In this episode of the Inclusive Excellence Podcast, Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel are joined by Cyrus Hamilton-Ferguson, assistant director of Student Disability Services at Cornell, for a conversation about how his personal and professional lives have intertwined over time and while working at the university.

Hamilton-Ferguson opens up about the challenges of becoming a new parent after adopting a child with disabilities, and how his work at Cornell has helped him explore this new identity.

“I understand where parents are coming from now, having to navigate IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings with my son,” Hamilton-Ferguson said. “We all want our students to succeed, whether you're a parent or working on our campus. It's just a matter of tapping into those resources and knowing I'm going to have to do things a little bit differently.”

For Hamilton-Ferguson, his personal and professional experiences complement each other, strengthening his purpose and motivation. His current role at Cornell involves meeting with students with disabilities to listen to and assess their needs and ensure that the university provides the necessary accommodations for their success.  

Throughout his journey as a parent and professional, Hamilton-Ferguson is eager to share his authentic story.  

“At the end of the day, we are people,” Hamilton-Ferguson said. “We are complicated, multifaceted, sometimes messy and oftentimes overworked. And in the midst of all of that, we show up and we bring our best selves. I always talk about Cornell's motto, “Any Person, Any Study,” and I want to continue to make Cornell a place where any person can find community, opportunity and purpose—not only for our students but also for our faculty and staff.”

Hear more about Cyrus’s story in Episode 67: “Any Person, Any Purpose” with Cyrus Hamilton-Ferguson. Visit https://diversity.cornell.edu/iepodcast to access the episode and transcript.

About the Inclusive Excellence Podcast

Join Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging for a bi-weekly podcast series where they explore various topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at work. During each episode's interview, they provide a platform for campus colleagues in various roles to share their lived experiences, thoughts and ideas around how to create cultures of belonging, especially in the workplace. You can listen to this podcast on your phone, at your desk, on your way to work, while you are taking a break, even while you get ready for bed! 

Do you have a topic you would like discussed on the podcast, or want to recommend someone doing awesome work around campus? Contact ie-academy@cornell.edu.

Grace DePaull is a Communications Assistant in the Division of Human Resources.