Student Representatives to the Advisory Board

Shivani Vel

My name is Shivani Vel and I am a junior from Morristown, NJ studying Human Biology, Health and Society in the College of Human Ecology. Outside of academics, I enjoy singing, reading, running, and cooking! Before coming to Cornell, I did not have a ton of experience in the outdoors, but I’ve always had a love for nature. Cornell Outdoor Education has opened up an entirely new world of outdoor recreation for me, and I am thrilled to be a part of this community! Through COE, I have been able to explore backpacking, trail running, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, and wilderness medicine. These experiences have empowered me to grow both physically and mentally. I’ve also been able to take on various leadership roles within COE such as Outdoor Odyssey Guide, DEI Training Chair, and Trail Running Instructor. In my new role as Student Representative to the COE Advisory Board, I want to expand access to outdoor opportunities to a broader range of Cornell students by working to remove financial and societal barriers. I also hope to make current students working at COE feel supported and valued in their roles. COE has been a pivotal part of my Cornell experience, and I am excited to give back to this incredible organization!
 

Sarah Uttormark

Hello! My name is Sarah (she/hers) and I am a PhD student in Applied Physics where I study the structure and dynamics of biomolecules in the Pollack Lab. I am thankful to have grown up in the land of 10,000 lakes (Minnesota) where much of my childhood was spent exploring their waters in all seasons. After graduating high school, I took a gap year to attend a folk school above the Arctic Circle in northern Norway where I spent the year studying mountaineering. During that year I embarked on numerous expeditions where I learned traditional rock climbing, glacial trekking, ski touring, and so much more. Our final adventure was a 17-day backcountry ski camping trip on Svalbard under the midnight sun. When not in the lab or instructing various COE courses, you can find me rehearsing with the Cornell Steel Band and Percussion Ensemble, teaching online Norwegian language classes, or knitting sweaters among friends at the Big Red Barn. The outdoor adventures I have led through COE have been one of the highlights of my Cornell career thus far and have inspired me to serve as a Student Representative to the COE Advisory Board. I have witnessed many students be positively impacted by the power of outdoor recreation through COE courses, and I am excited to help build and improve our program to strengthen this legacy. I look forward to gathering feedback from my peer instructors and using my voice to amplify their diverse ideas and perspectives.