Ella Paolucci

Meet Ella

Ella found her perfect fit in the College of Arts & Sciences, where she explores her wide-ranging interests, like social justice and community empowerment while pursuing a degree in anthropology. After a transformative semester in Ireland, she’s excited to continue her experiential learning when she volunteers at the Sundance Film Festival after graduation.

What clubs/activities are you involved with on campus?

I am part of the Students Onto Scholars (SOS) program.

Why is the College of Arts and Sciences a great fit for you?

The College of Arts and Sciences allows students to explore an enormous range of disciplines, which has been perfect for me, as I am still deciding my interests and want to learn about everything. It has also encouraged me to take courses I never would have dreamed of taking and thinking in ways that are unnatural to me. Right now, I'm in a philosophy class that demands clear, concise writing, the opposite of my anthropology courses that encourage lots of dialectical thinking. It's been challenging and rewarding to think and write in a new way.

What is your academic passion? 

I decided to study anthropology after my first year of exploring a wide range of topics at Cornell. I was drawn to its holistic approach, synthesizing humanity's cultural, biological, and archaeological aspects into comprehensive themes that allow us to understand the complex litany of human discourse. My anthropology courses have revealed how collaborative and participatory methods empower communities to voice their concerns and contribute to the design of more equitable systems. This has been particularly relevant to my involvement with Students Onto Scholars, which aims to engage with the community in terms of reciprocity.

Tell us about your favorite thing to do in Ithaca.

I love going to the farmers market on the weekends, especially in the fall. My favorite things there are the Cambodian food, the earrings, and sitting by the water while I try bites of friends' food.

What inspires you?    

My friends serve as a constant source of inspiration for me. The people I've met at Cornell possess a wealth of hidden talents and an unwavering enthusiasm for sharing their evolving interests. Even as I enter my fourth year of knowing many of them, I remain surprised by their knowledge of animal behavior, a new instrument they're learning, or a paper they wrote. Cornell has a magnetic pull on inquisitive individuals who seek opportunities to expand.

Hometown

Washington, Connecticut

Graduation Year

2023

College/School

  • College of Arts & Sciences

Majors

  • Anthropology

Minors

  • English

Pull Quote

My anthropology courses have revealed how collaborative and participatory methods empower communities to voice their concerns and contribute to the design of more equitable systems.

What is your favorite class so far, and why?

I took an Anthropology class cross-listed with Industrial and Labor Relations my sophomore year called Food and Work with Sarah Besky. Food, as a subject, encompasses a wide array of labor processes: from planting to harvesting, from serving to consuming; each step obscures human rights and implicates capitalist labor relations. This was the first course that showed me the interconnected nature of systemic injustices and the intersectional thinking required to unpack these social injustices. By studying these diverse forms of labor comparatively, I gained insights into the historical roots and potential future trajectories of inequality, resource utilization, and the very nature of work itself.

Tell us about an off-campus program you've participated in. 

I spent a semester studying at Trinity College in Dublin. To get to spend such an extended period submerged in another culture completely turned my world upside down. Given the university's emphasis on curiosity-driven, experiential education, I felt transformed as a student, building my own schedule based on city happenings and my interests and excitement. When I returned to Cornell, I hoped to transfer this exploratory, inquiry-based learning to Students Onto Scholars, where our work is our own, not under the pressure of a due date, but by a genuine hope to connect with the community.

What are your plans after graduation?

I'm excited to volunteer at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City starting in January. I love movies, especially documentaries, and I look forward to learning more about careers in the industry.

Tell us about your favorite place to study.

I love this one particular lounge chair in a secluded spot on the second floor of Uris Library. Three windows surround it, it has a footrest, and it looks out over the slope.