Jeffrey Ho
Biological Sciences
Millburn, N.J.
What was your favorite class and why?
My absolute favorite class was HD 3210: Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, taught by Professor Marlen Gonzalez. It is such a unique interdisciplinary class that integrates neurobiology with policy, childhood development and social movements. My final project explored how peer relationships can influence the development of episodic memories, such a cool topic that has implications for so many different developmental fields! I think this class really fosters an interdisciplinary mindset and approach to science, which extends to Cornell as a whole.
What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?
Arts & Sciences truly is an interdisciplinary education. Nowhere else are you going to get this level of rigor to think not only about your main field of study but also other fields with such intense depth and passion. I would say I learned how to find threads here. Threads connecting fields. Threads connecting people. Learning how to foster connections between topics, people and community was a huge part of my education. Whether it be through creating poetry, exploring neurobiology or even watching television, the way different threads come together really shows the strength of the Arts & Sciences education to be one where you connect with different fields and not be limited in return.
What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of my work as a Humanities Scholar. Going into Cornell as a pre-med, I never thought I would have the opportunity to explore interests outside of the required curriculum. Especially as a biological sciences major, I expected to be tied down to the hard sciences. I was fortunate to be accepted into the Humanities Scholar Program, where I could explore my own interests not in the hard sciences but in the way medicine touches our lives in so many ways from communication to public policy. My senior capstone in the Humanities Scholars Program (HSP) culminated in an exhibit in the Rare and Manuscripts Collection titled "Public Health on the Hill: Creating Community through Connection." I never thought I would have the opportunity or even the ability to embark on such a large project in exhibit curation, but joining HSP and the interdisciplinary programs integrated into the Arts & Sciences curriculum really made it possible. Being a Humanities Scholar taught me to not confine myself to a box and to forge my own path.
How have your beliefs or perspectives changed since you first arrived at Cornell?
I would say my perspective on myself has changed the most. I came in with the preconceived expectation that I would be tied down to a science and wouldn’t have the time, or even capacity, to explore other interests, especially creative ones like writing or film making. I was afraid to explore, worried that, especially at such a rigorous institution like Cornell, exploring meant failing with no coming back. I think Cornell pushed me to explore more, to learn more about myself, my place in the world and who I want to be. My interests are there for a reason. Exploring means finding yourself in the process.
Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series. Read more about the Class of 2026.
More News from A&S
Faculty excellence in teaching and advising honored with 2026 awards
Teaching awards
