Cornell Systems Engineering

🎉 Congratulations to our 2026 Staff Service Award recipients! 🎉

Please join us in celebrating 15 years of dedicated service from Jacob Cornelius, Distance Learning Technician, and Sheri Minarski, Administrative Director, in Cornell Systems Engineering within the Cornell Duffield School of Engineering.

Their commitment, leadership, and contributions have made a lasting impact on our students, faculty, and broader Systems Engineering community. Thank you both for 15 years of excellence and service to Cornell!

👏 Congratulations, Jacob and Sheri, on this incredible milestone!

🚨 It’s May 31 — the LAST DAY to apply for the Fall 2026 Cornell Systems Engineering Distance Learning M.Eng. program! 🚨

Ready to take the next step in your engineering career? Join Cornell University’s flexible, industry-focused Systems Engineering M.Eng. program and design your future with us! ✨

✔️ Distance Learning
✔️ Flexible 30-credit program
✔️ Systems Pathways in Health & Energy
✔️ Industry-recognized certificates: INCOSE ASEP, Six Sigma & more
✔️ GRE waived

⏰ Don’t miss your chance — applications close TODAY!

Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/4e5ba283

We are saddened to share the passing of Albert R. “Al” George, the John F. Carr Professor of Mechanical Engineering Emeritus, visionary educator, mentor, and pioneer whose impact on Cornell Engineering will be felt for generations. ❤️🐻

Over a remarkable six-decade career at Cornell, Al helped shape the future of engineering education through his leadership, research, and unwavering belief in experiential learning. From helping launch the world-renowned Cornell Formula SAE team 🏎️ to establishing Cornell’s Systems Engineering program, his influence extended far beyond the classroom.

Al’s passion for engineering, innovation, mentorship, and hands-on problem solving inspired thousands of students and colleagues alike. His legacy lives on through the countless engineers, project teams, and programs he helped build.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, former students, and all who had the privilege of learning from and working alongside him.

Thank you, Al, for your extraordinary contributions to Cornell and the engineering community. Your legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

The Systems Engineering Commencement ceremony in historic Sage Chapel, Cornell University.

🎓 Let’s Get Ready to Graduate! 🎓

It’s Commencement Weekend at Cornell, and we can feel the excitement in the air! 🥳

We’re so proud of our Systems Engineering grads and can’t wait to cheer you on as you cross that stage and get the recognition you’ve worked so hard for.

🚨 Fall 2026 Cornell Systems Engineering Distance Learning M.Eng. Application Deadline: May 31, 2026! 🚨

Ready to take the next step in your engineering career? Apply to Cornell University’s Systems Engineering M.Eng. program and design your future with us! ✨

✔️ Distance
✔️ Flexible 30-credit program
✔️ Systems Pathways in Health & Energy
✔️ Industry-recognized certificates: INCOSE ASEP, Six Sigma & more
✔️ GRE waived

Don’t wait—apply today and join a collaborative community of innovative problem-solvers!

Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/4e5ba283

🎓 Graduating Student Spotlight: Rynelle Castellino 🐻❤️

One of the biggest surprises for Rynelle during her Cornell experience? Just how connected she felt as a distance learning student. 🌍✨

“Through group projects and discussions, I worked closely with people from different industries, companies, and even countries. That diversity brought so much depth to the experience—not just academically, but personally.”

From collaborating across perspectives to building meaningful relationships she’ll carry long after graduation, Rynelle found a true sense of community through the Systems Engineering program.

Some of her favorite Big Red memories came during the annual on-campus sessions — late nights in the lab, exploring campus with classmates, scavenger hunts, and the moments in between that transformed a cohort into a close-knit community. ❤️📚

Congratulations, Rynelle! 🎉 Your journey reflects the power of connection, collaboration, and the Cornell spirit.

🎓 Graduating Student Spotlight: Yogesh Birari 🐻❤️

“Being a Cornellian means growth, learning, and the confidence to keep aiming higher.”

Nearly 28 years after completing his undergraduate degree, Yogesh took on the challenge of balancing a demanding professional career while pursuing his Cornell education — an accomplishment he’s especially proud of. 💪📚

Inspired by Cornell faculty whose passion and mentorship helped guide him through the journey, Yogesh found one of the most rewarding parts of the experience to be learning alongside peers from diverse industries and backgrounds, broadening his perspective far beyond the classroom. 🌍💡

As a distance learning student, his Big Red experience came to life through engaging discussions, late-night assignments, meaningful faculty feedback, and memorable campus visits filled with walks along the gorge trails and quiet moments around campus. 🍂

Post-Cornell, Yogesh plans to apply what he’s learned to make stronger technical and business decisions while preparing for broader leadership opportunities and long-term impact. 🚀

Congratulations, Yogesh! 🎉

🎓 Graduating Student Spotlight: Janhavi Gaikwad ✈️🐻❤️

“Being a Cornellian means being pushed to constantly rethink what I know and how I apply it.”

With a background in aerospace, CFD, and systems engineering, Janhavi embraced Cornell as a place where technical depth meets interdisciplinary thinking. Through conversations with peers across engineering, food science, chemistry, and the arts, she discovered how diverse perspectives can shape stronger ideas and better solutions. 💡

One of the biggest lessons she’ll carry forward? Learning to treat ambiguity not as a problem, but as a starting point.

Beyond academics, Janhavi will miss the energy of campus life — quiet moments in Olin Library 📚, coffee spots around campus ☕, and the collaborative environment that encouraged curiosity and innovation every day.

Her proudest accomplishment at Cornell wasn’t just technical growth, but developing a more thoughtful and structured way of approaching complex problems and learning how to frame the *right* questions first.

Post-Cornell, Janhavi plans to apply systems engineering concepts to improve and streamline aviation systems, with hopes of eventually building smarter, more efficient large-scale solutions in the industry. 🚀

Congratulations, Janhavi! 🎉

🎓 Graduating Student Spotlight: Anurag Yadav 🐻

“Being a Cornellian means embracing challenge, thinking across disciplines, and showing up with resilience every day.”

From learning piano for the first time 🎹 to exploring AI and systems engineering, Anurag made the most of every opportunity Cornell had to offer. Inspired by peers who challenged ideas and pushed boundaries, he found Cornell to be a place where the experience truly becomes what you make of it.

Some of his favorite Big Red memories? 🏒 The unforgettable energy of the Harvard–Cornell hockey game at Lynah Rink, concerts at Bailey Hall, walks by Beebe Lake, and of course… Cornell Dairy ice cream 🍦

Beyond academics, Anurag says he’s most proud of learning to trust in his own abilities and building a strong foundation for the future.

Post-Cornell, he hopes to work at the intersection of systems engineering and AI, creating intelligent systems that make a real-world impact. 🚀

Congratulations, Anurag! 🎉