Engaged Ambassadors
Darnell Campbell Jr. ’21
Major: Sociology 
Minor: Business
The issues of public concern I’m passionate about are … educational opportunities for minority communities and social inequality!
Engagement experience: Last spring, I was awarded the unique and fulfilling opportunity to help volunteer, arrange activities and interact with local Ithacan children as a collaboration between Cornell University’s Black Students United and 4-H West Village After-School Program in Ithaca. Being able to construct playful educational games and activities was not only great in celebrating black history month but it also provided a lens to the available education system and the areas of improvement that the program could take to better supplement neighborhood children with similar circumstances. From scavenger hunts to historical figure matching games, I can definitively say this experience connected me more with the community that bus often serves in greater Ithaca and aided in identifying key resources that could be used to get more volunteers and children engaged in the program.
As an Engaged Ambassador, I … aim to leverage my connections and student initiatives to bring the Cornell student body together. It is true that Cornell is an extremely diverse place consisting of students ranging with unique experiences, skillsets and thought processes. I believe it is moments through our collective Cornell experience that differences can bring us together than apart. There’s always an opportunity to relate, connect or build with another on Cornell’s campus that aims in supporting multiple students. And if I can help support another student in any aspect regarding either mentally, academically or socially then it’ll all be worth it!
I got involved because … when I first arrived on campus I felt that there weren’t a lot of black men in supportive areas on campus that focused on community service and engagement that I could reach out to or get in contact with. Seeing that sparked a community engagement interest that has focused on creating spaces to ensure the black progression here on Cornell’s campus. It is this constant work and perseverance from previous student leaders that have created the space for me to benefit from today. In order to better the next generation of students at Cornell, we have to get addressed and solve issues within our community.
My friends would say I’m … caring, goofy and a good listener!
Best Cornell memory (so far!): I would definitely consider the 2019 Slope Day on Stewart as one of my best Cornell memories so far. Good music + Good food + Dancing = Great Vibes!
Fun fact: I’ve played 2 years of beach volleyball in high school.
Future plans: I will be an incoming analyst for Bank of America in Global Corporate and Wealth Management Strategy. I look forward to learning of the many factors that affect the accumulation of generational wealth for minority groups. In addition, I look forward to investing in myself and traveling the world with my loved ones.
Engaged Ambassadors
A cohort of students who have completed the Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership and lead a variety of special projects for the Office of Engagement Initiatives