Director of Rooms
Harris Cohen is from New York City and serves as the Student General Manager of The Statler Hotel. He began his journey at The Statler as a Guest Service Agent and Bellman and most recently served as Student Director of Rooms before stepping into his current role. Along the way, he has worked across multiple departments, gaining firsthand experience in nearly every aspect of hotel operations.
Outside of the Statler, Harris has completed internships with Shake Shack Inc., SL Green Realty Corp., and Loews Hotels, where he explored hospitality development, real estate, and operations. He is particularly interested in the intersection of hotel ownership, asset management, and operations strategy, with a focus on how both portfolio-level and property-level decisions can improve performance and create better guest experiences.
Beyond hospitality, Harris is an active student leader within Cornell's Jewish community. He serves as a student leader at Cornell Hillel and is involved with the Center for Jewish Living, helping foster community and create meaningful experiences for fellow students. He also serves as Lead Course Assistant for Introduction to Hotel Operations.
Jessica Bizub is from Buffalo, New York, and serves as the Student Sales & Marketing Director at The Statler Hotel. She began her Statler journey with the Meetings & Events team before joining the Hotel Leadership Development Program and transitioning into Sales & Marketing, where she progressed through the roles of Coordinator, Supervisor, Manager, and most recently Student Sales & Marketing Director. Along the way, she developed a passion for building client relationships, supporting group business, and leading high-performing teams.
Outside of the Statler, Jessica served as an Omni Care Sales Intern at Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park, where she gained experience in convention hotel sales and commercial strategy. She is passionate about hotel sales, marketing, and creating memorable guest experiences through thoughtful planning and relationship building.
Beyond hospitality, Jessica serves as Executive Chair of Cornell University Program Board after previously serving as Promotional Chair, where she enjoys creating engaging campus events and fostering community. She also enjoys mentoring fellow students and continuously seeking opportunities to grow as a hospitality leader.
Andreana Frangos is from Coronado, California, and serves as the Student Director of Rooms at The Statler Hotel. She began her Statler journey as a Guest Service Agent and has since developed a passion for guest service, team leadership, and creating exceptional hospitality experiences.
Outside of the Statler, Andreana has completed internships with both Kalahari and Hilton, where she gained valuable industry experience. She is passionate about hotel operations and enjoys finding ways to elevate both the guest and employee experience.
Beyond hospitality, Andreana is actively involved in the Cornell community through Hotel Ezra Cornell and other student organizations, where she enjoys collaborating with peers and giving back to the hospitality industry. She is excited to continue growing as a leader while helping create meaningful experiences for guests, colleagues, and fellow students.
Zach Atlas is from New York City and serves as the Student Front Office Supervisor at The Statler Hotel. He began his Statler journey as a Bellperson and has since grown into a leadership role in the Front Office, where he is passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences and developing as an operations leader. From a young age, Zach found joy in creating memorable moments for others, a passion that continues to shape his approach to hospitality.
Outside of the Statler, Zach has gained experience with Hilton Hotels, Marriott Marquis, and United Airlines, further strengthening his interests in both hotel and airline operations. He is particularly interested in loyalty programs, guest experience, and the operational strategies that drive world-class service.
Beyond hospitality, Zach serves as President of Cornell's Air & Sea Hospitality Club. He enjoys mentoring fellow students, building community, and is excited to continue exploring opportunities in hospitality and transportation while creating memorable experiences for guests and travelers alike.
Anya Aronskaia is from Moscow, Russia, and serves as the Student Front Office Manager at The Statler Hotel. She began her Statler journey at the Front Desk and has since grown into a leadership role, where she is passionate about guest service, mentoring fellow students, and creating exceptional hospitality experiences.
Outside of the Statler, Anna has gained experience in education, hospitality, and legal settings, including serving as a legal intern at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology and as a student tutor. These diverse experiences have strengthened her interests in leadership, communication, and working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Beyond hospitality, Anna is pursuing a degree in the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, where she is interested in human resources, policy, and international relations. She enjoys building community, learning from diverse perspectives, and continuing to grow as a leader both inside and outside the hospitality industry.
Beverly Kleinman is from Long Island, New York, and serves as a Student Meetings & Events Manager at The Statler Hotel. She began her Statler journey as a Team Coordinator before advancing to Meetings & Events Supervisor and most recently Meetings & Events Manager. Through each role, she has developed a passion for event planning, client relations, and creating memorable experiences for guests.
Outside of the Statler, Beverly has gained industry experience through internships with Hilton Waikoloa Village and The Lodge at Vail, where she explored both hotel operations and front office management. She is particularly interested in hospitality wellness design, with a focus on hotel and restaurant design and conceptualization.
Beyond the Statler, Beverly is actively involved with Hotel Ezra Cornell, where she served as Philanthropy Director after previously holding roles as Food & Beverage Service Assistant Director and Philanthropy Manager. She enjoys bringing people together through events, supporting charitable initiatives, and continuing to grow as a hospitality leader.
Lance Zeligson is from the New York City metropolitan area and serves as a Student Meetings & Events Manager at The Statler Hotel. He began his Statler journey as a Banquet Event Lead and Bartender before advancing to Meetings & Events Supervisor and most recently Meetings & Events Manager. Through each role, he has developed a passion for event operations, guest service, and leading teams to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences.
Outside of the Statler, Lance completed a Food & Beverage Internship with Royal Caribbean Group, where he is gaining experience in cruise line operations. His interests span hotel operations, food and beverage, cruise operations, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Beyond the Statler, Lance serves as the Food & Beverage Director for Hotel Ezra Cornell 102, after previously serving as Conference Services Director for Hotel Ezra Cornell 101. He also serves as President of Cornell's Air & Sea Hospitality Club, where he enjoys connecting students with industry leaders, planning experiential events, and continuing to grow as a hospitality professional.
Sophia Marangoudakis serves as a Student Housekeeping Manager at The Statler Hotel. She began her Statler journey as a Student Housekeeping Attendant and, through the Hotel Leadership Development Program, progressed into leadership while developing a passion for hotel operations, team development, and creating exceptional guest experiences.
Outside of the Statler, Sophia has gained industry experience through internships at the Marriott Hotel in Yerevan, Armenia, RevPAR Media, and Marriott International, where she worked in hotel development. She is passionate about the intersection of hotel operations, development, and real estate, and aspires to one day develop and own a portfolio of boutique hotels.
Beyond the Statler, Sophia has served as an Assistant Director of Donor Relations for the 100th Hotel Ezra Cornell and is involved in several hospitality organizations across campus. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, creative arts, and volunteering with Lions Clubs International. She is excited to mentor future Hotel Leadership Development Program students and continue fostering a culture of service at The Statler.
Evelyn Wu serves as a Student Housekeeping Manager at The Statler Hotel. She began her Statler journey as a Banquet Server before transitioning to Housekeeping, where she advanced from Housekeeping Attendant to Housekeeping Supervisor and most recently Housekeeping Manager. Through each role, she has developed a passion for hotel operations, team leadership, and creating exceptional guest experiences.
Outside of the Statler, Evelyn has gained industry experience through internships with Hillstone Restaurant Group, Hyatt Regency Orange County, and The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, where she explored restaurant operations, hotel operations, culinary, and food and beverage management.
Beyond the Statler, Evelyn served as Executive Chef for Hotel Ezra Cornell 101 and has held several other leadership roles within the culinary department. She enjoys mentoring fellow students, collaborating across departments, and continuing to grow as a hospitality leader.
Thea Ackerman serves as a Student Supervisor at The Regent Lounge at The Statler Hotel. In her role, she helps lead day-to-day restaurant operations while working alongside fellow students to deliver exceptional service and create memorable dining experiences for guests.
Through the Hotel Leadership Development Program, Thea has developed a passion for hospitality operations, guest service, and team leadership. She enjoys working in a fast-paced environment where she can collaborate with others and contribute to creating welcoming experiences for every guest. She is excited to continue growing as a hospitality professional while supporting and mentoring the next generation of HLDP students.
Beyond the Statler, Thea serves as the Beverage Director for Hotel Ezra Cornell 102, where she leads beverage planning and execution for Cornell's student-run hospitality conference. She enjoys collaborating with fellow students across departments, developing creative beverage experiences, and continuing to grow her leadership skills through one of the school's signature hospitality events.
Will Bakos, originally from Hellertown, Pennsylvania, is a senior in the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration with a passion for food and beverage operations and creating memorable guest experiences. Since his freshman year, he has worked as a server at Taverna Banfi in The Statler Hotel, where he enjoys the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to connect with guests and colleagues every day.
Beyond the Statler, Will serves as an Onboard Services Intern with New Hope Railroad, where he combines his passion for hospitality and railroading by delivering exceptional guest experiences aboard one of Pennsylvania's historic railroads. His previous hospitality experience includes serving at Stone Tavern, Saucon Valley Country Club, and The Colebrookdale Railroad, where he first discovered his love for hospitality. He is also an active member of Cornell's Ski Club.
Looking ahead, Will hopes to build a career in historic hospitality venues and railroad tourism, with the ultimate goal of owning or managing a historic excursion railroad that creates unforgettable experiences for guests of all ages. When he's not working, he enjoys playing the piano, rock climbing, and woodworking. A fun fact about Will is that he spent six years performing aerial circus acts, with flying trapeze being his favorite.