{"668022":{"#nid":"668022","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Celebrating Inclusive Excellence: Janelle Cornwall Adapts and Advances","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn transactional law, the goal most often is to avoid litigation. Transactional attorneys comb through contracts and other legal documents meticulously\u2014dotting every \u201ci\u201d and crossing every \u201ct\u201d in an attempt to keep things sailing smoothly without any surprises. In life, however, there is continuous change and disruption. Often, one just has to imbue oneself with the skills and perspicacity to navigate the sea changes that occur.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EJanelle Cornwall, Assistant Chief Counsel, GTRI Transactions, Office of the General Counsel is savvy about transactional law and overcoming obstacles and change.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve faced several obstacles in both my education and career,\u201d said Janelle.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cObstacles have been a part of both my education and career,\u201d Janelle shared. \u201cHowever, they have served as stepping stones, propelling me towards growth and resilience.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Stanford University alumna, who studied Sociology and Psychology, and later, transactional law at Emory Law School, joined\u0026nbsp;GTRI on Nov. 1, 2022. As the Assistant Chief Counsel, her role is pivotal to GTRI\u0027s operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022My job involves providing advice and counsel to GT\/GTRI leadership, management, and contracting officers on GTRI transactions,\u0022 Janelle explained. \u0022It\u0027s about understanding the impact of Georgia procurement laws and regulations on the Institute\u2019s transactions. I also prepare and review contracts, such as MOUs, NDAs, and other legal agreements and documents impacting GTRI.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHer journey was not without challenges. The most influential mentor in her life, her mother, stood by her through the stormy seas of change.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe New York native is the offspring of Caribbean immigrants. Her family moved to Atlanta suburb Stone Mountain during her high school years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOne of Janelle\u0027s first hurdles was the realization that her initial college major choice of pre-med wasn\u0027t the right fit. \u0022My grades suffered as I struggled to understand certain concepts that came easily to my classmates,\u0022 she recalled. \u0022I finally decided to pause and reflect on my skill strengths \u2013 writing, analysis, research, and problem-solving. With this renewed focus, I decided to pursue a career in law.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThat choice proved to be the right one. She flourished as a law student. Her time in college included a term as\u0026nbsp;Executive Managing Editor of the Emory (University) International Law Review.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA new challenge surfaced with the 2008 recession just as she embarked on her law school journey. \u0022The job market was incredibly difficult to navigate,\u0022 she said. \u0022I applied to hundreds of jobs, rarely hearing back from employers. It was an emotionally draining experience.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs an inspiration in her life, Janelle acknowledges prominent political figure and social justice advocate Stacey Abrams. \u0022Her tenacity and dedication to social equity have been truly inspiring,\u0022 Janelle expressed.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EJanelle\u0027s own tenacity and dedication have enabled her to rise above the tides of personal and professional strife.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I\u2019m fortunate to say that I\u2019ve attained many of my personal and professional goals,\u0022 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EShe\u0027s a homeowner and is passionate about her family, including her dog, Milo, her home, music, pop culture, and social equity--like her role model Abrams.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the future, Janelle plans to join Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at GTRI, as she believes they can foster a sense of belonging. \u0022I plan on joining a few ERGs so that I can start to build a greater sense of belonging at GTRI as a new employee,\u0022 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EJanelle does have less taxing goals and pursuits as well: \u0022In my free time outside of work, I enjoy going to concerts, listening to podcasts, hiking up\/around Stone Mountain, and spending time with my family, friends, and dog.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Post-COVID, my personal goal is to travel more, especially to places on my bucket list.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EJanelle Cornwall\u2019s story is a testament to resilience and the power of adaptation. Despite the challenges she faced in her educational and professional journey, her ability to navigate change and overcome adversity has led her to a rewarding early career path at GTRI.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHer story is exemplary for aspiring attorneys and current and future GTRI employees alike.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Christopher Weems\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nPhotographer: Christopher J. Moore\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGTRI Communications\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nAtlanta, Georgia\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is the nonprofit applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).\u202fFounded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $800 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.\u202fGTRI\u0027s renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJanelle Cornwall, Assistant Chief Counsel, GTRI Transactions, Office of the General Counsel is savvy about transactional law and overcoming obstacles and change. Her story is a testament to resilience and the power of adaptation. Despite the challenges she faced in her educational and professional journey, her ability to navigate change and overcome adversity has led her to a rewarding early career path at GTRI.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Assistant Chief Counsel Janelle Cornwall\u2019s story is a testament to resilience and the power of adaptation, leading her to a rewarding early career path at GTRI."}],"uid":"35832","created_gmt":"2023-06-07 15:54:47","changed_gmt":"2023-06-12 14:26:35","author":"Michelle Gowdy","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-06-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-06-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"670939":{"id":"670939","type":"image","title":"Janelle Cornwall, Assistant Chief Counsel, GTRI Transactions, Office of the General Counsel ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJanelle Cornwall\u2019s story is a testament to the resilience and the power of adaptation.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E(Photo Credit: GTRI Photographer, Christopher Moore)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1686151466","gmt_created":"2023-06-07 15:24:26","changed":"1686151816","gmt_changed":"2023-06-07 15:30:16","alt":"Janelle Cornwall, Assistant Chief Counsel, GTRI Transactions, Office of the General Counsel ","file":{"fid":"253912","name":"2023_0405_image_GenCounsel_inclusive_excellence_Janelle Cornwall_006.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/07\/2023_0405_image_GenCounsel_inclusive_excellence_Janelle%20Cornwall_006.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/06\/07\/2023_0405_image_GenCounsel_inclusive_excellence_Janelle%20Cornwall_006.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":11761480,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/06\/07\/2023_0405_image_GenCounsel_inclusive_excellence_Janelle%20Cornwall_006.jpg?itok=7XR6_lsW"}}},"media_ids":["670939"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"416","name":"GTRI"},{"id":"365","name":"Research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"166902","name":"science and technology"},{"id":"736","name":"diversity"},{"id":"1564","name":"community"},{"id":"41081","name":"inclusive excellence"},{"id":"171330","name":"staff profile"},{"id":"192731","name":"Office of the General Counsel"},{"id":"75391","name":"Employee Resource Groups"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E(Interim) Director of Communications\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMichelle Gowdy\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMichelle.Gowdy@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E404-407-8060\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michelle.gowdy@gtri.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}