“You Create Your Own Story”

Thomas Tee Jones, MILR ’24, chose his ILR graduate degree program because he wanted to help non-traditional workers overcome the challenges he faced as a frontline employee. 

“I saw the MILR program as an opportunity to grow and contribute, and I was confident that I would be supported in my relocation and my goals of making an impactful change,” he said.

Jones’ journey to Ithaca after serving two prison terms and graduating from Rutgers University was recounted in a Cornell Chronicle story and his success at ILR was celebrated in this video, in which he encourages others to “Never lose sight of  your dreams. You create your own story.”

Guidance from ILR was integral to his decision to enroll, he said. “The MILR program admissions team was essential in helping me navigate the application process and find the resources I needed to make a decision.”

“I especially appreciated their patience and follow-up, which set the MILR program apart from other programs I was considering … Ultimately, my decision to choose the MILR program was based on my desire to be in a supportive environment where I could make a difference.”