The right mix of classes and career options, and outstanding faculty drew a nephew and an uncle, both named Michael Pinnisi, to ILR.
When Mike Pinnisi ’22 was considering applying to the ILR School, he knew he could trust the counsel of his uncle.
Michael Pinnisi, A&S ’82, Law ’85, attended ILR as a freshman and remains an ILRie at heart.
“My nephew is a non-traditional student with a strong work ethic and a tenacious mind, so I knew ILR would challenge him and be a great fit for him,” said Michael, chief operating officer, general counsel and chief compliance officer with Hudson Executive Capital in Manhattan.
Mike, now 27, became interested in labor law during a long recovery from a 2015 workplace injury. He came to ILR after earning an associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences from Tompkins Cortland Community College. “My uncle said I would develop a wide swath of skills in classes like business law, finance and organizational behavior that will serve me well in many different fields.”
Michael said he told his nephew the faculty makes the ILR experience unique. As he was graduating from Cornell Law and about to start with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Michael returned to ILR to see Associate Professor Michael Gold to ask for advice.
Gold tutored him for free about civil rights laws.
“Michael Gold really cares about students and teaching about issues like justice and truth and ethics,” Michael said. “That’s the kind of professor my nephew will find at ILR.”
Mike said his first semester classes and professors have opened his eyes to what’s possible. “I can see that ILR will prepare me for business school, law school or moving right into a great career. As an older student, I look forward to exploring all of my options at ILR."