The first female Cornell graduate earned her degree over a century ago, in 1873. And this year, 55 percent of Cornell’s graduating class are women.
While women now take on prominent roles in the Cornell community and beyond, this has not always been the case. Women’s History Month was established in the United States in 1987 and every March, the country honors women to recognize their contributions throughout U.S. history.
This March, The Sun spoke to women currently and formerly in leadership positions at Cornell to highlight their contributions to campus.
Julia Senzon ’26, Editor-in-Chief of The Sun
The Cornell Daily Sun’s first female editor-in-chief, Elizabeth Bass ’72, was elected in 1971. Before Bass, women in The Sun were limited to “women’s editor” positions that only worked on content specifically appealing to women.
Today, Julia Senzon ’26 leads The Sun as editor-in-chief — the head of the paper. She succeeds decades of Sun editors-in-chief of all genders.
“I don't have to be a journalist for women,” Senzon said, reflecting on her place within the paper’s gendered history. “[I can] be a journalist for everyone and a leader for everyone.”
Julia Senzon '26 currently serves as the editor-in-chief of The Sun. (Courtesy of Julia Senzon '26)
As the daughter and granddaughter of “incredible role models” like her mother and grandmothers, Senzon said that the title of “woman in leadership” is inspirational.
Growing up, Senzon’s mother, who she described as a “caring, responsible” nurse, set an example as a “headstrong” leader for her daughter. Similarly, both of her grandmothers held jobs and bolstered Senzon’s impression of what she could accomplish.
“I've always been raised to never believe that there's limits placed on me because of my gender,” Senzon said.
Julia Senzon '26 smiles with her first newspaper flat at The Sun office. (Courtesy of Julia Senzon '26)
With editor-in-chief experience from her high school newspaper, Senzon began writing for The Sun as a first-year in fall 2022. She quickly rose to news editor during her second semester on campus, covering and assigning articles about on-campus news and the University administration.
After two semesters as a news editor, Senzon was elected as managing editor — second-in-command to the editor-in-chief and her “dream role” at the time. The managing editor is central to the organization of the paper, and Senzon said she dedicated 50 to 60 hours a week to The Sun at the time, and sometimes more.
Now, as an editor-in-chief of The Sun’s 143rd Editorial Board, Senzon wants to make her time in the position count. Her mission for her two-semester term is to use the paper to “facilitate conversation.”
“It is the most rewarding to me when I can just hear people from their own words about what they think more so than what they do,” Senzon said.
The editor-in-chief must also facilitate a greater conversation by co-writing editorials — articles written by the head subjective editors about large or contentious issues on campus. Editorials represent The Sun’s institutional voice, Senzon said. Part of Senzon’s goal for the editorials is to spark discussion.
“By using ‘any person, any study’ and protecting democracy as bedrock principles of the editorials, that will, in turn, inherently encourage conversation as a key element of the paper,” Senzon said. “[I want to make] sure people feel like we want them to be heard, and we want to protect all voices.”
As she takes on the topmost role of the paper, Senzon does not forget the women in The Sun who played a hand in her experience.
Specifically, Senzon pointed toward Sofia Rubinson ’24, former managing editor of The Sun during the 141st Editorial Board, as a model for her role. From Rubinson’s leadership, Senzon said she learned to hold people accountable while still being kind, to remain understanding of people’s unique circumstances and to stay resilient through backlash.
“It's important to never feel like you have to fit a box because of being a woman, [or] that you have to act a certain way or hold a more supportive role versus a more leadership role,” Senzon said. “It's important to recognize that your skill set is valuable.”
Adeena Naseem ’26, president of WHEN
Adeena Naseem ’26 is the president of Women’s Higher Education Now, a student organization that raises money for the Asian University for Women to support women’s education.
WHEN primarily holds fundraisers, such as selling cookies and flowers, to help AUW provide scholarships for women in Bangladesh. These women would otherwise have been forced to “marry off” or be “child laborers,” Naseem said.
Naseem also serves as the finance chair of South Asian Council to stay “in tune” with her Pakistani culture. In the future, she seeks to combine her major in economics and minor in environment and sustainability by exploring “impact investing or green finance.”
Naseem’s passion for women’s education stems from her culture. As an international student from Pakistan, Naseem said their society is very “son-centric.” Coming from a family without sons, “there was all sorts of pressure from society … because people think that having a son completes your family,” Naseem said. This pushed her to feel as if she had to “prove [her] worth.”
Naseem sought to prove herself through education. When she got into Cornell, she recalled thinking, “I've achieved something that made my parents proud. I've made it.”
At the same time, she recognized her achievement as a “privilege” that not all women — including those she grew up with — receive. This led to her passion for helping those who have not had the same opportunities, and she said that WHEN has given her that ability to do so.
From left to right, Crystal Liang '25 and Adeena Naseem '26 table for WHEN in Willard Straight Hall.
“Even my own class-fellows from back home at school — some of them have been married off at very young ages, because that's how our country is, and that's how society is,” Naseem said. “So that's something that ignites [my] fire from within.”
Judith Mecklenburger ’71, founder of Risley Program House
Judith Mecklenburger ’71 is known for the founding of the Risley Program House, which was the first program house at Cornell and first co-ed dormitory established on-campus.
Founded in 1970, Risley Hall houses 194 students of any class year who display interest in the visual and performing arts. The program house is completed with a theatre, a coffeehouse, recording studios, and its own dining hall.
At the age of 17, Mecklenburger enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as a communication major. During her undergraduate years, she was involved in many extracurriculars including the WVBR radio station, The Cornell Countryman and the Sage Chapel Choir.
“There are always these two sides to me — science and the arts,” Mecklenburger said.
During her junior year, Mecklenburger went to Day Hall to ask Ruth Darling, former head of housing, if the University could provide a living space for about 25 students who have interest in the arts, regardless of major.
The University had planned, prior to meeting with Mecklenburger, on tearing down the former all girls dormitory due to its expense. Mecklenburger left Day Hall with the opportunity to transform Risley Hall into an experimental, arts focused dormitory as the Head Resident for over 200 students.
Throughout the summer leading up to her senior year, Mecklenburger led the planning and organization alongside University faculty of what would become the first program house on-campus.
Beyond being known for establishing Risley, Mecklenburger is “an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community” and finds importance in how “there are a lot of other genders and descriptions of genders,” Mecklenburger said.
Her legacy as the founder of Risley program house is recognized on a plaque located on the ground floor of Risley Hall.
“People need to be given the option to be living with people who are like them,” Mecklenburger said. “A place where you can put your hair down and be yourself.”
Zora deRham ’27, President of the Student Assembly
Zora deRham ’27 is the current president of the Student Assembly — a shared governance organization of elected undergraduate student representatives that aid University officials on decisions regarding the interests of the student body.
Enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with a major in agricultural sciences and a minor in near Eastern studies, deRham is also a sister of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and a member of the Persian students organization.
deRham leads the 33-member Assembly during weekly meetings that discuss proposal, resolution and public comment discussions concerning the student body. With nine months of student assembly president experience under her belt, deRham reflects on her role as “a really great growth opportunity.”
deRham experiences challenges in her presidential role. “There’s always going to be people who underestimate me because I’m especially young in this position of leadership,” deRham said.
Although deRham said that she has “definitely experienced sexism and definitely experienced delegitimization” as a 19-year-old president, she credits the women who preceded her role.
“I think there is so much to be learned and so much to be grateful for that there were people who did this before me — that there were women who did this before me — and that they only became stronger because of it,” deRham said.
deRham finds the female role models in her life, especially her mother, to be vitally important in her life. “On bad days, she listens to me. On good days, she celebrates with me,” deRham said. “I’m really grateful for my female role models.”
