Students create art and community in Risley Program House

By Kelly Kuehn, Student & Campus Life

Cornell has a number of notable structures on campus, including its own castle-like space right on North Campus: Risley Residential College. Risley is Cornell’s largest Program House, housing around 200 students from various walks of life. 

“It’s really a breath of fresh air for me to meet and interact with so many different people and hear all their stories,” Risley resident Anna Vozzelli '26 says. 

The residential space opened in 1913 after Olivia Slocum Russell Sage donated $300,000 for its construction. Named after Sage’s mother-in-law, Prudence Risley, the space was an all-female residence until 1970, when it was opened as a co-ed hall for students to explore the arts. It features 11 Fine Arts shops where students explore various creative endeavors, from pottery to woodworking. It also houses Risley Dining Room, Cornell’s fully gluten-free, tree nut free and peanut free dining space under the Kitchens with Confidence AllerCheck Approved program. 

A home for connection and creativity

Risley’s guiding values are creativity, conversation and community—values that tie into Cornell’s residential experience and Risley residents practice each day. 

“The community stretches beyond performing arts,” resident Aidan McNay ‘24 says. “I think that’s what initially gets you into Risley, but then when you get there, it’s a community of inclusive people.” 

Risley’s community is described as creative, welcoming and tight-knit, with residents sharing various interests and passions. McNay witnessed that welcoming community first-hand when he moved in his first year at Cornell. Upper-level Risley residents helped him move in and made him feel welcome as soon as he stepped foot in the door. They also hosted events that helped him feel at ease during that week leading up to classes, including a midnight breakfast. 

“I’ve never encountered a person in Risley who isn’t inclusive and welcoming and isn’t included and welcomed,” McNay says. 

McNay hasn’t forgotten the kindness infused in those moments, and neither have other Risley residents. Rebekah Camp '25 and Alice Herz '25 help keep that community connection alive by running a staple Risley event called “Lost Coffee”, a mystery scavenger hunt where residents win free coffee along the way. Minna Chow ‘25, another Risley resident, runs a companion event called “Found Coffee”, where residents connect over coffee every Thursday. Risley hosts several other fun community-building events, including Karaoke Night on Saturday nights and a Valentine’s Day dance. 

“Those events bring you together in ways you might not normally do,” McNay explains. 

While these events bring the Risley community together, the Program House’s seemingly endless creative opportunities give students the chance to hone their craft, or explore something new, like Vozelli did. She and her friends formed a band and now use the Sound Garden shop, a recording studio where students make their own music, to jam. If she’s feeling stressed or anxious, she plays the keyboard to unwind. 

“I’d say it’s helped a lot with my general mental well-being,” she says. 

How Risley fosters student growth

Risley provides more than a place to sleep and eat at Cornell. It offers students the space to grow personally and creatively while collaborating with, and learning from, their peers. 

“I think it [living in Risley] helped me grow a lot just from recognizing that I may think about an issue one way, but other perspectives become a lot more apparent when you can hear about them in person,” McNay explains. 

Chow says she’s grateful for the personal growth she’s experienced during her two years at Risley. The creative element of the Program House initially got her attention, but being part of the Risley community and collaborating with fellow students has really helped her flourish. 

“It’s helped me mature and understand what it means to be a good member of a community,” she says. 

Residents are also grateful for the creative accessibility Risley provides. They explore artistic hobbies and interests outside of the classroom in those creative shops, which helps establish school-life balance. It’s those key elements, plus the supportive community within Risley, that creates a special space to get lost in art while finding themselves and their community. 

If you have questions about the Program Houses at Cornell, contact the Housing Office at housing@cornell.edu or call 607-255-5368. 

Thumbnail image credit: Jason Koski/Cornell University