Leslie Monter-Casio (They/She)

Hi, I'm Lorena Rodriguez, a sophomore at Cornell University studying Industrial and Labor Relations. I'm passionate about law, public service, and supporting communities that face barriers to accessing legal and educational resources. Over the past year, I've sought out opportunities that align with those interests. I volunteer as an ESL tutor with Friends of Farmworkers, where I teach English to Spanish-speaking farmworkers in one-on-one virtual sessions. I also serve as the organization's Social Media Chair, creating content and outreach strategies to increase engagement and connect more students with our mission. This summer, I'm completing my Leadership-in-Action project in Tabasco, Mexico, where I'm shadowing a Municipal Administrative Judge. Through this experience, I've observed how local disputes are resolved and gained insight into a different legal system while also learning about public service.

Hello! My name is Victoria Dai, and I'm a second year at Cornell University, located in New York, majoring in Biology and Society on the pre-med track. I am passionate about working with local communities and people of all ages, from children in Head Start programs to elderly adults in hospice care. For my Leadership-in-Action project during the summer of 2026, I partnered with makesense Americas to collaborate with Picacho Con Futuro, a local NGO in Comuna 6 of Medellín, Colombia. Founded in 1987, Picacho Con Futuro was initially founded in response to violence, displacement, and a lack of opportunities. Today, their primary focus is strengthening the community through culture, education, art, communication, and social participation. Through my LiA, I, along with three other Liadlaw scholars, designed a proposal for a new cultural café for Picacho Con Futuro, designed to serve as a welcoming community space and support local social and economic development. This cultural café will be a huge milestone for Picacho Con Futuro, and hopefully Barrio Mío will be built and enjoyed by the local community within the next couple years. Outside of Laidlaw and academics, I enjoy singing in an a cappella group, playing tennis and the piano, and spending time knitting. I love visiting new countries and trying different global foods! I would love to meet more people so please don't hesitate to reach out! 

At Cornell University, students across disciplines are passionate about changing the world. Open to first- and second-year students, the Laidlaw Leadership and Research and Program provides generous support for student research, offers hands-on leadership development and reflection, and encourages students to reinvest their knowledge to help others succeed. Laidlaw Scholars are part of an international network of like-minded leaders.