feeling of movement as metaphor for life experiences. That artistic identity led her to a part-time administrative role at the Johnson Museum of Art, where she could remain immersed in a creative environment while beginning to explore a career beyond art school. From there, she moved into a full-time position in the History of Art department, where she was eventually encouraged to apply for a program manager role — her eyes set on an even bigger canvas. 

“Up until this moment, I had seen my job at Cornell as secondary to being an artist,” Blitz admitted. “But going through that interview process made me consider administrative work as a career. I started to believe that I not only could do it, but I could do it well.” 

Though she didn’t get the position, Blitz didn’t let the setback define her. The rejection forced a moment of truth: she realized she wasn’t going to make a career out of her art, but it also gave her the chance to choose a different path — one that could bring her closer to the kind of leader she wanted to become.

Determined to gain the skills she lacked, Blitz pivoted into a position in Performing and Media Arts for Finance and Human Resources. It wasn’t just a career move; it was a calculated leap toward the kind of future she envisioned.

 “In art school, I used to start by thinking about what I wanted to create,” Blitz said. “I’d settle on a vision and then figure out the process to get there. I realized that’s the same with anything I want to pursue. If the department, team or even myself could benefit from a change, I ask, ‘How do we get there?”

Guided by that same artistic discipline, Blitz identified the skills she needed to step confidently into a role as a leader and set clear goals to acquire them. Her motivation was fueled by supportive supervisors who believed in her potential, offered encouragement and entrusted her with leadership tasks beyond her job description. She also tapped into Cornell’s wealth of resources — from Workday learning modules to mock interviews and résumé reviews, as well as leadership training through the Harold D. Craft Leadership Program. These experiences broadened her perspective, connected her with peers across the university and gave her the ability to step back and see her work in a new light.

Now, Blitz is the administrative manager of Computational Biology at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and credits much of her success to the mentors who kept her motivated in the face of setbacks. Having experienced firsthand the power of that support, she is committed to serving as a mentor to colleagues, sharing what she’s learned and helping others navigate their own career paths at Cornell. 

“I believe it’s a Cornell value that part of being a mentor is wanting your people to do their best work and understanding that might mean they grow beyond their current role,” Blitz said. “It feels good to see a staff member take that next step. Knowing you may have helped them build the skills to get there is deeply rewarding. When your people do better, it means you’re better at your job, and there’s a real sense of pride that comes from helping to nurture someone’s growth.”

Blitz’s perspective on collaboration and exploration helped her see beyond her artistic background. Though she once believed her career could only unfold in the arts, she realized that the same curiosity, creativity and drive that guided her sculpting could apply to any field. That mindset allowed her to move confidently into areas she hadn’t originally imagined for herself, discovering that her eye for detail, patience for process and creativity were assets in every role she took on.

“We’re all working towards a collective goal,” she reflected. “That’s what I love about academia. We’re all just examining the world around us — whether that’s through visual art or scientific research — and it’s that exploration of life, the conversation, the questioning and the support we give each other that makes it so meaningful.” 

Blitz encourages others to think intentionally about their own paths by asking where they want to go and how to get there. For her, much of that comes down to leveraging the people and resources available right at the university. 

“I love the energy of learning, exploration and curiosity,” she said. “I felt that energy from the moment I started college, and now working in higher education, I still feel it around me. I think Cornell is a truly beautiful place. I always say it pulls certain people here — and there’s something a little magical about it.”