Kimberly McMillian
Class of 2028 · Johnson MBA, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
Mental Health. International Student Advocacy. AI Fluency.
A Liaison and Connector
“I see this role as a liaison and connector, not a distant vote. I will create regular opportunities for students to be heard, communicate clearly about decisions affecting us, and bring graduate and professional perspectives into rooms where they are too often missing. I don't want to just hold this seat. I want you to feel the difference.”
Kimberly McMillian
Candidate for Graduate & Professional Student-Elected Trustee
Johnson MBA, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business · Class of 2028
My Top Priorities
Three priorities, grounded in what graduate and professional students at Cornell are actually facing right now.
Mental Health and Disability Support That Reflects Different Student Needs
Graduate and professional students face different academic structures, workloads, and barriers, and our support systems should reflect that. I will push for a more transparent and fairly distributed mental health rollout and greater SDS capacity so graduate and professional students receive support designed for the realities of their programs.
Real Advocacy for Our International Student Community
Approximately half of Cornell's graduate students are international, and a new federal rule taking effect this month will cap the initial authorized stay for many at four years, requiring extensions for longer programs. I will advocate for clear guidance and real, individualized support for students navigating this uncertainty.
AI Fluency for Every Graduate and Professional Student
AI is already reshaping the careers we came here to build. I want a real seat at the table for graduate and professional students, alongside practitioners actively using and building with AI, because our careers and the goals that brought us here depend on it.
Why I’m Running
My commitment to service started long before Cornell. I am a Horatio Alger Scholar and an alum of Usher's New Look Foundation, two organizations that gave me meaningful access and opportunity at a young age. I have carried that forward by continuing to mentor young people through both today.
Professionally, I have served in senior manager and program management roles centered on connecting cross-functional teams, aligning competing priorities, and advocating for the communities those decisions affected.
Through McMillian Media, the consulting agency I founded, I also work hands-on with AI, architecting and deploying AI-powered systems and workflows for lead generation, onboarding, content creation, and marketing automation. That experience shapes how I think about AI fluency for graduate and professional students, not as an abstract policy question, but as a skill and business reality I navigate myself.
At Johnson, I am continuing to deepen that work as a Roy H. Park Leadership Fellow through board governance coursework and service with local Ithaca nonprofits. I see the Trustee role as a continuation of that journey, bringing together service, advocacy, and my experience as a connector while continuing to learn, listen, and grow.
Beyond the Ballot
My interests sit at the intersection of culture, people, technology, and community. I studied Music Industry Studies at Loyola University New Orleans, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude, and I am still the person who can talk your ear off about a great playlist, an underrated artist, or why a film or campaign connected with an audience. I am fascinated by storytelling, emerging technology, and how culture shapes the way people see the world.
As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, I value service, mentorship, sisterhood, and creating spaces where people feel supported and connected. I spend much of my free time mentoring young professionals and sorority sisters navigating early career decisions.
I am also excited to get to know Ithaca beyond Cornell and find ways to make a meaningful impact during my two years here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who's eligible to vote for this seat?
Graduate students across Cornell’s Ithaca campus, professional degree students (for example JD and MBA programs), and Cornell Tech students on Roosevelt Island.
Weill Cornell Medicine students and those in executive programs are explicitly excluded from this constituency and are not eligible to vote or be counted as part of the electorate for this seat.
When can I vote?
Voting opens September 18, 2026, 12:01 AM and closes September 24, 2026, 11:59 PM. Results are expected October 1, 2026. The official voting portal link will be added here once it’s confirmed with the Office of the Assemblies, see the official election page in the meantime.
How does voting work?
Voting is online and ranked-choice, tabulated by the Office of the Assemblies using the “Hare” ranked-choice method.
Is this an official Cornell website?
No. This is an independent, unofficial campaign site for Kimberly McMillian’s candidacy. It is not operated by Cornell University or the Office of the Assemblies.
Who’s Eligible
- Graduate students across Cornell's Ithaca campus graduate fields
- Professional degree students (for example, JD and MBA programs)
- Cornell Tech students (Roosevelt Island, NYC)
Weill Cornell Medicine students and those in executive programs are explicitly excluded from this constituency and are not eligible to vote or be counted as part of the electorate for this seat.
The official Cornell voting portal will be available starting September 18, 2026. See the official election page for details.
Election Dates & Deadlines
Graduate Trustee Forum
September 16, 2026
Voting opens
September 18, 2026, 12:01 AM
Voting closes
September 24, 2026, 11:59 PM
Results announced
October 1, 2026
Learn Where Kimberly Stands
Mental health and disability support that reflects different student needs, real advocacy for our international student community, and AI fluency for every graduate and professional student.