Staff Stories: Betting on the In-Between

Pictured above: Ann Owens

How two Cornell employees leveraged temporary roles into career advances

By Grace DePaull

Alida Smith

To this day, Alida Smith still remembers the moment she was handed an envelope while standing on the basketball court inside Barton Hall. Around her, Cornell employees were celebrating the university’s massive Workday implementation, a yearslong effort that transformed how the institution manages human resources, payroll, and employee data across colleges and units. 

Inside the envelope was a congratulatory message from university leadership recognizing her contributions to the project and a job well done. Smith still remembers the surprise of it. As a temporary employee hired in short, three-month increments to help validate data for the launch, she hadn’t expected that level of recognition.

For her, the envelope represented something far more personal — proof that the work she was doing mattered.

Now the interim human resources co-director at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Smith’s career at Cornell began in a temporary role she saw as a chance to get her foot in the door. That first step became the starting point of a journey that’s continued for over fourteen years.

“I went into the experience wanting to get involved in any opportunities they had available,” Smith said. “I was willing to roll my sleeves up and be there to learn, grow and become a valued member of a team. Even though I was a temporary employee, I saw that as an opportunity to be leveraged and open doors to new experiences.”

Rather than focusing on the role’s end date, Smith leaned into what it could offer: new skills, relationships, and room to grow.

After supporting the university’s Workday implementation, she moved into a role helping human resources colleagues and others across campus navigate the new platform by working at the Workday help desk. In fall of 2016, a temporary “gig opportunity” brought her to the College of Veterinary Medicine, where she partnered with and supported the co-chairs of the Wellness, Recruitment, Engagement, Diversity and Professional Development Committee for the college’s 2018-2022 strategic plan. What began as a short-term assignment eventually kept her at the Vet School, where she continued to grow into various Human Resources roles with increased responsibilities and ultimately never left.

“You have to believe in yourself,” Smith said, thinking back on the fear that can sometimes come with stepping into a new role. “It may be scary, but if you don’t believe in your own abilities, nobody else is going to see what you have to offer. It starts with knowing you have strengths to contribute and not being afraid to step into something that might be outside your comfort zone.”

Ann Owens

For Ann Owens, that belief in herself wasn’t a one-time decision. It was something she had to keep choosing. Now a human resources assistant at Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, Owens describes her path through temporary work as both an opportunity to grow and a test of her willingness to trust her own ability to improvise along the way.

Owens first applied to Cornell as a teenager and went through multiple interviews without being hired. She later worked for New York State Parks before returning to the university in a custodial role in facilities.

From there, she built relationships and gradually expanded her responsibilities into administrative and student support work, eventually realizing she was ready for something more. 

“I had done everything I could in my position,” Owens said. “I was ready to grow.”

When a former colleague encouraged her to apply for another opportunity at Cornell, there was one catch: the position was temporary. Even so, Owens decided the potential benefits outweighed the unknown.

“The biggest risk was that I wouldn’t have a job at the end of things,” Owens said. “But the positive was, I’m going to learn something new. I’m going to build new skills, meet new people, and walk away with experience that’ll help me wherever I end up.”

That decision eventually took her to the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, where she now supports onboarding and employee experience, often serving as one of the first points of contact for new hires as they transition into the university. The role has since become permanent, allowing Owens to focus on what she enjoys most by building relationships and helping employees feel welcomed from the start.

“I had to advocate for myself because I had done everything I could in my previous position,” Owens said. “I had to realize that I do deserve better and then seek out the opportunities that could elevate me.”

For both Smith and Owens, temporary opportunities became more than short-term roles. They became moments that pushed them to try something unfamiliar, trust their abilities, and step into careers they may not have otherwise imagined, whether that meant turning a three-month assignment into a 14-year career, or choosing to bet on growth even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.

“Don’t sell yourself short just because there’s a defined end date to something,” Smith advised. “It doesn’t mean you can’t go in and showcase your skill set, your abilities, and your work ethic. Doors will open for folks if they put forth the effort and do their best.”

For Owens, that idea resonated, but only after she had lived it. 

“I’m not much of a risk taker, I don’t even gamble,” Owens admitted. “It’s not that I didn’t care about the risk, but I was confident that I wasn’t going to be left with nothing in the end. When I finally pushed myself forward, it felt like the floodgates opened — and I never regretted that choice.”