We believe in creating a welcoming, inclusive, equitable community. That’s hospitality in its truest sense.
Each Hotelie plays a critical role in our prominent network of hospitality leaders who serve humanity, embrace diversity, and foster community.
The Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration is a pioneer in teaching the business of hospitality—and that means living out the core values of the industry every day. Our community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni embraces diversity of all kinds and strives to create and support inclusivity for all.
The Nolan School, along with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, remains committed to the ideals and values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our community remains committed to respectful, civil discourse, and our immediate focus is on keeping the community safe. We echo Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack’s messages to support one another in standing against hatred.
We want every member of our community to understand how important an inclusive, antiracist culture is to our future. The Nolan School has launched several initiatives to combat racism and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the school.
Our school, as part of the SC Johnson College, recognizes and honors the land on which we live, work, and learn. Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ (the Cayuga Nation).
“The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is great at supporting students in whatever way the student needs. Whether it’s a new headshot, professional clothing, both personal and professional connections, fun, or just some friendly advice, they have it all!” —Faith Taylor ’24
Our approach to diversity and inclusion programming can be broken into three pillars.
Success begins with a safe and inclusive environment.
We want you to bring your full identity to the educational experience at the Nolan School. You’ll have access to the resources, tools, and health and wellness services you need to succeed academically and socially at Cornell.
To progress as a leader in thought or industry, one must be invested.
Becoming a compassionate, culturally competent leader begins with awareness and engagement. The Nolan School offers rich learning experiences from diversity-related courses and clubs to school-wide seminars and special events.
Regardless of who you are, you are part of our network.
As a Hotelie, you are part of a massive network. That close-knit community begins here with notable student organizations, clubs, associations, and foundations. You’ll have opportunities to engage with diverse alumni and industry leaders, too.
Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), our programs meet the highest standards in business education—and those standards include creating a welcoming learning environment for all.
Supporting diversity and inclusion is a critical component of AASCB’s accreditation standards. Its guiding principles state: “Diversity in people and ideas enhances the educational experience and encourages excellence in every business education program.”
Less than 6 percent of business schools worldwide have met the rigorous requirements—from curriculum and career outcomes to faculty scholarship and societal impact—to obtain AACSB accreditation.
READ ABOUT AACSB’S DIVERSITY STANDARDS
Learn more about initiatives from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and other news and stories from across the Nolan School.
Businesses are quickly adopting AI, but most are not prioritizing conversations about the technology’s legal concerns.
A six-week pilot course in community-engaged learning at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business trains MA and PhD students in the principles of community-engaged learning and in methods for teaching those principles to others.
Jonah Gershon ’24 won the $50,000 first-place prize for spekld, his startup to produce brown butter, at the Hospitality Business Plan Competition.