Ben Mumford-Zisk
"It's all a ride." -Bill Hicks
Hello!
I am a leadership professional employed by Ithaca College and Cornell University, both located in Ithaca, New York, in the United States of America. I work primarily in student development and teambuilding, although my work with Cornell regularly extends to adult leadership training and outdoor education.
After eight years in my current position with Cornell, and two years with Ithaca College, I have decided I want to pursue a Master's and PhD in Sociology, focusing on political psychology and social movements, with the eventual goal of working in policy development.
When I am not reading the news and fretting about the realities of what Thomas Friedman called the "small, flat Earth" that is the result of viewing our increasingly interconnected global society through the lens of our individual and cultural biases, I am hard at work renovating a house that I purchased with my partner, Sylvie, about a year and a half ago, and cooking, which is a practical hobby of mine.
Primary Interests:
Education
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B.A., English/Journalism
University at Buffalo
2009
Work Experience
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Leadership Development Professional
Employer: Cornell University
April 2016 - present
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Manager, Information Technology Student Employment
Employer: Ithaca College
July 2021 - present
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Marketing Director
Employer: Roh Phyto
January 2018 - March 2020
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Bar Manager
Employer: Madeline's Fine Dining
April 2014 - January 2016
Membership in Professional Organizations
- Northeast Regional Computing Program
Languages Spoken
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English
Native speaker
Psychology Mentors, Inspirations, and Influences
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Robert DalyUniversity at BuffaloBob Daly was a professor of mine in uni. We knew each other briefly, but he had a profound impact on my approach to working with young people. In addition to being a knowledgeable, skillful educator, Bob modeled incredible compassion that I try to "pay forward" in my work with undergrads. -
Neil SchmitzUniversity at BuffaloNeil Schmitz was a professor of mine in Uni. He taught me that it was possible to be a smartass and still be a deeply dedicated and engaged intellectual and educator. He also taught me more about the intersection of humor and emotional pain than any comedian I've ever known. -
Janet ZiskKamehameha SchoolsJanet Zisk was an archaeologist and archivist, and also my grandmother. She worked on dig sites all over the middle east, and was the archivist of Kamehameha school in Oahu, Hawaii for more than 20 years. She taught me my first stories, and showed me how stories connect all peoples.
Ben Mumford-Zisk