Alumni Spotlight

Luivette Resto-Ometeotl is originally from Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, resided in the Bronx since early childhood and currently lives in Glendora, California with her husband and three children. Luivette is a distinguished writer and majored in English Literature at Cornell.  When asked ‘Why Cornell?’, Luivette mentioned her interest in the traditional college experience she sought and how the HEOP program and Minority Hosting Weekend solidified how Cornell can be just that for her. 

During her time at Cornell, she was heavily involved in numerous student organizations on campus.  Her passion for service and her interest in the political climate of ethnic matters, she joined Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., was a member of ETHOS yearbook publication, La Lucha newspaper, LOLU, LAL and was the first upperclassman to be an Latino Studies Program student rep.  In her role as LSP student rep, she was involved with the advancement of the Latino Studies Program which provided an infrastructure for the Latino Studies Program that exists today.  Her experiences at Cornell prepared her socially for the realities of the world but more than anything, it empowered her to feel confident in her intelligence and capabilities and use that assurance to succeed in her endeavors.   

Aside from being active on campus, Luivette was inspired at Cornell to write, entertain the idea of creative writing and learn about herself.  Inspirational professors such as Helena Viramontes taught her that the female voice is an important one- just as important as that of a male voice.  Luivette also learned about her culture, the socio-political and cultural consciousness at Cornell and how to learn from the many lessons that were “not included in the tuition fee” and the classroom. 

Looking back, Luivette misses many things about her Cornell experience.  Other than her involvement on campus, she misses her friends and the memories she made with them through the intelligent conversations at RPU (what we now know as RPCC) about courses, politics, current affairs, etc.  She misses Unity Hours, late nights and the Ivy Room jukebox playing REM’s “Everybody Hurts” during prelim week.  Some of this reminiscing led to her words of wisdom to undergraduates at Cornell on a personal level to take as many classes as they can and truly enjoy every moment at Cornell as we never get those moments back.  Professionally, learn from your professors and get to know them outside the classroom, study abroad and learn from your peers and their experiences. 

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Luivette attended University of Massachusetts/Amherst in pursuit of a Masters in Fine Arts.  Her interest in poetry and creative writing has led her to several publications including her recent collection of poems in her book entitled Unfinished Portrait.  Being an author aside, and loving it, she is currently an adjunct professor in the English Department at Citrus College in California. 

Mrs. Resto-Ometeotl stays connected to Cornell through her Sorority and looks forward to becoming more involved within the Latino community.  To start these connections, Luivette will be back on Cornell’s campus this spring for a reading from her publication so keep an eye out for those details and her appearance! 

In the future, Mrs. Resto-Ometeotl aspires to publish another book of poetry, earning her PhD in Creative Writing, writing a screenplay and maybe even coming back to Cornell as a professor!  In the meantime, she remains busy with work, life and her kids… and we wish her continued success!