Europe is a fascinating place to study and travel to, with a rich history and diversity, and with great potential for drawing fruitful comparisons to the US. Our 2024 European Studies Minor graduates have certainly discovered that over the course of their four years at Cornell. They were celebrated, together with other graduating minors of the Einaudi Center for International Studies (International Relations, Latin American Studies, and Migrations Studies), in an informal ceremony on May 21, 2024.

This year, 26 European Studies minors have graduated, an increase of over 20% from last year. Our minors have majored in a variety of disciplines, from Government (the most common) to Computer Science, Linguistics, History, Biological Science, Art History, Economics, Labor Relations, College Scholars, and others. They have studied many different European languages, with French and Spanish tied this year as the most popular, but including German, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, and Russian. Several European Studies minors have taken advantage of the funding opportunities offered by the Institute for European Studies, including the Global Research Internships in Pamplona, Spain, the Michael Harum award for students of Slavic languages, and the independent summer research fellowships, Frederic Conger Wood, and Susan Tarrow awards. More broadly, our minors have enjoyed study abroad in a variety of Cornell programs, from Oxford, London, and Ireland, to Paris and Geneva.

Here are some 2024 European Minor graduates profiles:

Jenna Resnik

Major: Human Development

Minors: Nutrition & Health, European Studies

Jenna was a campus tour guide, Resident Advisor, Human Ecology Ambassador, and helped to run the Raising Education Attainment Challenge (REACH) club through the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement.

“The European Studies Minor is so flexible and customizable to your interests! Find a topic you're interested in learning more about or already passionate about and use some of the courses that meet the requirements of the minor to view your interests from an alternative perspective - I promise you'll learn something new and intriguing!”

George Sarbinowski

Majors: Government, Near Eastern Studies

Minors: Law & Society, History, European Studies

George was a part of the Cornell Alexander Hamilton Society, Cornell Political Union, Cornell Army ROTC, Cornell Blockchain, Cornell Catholic, Institute of Politics & Global Affairs Scholar, Reagan National Defense Fellow, and Hertog Humanities Fellow.

“I'd advise students to pursue many extracurricular activities as they're often more fulfilling than classes. Start with a lot of clubs and fellowships and narrow them down to those that prove meaningful to you. For the European Studies Minor, I'd recommend leaning into languages. Cornell and the European Studies Minor grant you the rare opportunity to devote yourself to learning a new language. Cornell has significant language resources and support for studying abroad which you should take advantage of.” 

Claire Tempelman

Major: Policy Analysis and Management

Minors: International Relations, European Studies

Claire participated in Student Assembly, Cornell International Affairs Review, Cornell Diplomat, Class Councils, Undergraduate Scholar program at IOPGA, and Cornell in Washington.

"My advice to future Cornell students is to study abroad! I studied abroad in Switzerland and also went on a trip to Copenhagen to do research. I learned so much from living in a different country, and it complemented what I learned in my European Studies classes."