Our Mission
The Worker Institute at Cornell engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues, to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of the Worker Institute is that collective representation and workers' rights are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society.
People at the Institute
Patricia Campos-Medina
- Executive Director, The Worker Institute
Dr. Campos-Medina is a researcher, RTE Faculty and labor educator focusing on the intersection of race, immigration status and worker’s rights.
Risa Lieberwitz
- Professor of Labor and Employment Law, ILR School, Academic Director, The Worker Institute
Kathleen Mulligan
- Director of Labor Leadership Programs
Kathleen Mulligan is the Director of Labor Leadership Programs, and Director of the National Labor Leadership Initiative, at Cornell University’s ILR School.
Maheya Afnan
- Administrative Manager, The Worker Institute
Maheya Afnan is the Administrative Manager for The Worker Institute within the NYC Extension/Outreach Division of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR).
Anne Marie Brady
- Director of Research for Worker Rights and Equity, ILR Worker Institute
Anne Marie Brady is the Senior Extension Associate – Research Director, Worker Rights and Equity. Anne Marie holds a Ph.D.
Jeff Grabelsky
- Senior Extension Associate
Grabelsky is a senior extension associate with The Worker Institute and the Climate Jobs Institute.
Elaine Kim
- Senior Extension Associate
Michael Lenmark
- Senior Research Support Specialist
Michael Lenmark, PhD, is a quantitative sociologist specializing in public opinion and survey methodology.
Sherrie Morales
- Program Coordinator
Sherrie Morales is a Program Coordinator for the Worker Institute at Cornell/ILR. She has worked for Cornell/ILR in NYC for over 27 years with various departments within ILR.
Natalia Navas
- Extension Associate, Labor Leadership Programs
Anna Rivera
- Program Coordinator
Anna is a Program Coordinator for the Worker Institute at Cornell University, ILR
School. She has over 30 years’ experience working with labor unions and supporting
Arianna Schindle
- Director of Training and Curriculum Design, Worker Rights and Equity, ILR Worker Institute
Arianna Schindle joins the Worker Institute as an Extension Associate for Training and Organizational Development under the Worker Rights and Equity Team.
David Unger
- Senior Extension Associate, Labor Leadership Programs
David Unger is a Senior Extension Associate for the Worker Institute’s Labor Leadership Programs, where he works to help build the NYS AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute’s
Zoë West
- Senior Researcher, Worker Rights and Equity, ILR Worker Institute
Zoë West, PhD, is Senior Researcher, Worker Rights and Equity (Senior Extension Associate).
KC Wagner
- Director of Workplace Issues at Cornell University's ILR Metro District Office in New York City.
KC Wagner is the Director of Workplace Issues at Cornell University's ILR Metro District Office in New York City.
Donate
The Worker Institute at Cornell engages in research, training and education to advance worker’s rights and collective representation and help create a more fair, equitable and sustainable workplace and society.
The Institute conducts cutting-edge research and convened researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, social justice and policymaking to address workers’ rights in the gig economy, sexual harassment in the workplace, and creating good jobs in the clean energy economy.
Your gift to The Worker Institute will support workers’ rights and contribute to building a more diverse, inclusive and dynamic labor movement.
Worker Institute Fellows
Through our Fellows program, the Worker Institute acknowledges the groundbreaking work of our external colleagues and partners in the labor movement. Worker Institute Fellows have been nominated due to their ongoing and continued work on key Worker Institute projects.
