From: Cristina Nieves Date: August 23, 2025 Subject: The Weekly Kernel First Edition
Welcome home!
We are so excited that you are part of the Barbara McClintock Community this academic year.
Throughout the semester, our Residence Hall Director (RHD), Cristina Nieves, will send out our weekly newsletter, the "The Weekly Kernel". This will include a variety of information related to campus and the community. THIS first edition of the "The Weekly Kernel"is ALL about our community and team. The main feature this week will be our PHENOMENAL Resident Advisors (RAs), RHD, Faculty-In-Residence (FIR) and, last but CERTAINLY not least, our namesake, Barbara McClintock! Take a few minutes and learn more about who they are and what they're about! Be sure to say "Hi!" when you see them in the building!
A little about what our RAs are and do. They live in the undergraduate residence halls on campus and act as community leaders and peer educators, encouraging residents to respect one another and get involved with floor, hall and area activities, and providing information about campus resources. Our RAs also support the safety and security of our community by serving on-call each night. For more information: Resident Advisor Positions | Student & Campus Life | Cornell University
Community Meetings (Part 2)
On Sunday, August 24th, between the hours of 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM, there is an additional Community Meeting. This meeting will be a continuation of Tuesday's meeting and contain additional important information. Times and locations are above.
If you have questions or cannot make it, please reach out to your RA.
Community Namesake
Barbara McClintock was born in Hartford, CT, on June 16th, 1902. She attended Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, NY. She studied at Cornell in the early 1900s. She earned three degrees including her B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. in Botany. Her work focused on the cytogenetics of maize, a discipline that she helped pioneer at Cornell! While a student, she lived in Sage and Risley Halls.
Dr. McClintock is the only female to earn an unshared Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of "mobile genetic elements" or, as she called it, "jumping genes". In addition to this, she was also awared 15 other awards and 12 Honorary Doctors of Science.
Unit 1- Rooms 131-138
My name is George Maidhof and I am a Master of Engineering Student in the College of Engineering here at Cornell studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. Some of my interests include running, swimming, biking, watching/playing basketball (Lakers), surfing and going to the gym. I love being with my family, going to the beach, speed running video games (mostly 3D Mario Games and Pokemon) and more. My goal as an RA is to develop a community where people look out for one another and develop a community that promotes success and positivity for everyone! If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask me, I'm here to help!
Fun Fact: I used to be a professional drone pilot for the NY State Parks!
Campus Involvements: Cornell Zhang Research Group, Engineering Leadership Program TA, Project Team Nexus, IEEE
Hobbies: Running, Swimming, Basketball, Surfing, Grilling, Speedrunning Video Games "
Unit 2- Rooms 141-146
My name is Isabela Vargas, and I'm a junior in the ILR School with minors in Law & Society and Business. I'm originally from New Jersey, and in my free time, I enjoy listening to music and podcasts, going to the gym, and hanging out with friends. As an RA, I aim to create an inclusive and welcoming space where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.
Fun Fact: I can speak gibberish.
Campus Involvements: The Advocacy Project, BlackGen Capital, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Unit 3- Rooms 207-212
Hi, I'm Sabequn, a Chemical Engineering major originally from Bangladesh. I'm passionate about building inclusive communities and excited to support residents in feeling at home and connected. Outside of academics, I enjoy painting, exploring new music, and learning about different cultures. As an RA, I look forward to fostering a welcoming and supportive space where everyone feels valued.
Fun Fact: I shaved my own head when I was 16.
Unit 4- Rooms 217-222
Hihi! My name is AJ, and I'm a junior pursuing an Operations Research & Information Engineering major and a Business minor. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, doing puzzles, collecting smiskis, and making matcha drinks. I'm excited to meet you all! Let's have a great year together :))
Fun Fact: I'm running my first 5k this summer (July '25)!
Hey, I'm Gebran. I'm an ECE major and looking forward to being an RA. I'm excited to help create a space where everyone feels welcome and supported.
Fun Fact: I like to ski
Campus Involvements: CUAir, Cornell Club Swim
Hobbies: Guitar
Unit 6- Rooms 241-246
Hi! I’m Izzie Diallo and I’m from Los Angeles, CA. I’m an English major going into my junior year of college and this is my second year as an RA. Some of my hobbies include reading, going to the gym, listening to music, and hanging out with my friends. I’m super excited to meet everyone so feel free to come find me on the second floor any time! Good luck on freshman year!
Campus Involvements: Cornell Daily Sun
Unit 7- Rooms 307-312
Hi everyone! My name is Jonna Crocker, and I will be entering into my third year as an RA. This is also my fourth time living in Barbara McClintock Hall, as I have lived here since freshman year! I'm looking forward to spending my senior year where it all began and getting to know you all :) I am a Dyson major with a minor in health policy, but I love to cook, spend time with friends and family, and go to the Jersey Shore outside of class.
Fun Fact: I run a nonprofit foundation for kids with rare diseases!
Campus Involvements: On campus, I am President of the Dyson Undergraduate Council, President of Dyson Ambassadors, a member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council for Dyson, and an advisory board member for A Seat At The Table, Cornell's Premier business ethics student organization.
Hobbies: Outside of class, I love to cook, spend time with friends and family, and go to the Jersey Shore!
Unit 8- Rooms 317-322
Hi, my name is Zaid Al-Shoha, I grew up in Ohio and currently live in Dubai. I'm a biological sciences major in CALS on the premed track! In my free time I enjoy going to the gym, hiking, and nature photography.
Fun Fact: I love coffee
Campus Involvements: Phi Delta Epsilon, Neuroregeneration Research, Voices of Equity
Unit 9- Rooms 331-338
Hello! My name is Emeka Okereke and I am a rising sophomore studying Communication in CALS. In my free time you can find me doing something musical, whether that be singing, playing the piano, or even arranging! Going into this upcoming school year, I'm incredibly excited to meet everyone and build strong connections that extend past just our dorm community!
Campus Involvements: Cornell Glee Club and Last Call A Cappella
Hobbies: I love to play basketball and play the piano.
Unit 10- Rooms 341-348
Hi, my name is Bea and I'm a CS major (considering ORIE too!). Some of my favorite things are rose/thai milk tea + boba, mangoes, the color mint green, and listening to music. My most listened to artists are NIKI, SZA, Grent Perez, Enhypen, and TXT. I'm looking forward to making new friends and helping incoming students during their transition to college life.
Fun Fact: In 2022, I listened to 170K minutes (about 120 days) of music on Spotify.
Campus Involvements: Cornell Filipino Student Association
Hobbies: Table Tennis and Bullet Journeling
Residence Hall Director (RHD) -- BAMC 106
Hello! My name is Cristina Nieves, and I’m originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the past two years, I’ve had the pleasure of serving as the Residence Hall Director for Barbara McClintock Hall here at Cornell. In this role, I support first-year students as they transition into college life—whether that’s through one-on-one conversations, weekly community programming, or collaborating with our amazing Student Leader Team to meet the evolving needs of our residents.
One of my favorite parts of our community is Barbara’s Bites, a weekly event designed to bring students together for a study break, a snack, and a chance to connect with one another. It’s a small but meaningful way we build community and encourage balance during busy academic weeks.
Before coming to Cornell, I earned my Master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). During grad school, I wore many hats—Graduate Hall Director, Fraternity Advisor, Mock Interviewer, and Academic Recovery Advisor—all of which deepened my passion for student support and development.
Outside of work, I enjoy listening to video game jazz, cooking, drawing and painting, playing video games, and exploring the beautiful Ithaca area on foot. If you see me around campus, feel free to say hi—I’m always up for a good conversation!
Faculty-In-Residence (FIR)
I’m Nozomi Nishimura, your Faculty in Residence. Along with the other Faculty and Community Fellows, I am here to bring you events, provide mentorship, and be a resource as you start your Cornell career. I live on the first floor in with Faculty Fellow Chris Schaffer and our two Dogs in Residence. I’m originally from Tucson, Arizona, but have lived in Boston and San Diego. I’m an Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering. Chris is also in Biomedical Engineering. We work together on developing new types of microscopes to study diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and heart failure in mice. Cala is a 14-year-old Vizsla, which is 98 in dog years. She loves to be scratched on her back. Dory is a 6-month-old German Shorthaired Pointer. In dog age, she a pre-teen, so is a little rambunctious. Both dogs love to get petted!
To meet Nozomi, Chris, Cala, and our many other Faculty Fellows, join us for McClintock Fellows and Students Welcome Reception coming soon!
As you prepare for the first week of classes...
Our RAs will talk about this in more in detail during the Community Meetings. However, here are a few things to make note of:
Quiet Hours:
Sunday-Thursday from 11 PM to 7:30 AM
Friday and Saturday from 12 AM to 9 AM
Keep in mind that there are 24 hour Courtesy Hour
Quiet and Courtesy Hours are also in effect in the lounges near residential spaces.
If you are in the lounges with a group of friends, please keep quiet and courtesy hours in mind.
Items in the Bathrooms/Hallways
Items are not permitted to be stored in the hallways or in the bathrooms. Please make sure that you are removing any boxes, shoes, suitcases, trashbags from the hallways and taking them out to the dumpsters in the courtyard.
If items (such as bathmats, shelves, personal hygiene items) are left in bathroom, Building Care is not able to clean the space.
Bike Room:
If you have brought (or are planning to bring) a bike, scooter, e-bike, e-scooter, etc, to campus, please note they are prohibited from being stored in the community and your bedroom.
They must be stored in the Bike Room, which is located in Hu Shih Hall. This is a secured location that you scan your ID to get into.
When you arrive between Hu Shih and RBG, turn left.
When approaching the P-space (proformance space) of JAM (Just About Music), turn right.
Walk toward the parking lot on Program House Drive
Toward the left of the Hu Shih Main Entrance, you will see a pump and entrance to the Bike Room.
To enter the space, you must scan your Cornell ID.
If you have any issues finding the location, let RHD Cristina or your RA know and we can help you find it.
Community Walks
Every night, our RAs complete community walks to engage with our community and ensure safety. Know that they will knock on bathrooms as they complete their walks and enter all bathroom spaces. Please do not be alarmed. All we ask is that you respond when you hear a knock. Our RAs will enter each bathroom to check for safety and security concerns and facilities issues that may need attention.
Join the Barbara Board!
Are you interested in having a voice and/or say in how we build community here in Barbara McClintock? Do you want leadership and/or advocacy experience? Consider joining the Barbara Board Executive Team (or E-team) or participating with the board as a general member! We'll be having an info session where residents can learn more about the Board and what it does and CAN do.
Applications are open and you can apply here.
Please use your Cornell email when signining in.
Interest Sessions will be in Lounge 108 (Near RHD Cristina's office):
Tuesday, September 2th at 7:45 PM - Register here!
Sunday, September 7th at 7 PM - Register here!
*Cookies will be provided! :)
Please reach out to your RA or RHD Cristina (cn345) if you have any questions.
Curious to explore a fascinating subject outside your intended major?
Want to meet a fantastic and friendly professor?
Still looking for an extra credit or two without the pressure of grades?
Check out these Learning Where You Live courses held primarily on North and West Campus. They are all 1-credit courses offered S/U (with one exception noted below). Former students have raved about these courses, noting their ability to really get to know a faculty member and other students in a low stress and interesting course. All are open to you regardless of where you live. Register for them during add/drop just as you would any other course and email the faculty member with any questions.
RA on call: The RA on call's phone number is 607-391-5291.
RA on-call hours:
Sunday-Thursday:
7 PM to 8 AM
Friday- Saturday:
7 PM to 7 PM
*When contacting RA on-call, call the RA On-Call number (not text), during the hours listed above to ensure timely assistance.
Cornell University Police Department (CUPD): If there's an emergency, contact CUPD at (607) 255-1111.
Service center hours: Remember to check the student service center hours page to stay in-the-know about important updates and hours of operation. The service center also supports with lock outs.
Maintenance requests: Use this page to troubleshoot and submit maintenance requests for your residential space.
Barbara McClintock RHD: Know that RHD Cristina is also here to support you, along with our RAs. Her working hours are Monday -Friday from 9am to 12pm and 1pm-5pm. Here are some of the ways you can reach out to her:
Office: Stop by BAMC 106 (this to the left of the RA office)
