The Dyson Diversity Council embraces and nurtures diversity in thought, actions, identity, and experiences of all stakeholders guided by the Diversity Council’s mission and purpose. Members of the DDC act as a representative channel for all stakeholders in the Dyson School to build strong connections internally within the Dyson School and externally with the SC Johnson College of Business and Dyson alumni.


DDC Mission Statement

The Dyson Diversity Council cultivates trust by identifying patterns in the student experience through open-dialogue communication among all Dyson students, faculty, and staff. At its core, DDC members act as agents of change and as a uniting support pillar to further promote the mission and vision of the Dyson Office of Diversity and Inclusion, cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment for all of Dyson and, by extension, the SC Johnson College of Business at large.

Main Objectives

Goals for 2022-2023

  • Dyson Cultural Event
  • Workshops and Collaborations
  • Alumni Speakers
  • Council Social
  • DEI Career Trek
  • Social Justice Calendar
  • Dyson Faculty Partnerships and Curriculum Input 
  • Diversity Alumni Network

Graduate DDC Members

DDC-Dana-Smith-300×300

Dana J. Smith

PhD Candidate in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. My research interests lie at the intersection of labor and development economics.  I focus primarily on the economics of immigration and labor migration, with particular attention to the determinants of migration, the impact of policy in immigrants and immigration decisions, agricultural workers, and the role of migration in connecting cross-border and broader international communities.

I enjoy teaching and have served as a teaching assistant for a number of popular undergraduate classes in Dyson. In 2021, I was awarded the Dyson Graduate Teaching Assistant Outstanding Service Award. I also volunteer as an English tutor for the Cornell Farmworkers Program. Additionally, I serve on the executive board of Diversity in Cornell Economics and chair the Graduate Students for Gender Equity in Economics committee. 

I arrived at Cornell in 2018, following my graduation from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.  At Lafayette, I had a dual major in Math & Economics and International Affairs.  I minored in Spanish and played four years of Division 1 women’s lacrosse. During my time at Lafayette, I helped lead our campus chapter of Athlete Ally and interned in Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s district office. I also volunteered as a coach for the Trenton Bridge Lacrosse Program, meeting weekly with elementary and middle school aged girls from the Trenton Metropolitan area to practice skills, develop confidence, and work together as a team. . 

When I’m not working I enjoy skiing, running, and exploring all the natural wonders Central New York has to offer.

DDC-Molly-Doruska-300×300

Molly Doruska

PhD student in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. 

My research interests lie at the intersection of development, environmental, and resource economics. My current work centers around how households interact with available surface water sources with a particular interest in health and poverty outcomes. I am also interested in how anthropogenic climate change is altering current patterns of water availability and household adaptations to climate change. 

In addition to serving as co-chair of the Dyson Diversity Council, I am also the Vice President of Diversity in Cornell Economics (DICE). I previously served as president of the Applied Economics and Management Graduate Student Association (AEM GSA). 

Prior to coming to Cornell in 2019, I graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. At Lawrence, I was on the varsity women’s cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams, double majored in Economics and French & Francophone Studies, and studied abroad in Dakar, Senegal as part of the Francophone Seminar in Dakar in Spring of 2017. I also worked as a George Washington Carver Intern at the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa.

When I’m not working, I enjoy running marathons and half marathons and exploring the trails around Ithaca.


Undergraduate DDC Members

DDC-Zaira-Paredes-300×300

Zaira Paredes (President)

  • Class of 2023, Concentration: Strategy
  • Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I joined DDC in order to help further cultivate diversity and inclusion within Dyson and to be an agent of change that represents Dyson students, faculty and alumni.
DDC-Sierra-Brewer-300×300

Sierra Brewer (Vice President)

  • Class of 2025 , Concentration: Food Industry Management 
  • Hometown: Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii
  • Why are you a part of DDC? I joined DDC to find a community and help make Dyson a more inclusive and welcoming environment.
A Seat at The Table

Joshua R. Lora (Finance & Operations Director)

  • Class of 2023 , Concentration: Strategy
  • Hometown: Manhattan, New York City
  • Why are you a part of DDC? To me, DDC means family. I wanted to do my part in support of a community that has uplifted me throughout my time at Cornell. Serving on the executive board is a way I can pay it forward to further enhance the experience for the next generation of Dyson students.
DBAC 2022

Christian Deleg (Undergraduate Programming Director)

  • Class of 2025, Concentration: Finance
  • Westchester, NY
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I joined DDC to give back to a community that has fostered my personal and professional growth during my first year at Cornell.
DBAC 2022

Amy Escalante (Social Media Co-Director)

  • Class of 2024 , Concentration: International Trade and Development 
  • Hometown: Pharr, Texas
  • Why are you a part of DDC? –
A Seat at The Table

Ashley Qiu (Social Media Co-Director)

  • Class of 2026 , Concentration: International Trade and Development 
  • Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I joined DDC to help foster an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity within Dyson. I hope to work with my peers, faculty, and advisors to promote DEI initiatives and create a community where people feel like they belong.
DBAC 2022

Angelique Peregrina (Marketing Co-Director)

  • Class of 2023, Concentration: International Trade & Development
  • Hometown: Gulfport, Mississippi
  • Why are you a part of DDC? While at Dyson, I want to make sure that I give back to my community and help facilitate an inclusive community amongst peers. And so, I felt that the DDC was a great opportunity with a powerhouse of a team to work with to build community.
DDC-Melanie-Abreu-300×300

Melanie Abreu (Marketing Co-Director)

  • Class of 2023 , Concentration: Finance 
  • Hometown: Bronx, NY
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I joined DDC to help make Dyson a more inclusive community. Being a PA for Dyson’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, I feel passionate about making a difference in Dyson and creating a safe space for all students.
DDC-Robert-Greenberg-300×300

Robert Greenberg (Logistics Co-Director)

  • Class of 2023 , Concentration: Finance
  • Hometown: Manhattan. New York City
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I joined the DDC because of the amazing people that I have met at the Dyson school. I have many fond memories spending time together with my peers in the Diversity and Belonging room, which has been such a valuable resource and support system for me. I want to give back to the Dyson community by addressing any necessary changes to the Dyson curriculum, while offering alternative perspectives and also addressing alternative while offering alternative perspective Ana d creative
DDC-Haley-Qin-300×300

Haley Qin (Logistics Co-Director)

  • Class of 2025 , Concentration: Marketing and Strategy
  • Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I want to join a community dedicated to promoting Diversity and Inclusion within an environment that usually overlooks this topic. I am passionate about communicating my peers’ concerns in hopes of increasing growth within the Dyson curriculum.
DBAC 2022

Tyler Senzon (Event Coordinator)

  • Class of 2026 , Concentration: Strategy
  • Hometown: Haworth, New Jersey
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I joined DDC to help educate the Dyson community on DEI within business. I aim to host both informational and stress relieving events to allow my peers to find their place within the Dyson community.
DBAC 2022

Joshua Li (Event Coordinator)

  • Class of 2026 , Concentration: Strategy
  • Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
  • Why are you a part of DDC? –  I want to take part in promoting and being involved in a community that fosters belonging. Diversity and inclusion has always been topics that are important to me, and I hope I can find ways within Dyson to help my peers grow.
DBAC 2022

Chandra Jebodh (DUC Liaison)

  • Class of 2024 , Concentration: Accounting
  • Hometown: Cypress, CA
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I want to be a part of promoting diversity and inclusion at Dyson, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and supported. As part of the DDC e-board, I am happy to be a representative and resource for my peers.
DDC-Sam-Straus-300×300

Sam Straus (SC Johnson/Hotel School Liaison)

  • Class of 2024 , Concentration: Business Analytics
  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
  • Why are you a part of DDC? – I want to help highlight and embrace the incredible backgrounds of Dyson students.