Staff Stories: Commencement Volunteers

The Volunteers at the Heart of Cornell’s Commencement

By Grace DePaull

For most of the year, Robert “Bob” Talda’s job is to be invisible. As a systems engineer in CIT Infrastructure and a go-to CrashPlan expert, his work happens quietly behind the scenes, keeping systems humming seamlessly along. If he’s doing his job well, most people won’t hear or see much of him at all.

But for one weekend each year, Talda steps out into the kinetic energy of Cornell's biggest campus event. After being persuaded by a colleague to volunteer for Cornell’s Commencement in 2003, he returned the following year – and every year after that. 

“It really ties me back to Cornell, and that’s what I love about it,” Talda says. “I don’t really interact with students day-to-day, but seeing the overwhelming joy of students and families experiencing this moment is what makes it such a wonderful occasion.”  

With Commencement just around the corner, preparations are underway to celebrate the achievements of Cornell’s graduating students, a time to honor their years of hard work and the momentous step forward into their next chapter of life.

Yet Commencement is also meaningful to many others besides the graduating students and their families. For the staff who volunteer, it’s an opportunity to be part of a time-honored tradition at the very heart of the university, and to share the energy, pride, and emotion of the day. From early morning preparations to the final procession, volunteers don’t just help make Commencement happen — they experience the day in a uniquely personal way.

It’s a chance to connect, celebrate, and see the Cornell community at its very best. While that experience is what brings so many back each year, volunteers are also recognized for their time and contributions through paid time off, appreciation points, meals during long shifts, and small tokens of thanks that reflect the university’s gratitude.

For Corey Earle, Commencement isn’t just a ceremony — it’s a ritual he’s returned to year after year. A 2007 Cornell graduate and now principal gifts associate team lead in Alumni Affairs & Development, as well as a visiting lecturer in the American Studies Program in the College of Arts & Sciences, Earle hasn’t missed one commencement, even traveling back during graduate school to be part of the day. What keeps him coming back is the feeling that something bigger is unfolding.

“It’s such a joyous event, and in some ways, it’s the reason we’re all here. To launch new graduates into the world to make the most of everything they’ve learned and experienced here. New graduates have worked so hard, and I think it's important to be there to help and cheer them on.” - Corey Earle

For Marie Roller, department and event support for the School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, that sense of purpose has unfolded over decades. Since 1990, she has volunteered at more than 36 Commencements, returning to witness the moment everything comes together for students.

“This is the time that we get to see the finished product of all their work,” Roller says. “Some people only get to have the joy of Commencement once in their lives, but we get to enjoy the happiness and pride of Cornell each and every year.”

On the morning of Commencement, Talda assumes his role in field seating, Earle can be found on the Arts Quad, while Roller joins at the volunteer check-in. Each plays a role in orchestrating a carefully timed sequence, guiding students into place, and ensuring that, when the moment comes, everything moves forward seamlessly.

From the outside, it’s a polished procession. But for the volunteers, it amounts to something much more human.

“It’s a lot of high fives, often with total strangers, who are just happy to have made it this far,” Earle says. “It’s the culmination of hopes and dreams and hard work and being a part of that moment is really special — the energy is infectious.”

That same energy is what initially drew Nicole Svonavec, director of Student and Young Alumni Engagement at Cornell, to volunteer for the first time in 2021. Having joined the institution just before the pandemic, she was eager to experience the tradition in full and to connect with colleagues across campus.

After starting in guest seating, where she welcomed families and soaked in their excitement, Svonavec now helps coordinate the faculty procession — another behind-the-scenes role that plays a crucial part in the ceremony’s pageantry.

“I don’t want to give anything away,” Svonavec hints, “but the faculty do something very special as the graduates proceed to Schoellkopf Field. Helping organize that and bring the Cornell spirit to life is one of my favorite traditions of the year.”

For Svonavec, it quickly became clear how much coordination it takes to bring Commencement to life — and how essential volunteers are at every step. But like Talda, Earle, and Roller, it’s not just the work that keeps her coming back year after year. It’s the feeling of being part of one of Cornell’s most meaningful moments and sharing in the joy, pride, and excitement that define the day.

“There are so many moving pieces, and every role matters,” Svonavec says. “Volunteers make everything big happen around campus, and Commencement is no exception. It’s a special time of year that truly makes you feel like a Cornellian. You won’t regret it.”