Sami Wolf
Computer Science and Mathematics
Ithaca, N.Y.
What was your favorite class and why?
My favorite class was Honors Discrete Structures with Professor Joe Halpern. That's a very abstract-sounding title, but it was basically an introductory course in logic, probability and mathematical proofs. To probe the subtleties of knowledge, uncertainty, and reasoning, Professor Halpern challenged us with riddles and puzzles. I remember spending hours on a particularly tough riddle over February break, discussing it with my mom and sister, trying to piece together some intuition. I don't remember whether I found the answer in the end, and it doesn't matter. Professor Halpern made me realize that mathematics is about the questions, not the answers.
Professor Joe Halpern passed away in February of this year and in April, the computer science department came together in Gates Hall for a memorial seminar in honor of his incredibly rich scientific legacy. His long-time collaborator, Professor Rafael Pass, gave a short lecture on his work concerning knowledge representation. He explained that Halpern had a particular knack for finding a simple and concrete example that perfectly illustrated the distinction between two definitions. What struck me was the joy Professor Pass felt and transmitted when discussing the ideas. It reminded me of Professor Halpern's light-heartedness and the smile that was always on his lips.
What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?
I have played bass trombone in the Jazz Repertory Ensemble, Trombone Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra here. Music has been a way to dedicate time and energy to something larger than myself with others, and has taught me to listen louder than I play (or speak).
What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?
I remember there was a total solar eclipse in the spring of my sophomore year. Everyone in the world, it seemed, gathered on the slope to watch. People passed around pairs of protective sunglasses to those who didn't have any. When it started to get dark, there was a hush. It was a cloudy day, but for a brief moment we could see through our sunglasses the black spot where the sun should be. Everyone in Ithaca shared these few minutes together.
What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?
I have done research on computational sustainability with Professor Carla Gomes for the majority of my time at Cornell. I have worked on projects understanding tradeoffs in hydropower dam expansion, optimizing protected area placement for fish conservation and modeling species habitats from limited data. These experiences have involved meaningful collaborations with students, post-docs and faculty in both computer science and ecology.
How have your beliefs or perspectives changed since you first arrived at Cornell?
I have become much more critical about the role of technology in our democracy. Via my research using AI to address ecological sustainability questions, my discussions with friends, and especially my critical theory and AI policy classes, it has become clear to me that the moral position of a technologist is not neutral. Doing good work in computer science means constantly evaluating how to best serve our global communities. I hope to work on questions that directly address the threats unregulated technology can pose.
Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?
My gradually deepening love for poetry has sustained me throughout my college career. The task of poetry, I think, is to give value to the moments of our lives that seem unimportant. In college, struggling to stay afloat academically can feel like a contraction of one's lived experience. Poetry helps me resist this contraction by teaching me to pay more attention to the beauty around me, whatever secret form it may take.
Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series. Read more about the Class of 2026.
