The Latina/o Studies Program and Latina/o/x Student Success Office welcome the work of Natasha Steinhall ’14 and Jazlin Gomez ’16,’18 as part of the Intergroup Dialogue Project (IDP).
IDP cultivates and facilitates collaborative dialogue across different communities to build understanding and bridge the differences among students and faculty. From its beginnings in 2012, IDP has grown substantially over the years. Beginning with this year's fall undergraduate Orientation, Cornell has implemented 169 three-hour long sessions wherein small groups of first-years are partnered with IDP co-facilitators and coached through conversations across different cultures and backgrounds. Through these initiatives, IDP continues to expand their impact on campus.
Natasha Steinhall '14
Natasha, a first-generation Animal Science graduate originally from Denver, Colorado, was first introduced to IDP during her first semester of senior year, when she took EDUC 2610, the three-credit course designed for undergraduates. Since then, she has facilitated three sections (two after she graduated) and was hired full time as a program assistant. Natasha's role planning and coordinating logistics smooths the way for IDP facilitators to carry out their work supporting collaborative communication among participants.
Natasha's dedication to social good is demonstrated not only by her work at IDP, but also by what she does outside of work. As a tutor with Tompkins Learning Partners, Natasha dedicated her time to helping ESL adult learners prepare for the U.S. Citizenship Test. Her enthusiasm for meeting new people and experiencing different cultures is evident in her activities.
Jazlin Gomez ’16,’18
Jazlin, a Floridian who focused her studies on inequality through Sociology, English, and Performing and Media Arts, also works for IDP. She was first introduced to IDP as a sophomore at Cornell. Having struggled with imposter syndrome while at Cornell, alongside cultural shifts and a lack of direction, Jazlin is motivated to meet other students who struggled with what she did and help them overcome their struggles.
Although she faced challenges during her undergrad and Masters, Jazlin reached out to different communities on campus that helped her grow personally and develop her interests in social justice, dance, and theater, such as Sabor Latino, Teatrotaller, and the Ordinary People Social Justice Theater Troupe. As a Student Engagement Coordinator with IDP, Jazlin works with student leaders to engage their communities in the difficult conversations that arise, utilizing communication skills from IDP.
We wish them a successful year and cannot wait to see how they impact the Latinx community at Cornell! For more information on IDP, please visit https://www.idp.cornell.edu.
