Emily Ryu, a fifth-year graduate student studying computer science, died in her off-campus residence on Sunday, according to an email sent to Cornell Bowers faculty, staff and computer science graduate students from Interim Bowers Dean Prof. Thorsten Joachims, Dean of Students Marla Love and Thomas Lewis, dean of Cornell’s Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education on Sunday.
Ryu was a native of North Carolina who started her Ph.D. at Cornell in 2021 as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. According to her website, she was interested in “algorithmic game theory, mechanism design, learning theory, and optimization, particularly with more realistic models of behavioral and cognitive constraints.”
Ryu graduated from Princeton University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry. At Cornell, she was advised by Prof. Éva Tardos and Prof. Jon Kleinberg. She contributed to or authored 13 academic publications, and her work has been cited 27 times. Ryu was “on the postdoc job market for the 2025-2026 cycle,” according to her website.
Outside of academics, Ryu enjoyed dance, yoga and crochet, according to her website.
“The passing of classmates and colleagues can affect each of us differently,” Joachims, Lewis and Love wrote in the email. “We encourage you to care for one another and seek support when you need it. Losing a friend, classmate, or colleague is difficult.”
The University held two support meetings: one for the Cornell Bowers community at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, in 310 Gates Hall and virtually on Zoom, and a second open to the full Cornell community at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the International Lounge located in 414 Willard Straight Hall, according to the email.
“We extend our condolences to Emily’s loved ones and friends and ask that you keep them in your thoughts as they grieve her loss,” Joachims, Lewis and Love wrote in the email.
Individuals can have a diverse range of feelings, needs and reactions when facing loss. This information about Grief and Loss may be helpful to you or a friend. The Ithaca-based crisisline can be reached at 607-272-1616, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available throughout the U.S. Additional support resources are listed at mentalhealth.cornell.edu.
Students in need of professional support can email Student Support and Advocacy Services at studentsupport@cornell.edu or call Counseling and Psychological Services at 607-255-5155. Employees can call the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program at 607-255-2673.
Correction, October 29, 1:50 p.m.: This article has been corrected to explain who was sent the email and to add clarifying details about the two support meetings held for the Bowers and Cornell community.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the features editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and was the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
