In the last year, ITS’ Event Services Office (ESO) has helped facilitate more than 6,000 events around campus. Behind the scenes is Event Services Manager Monica Fajardo, ensuring that your meeting, class, or event goes smoothly from start to finish. Learn more about Monica’s 25 years at WCM.
In your own words, what’s your role in ITS?
As the Event Services Manager, I’m responsible for the scheduling, equipment, and technical support staff of the Weill and Uris Auditoriums, Estabrook Lecture Hall A250, Lecture Hall A950, and 25 classrooms in the Education Center.
I also arrange audiovisual support across the campus, including rooms managed by Conference Services and Griffis; the Belfer Research Building, Selma Rubin Conference Center, A126, and the Griffis Faculty Club.
In addition, I provide Zoom meeting and webinar consultations and support and manage the financial operations for our team since we work under a cost recovery model.
Ultimately, my job is to ensure the faculty, students, and staff have the space, equipment, and technical support they need to focus on their work without worrying about the logistics.
How long have you been doing this?
For this position, I was recently promoted back in 2022.
And how long have you been with Weill Cornell?
I grew up at Weill Cornell! I was hired in July 2000 and even celebrated my 21st birthday here. A few months after I started, the faculty and the first-year medical students gathered to sing happy birthday to me. It was a special moment and such a great introduction to the WCM.
Cornell is part of my history. I raised my family here, furthered my education, and grew into the professional I am today. I’ve been here through 9/11, the blackout, the recession, Hurricane Katrina, and COVID. All of these historical moments, not only in my world, but in our world, have happened while I’ve been here.
Wow! And did you always work with IT?
No, not at all! I started as the First-Year Curriculum Secretary in the Office of Curriculum and Education Development (OCED), providing administrative support to the first-year medical students. After a couple of years, I moved to Geriatrics and Gerontology as a Program Coordinator and organized CME activities and other events for the division. From there I transitioned to Education Support Services (ESS) as a Media Assistant. ESS would later join ITS and become the Event Services Office (ESO).
When I joined, we were a team of three. I remember walking in on my first day and thinking “Oh my God… what did I get myself into?” My predecessor had a unique filing system that included filing boxes, interoffice envelopes, and stacks of paperwork that were about 6 feet high. Nothing was electronic – everything was done by hand. It was up to me to sort through it all and create a new system. One of my first responsibilities was deciding how to manage and track incoming requests electronically and that was why I decided to take the position.
So, you were kind of in the trenches from the beginning, in a way.
Yeah, from the beginning. [Educational Support Services] was actually phasing out the old 35mm slide projectors they were still using. I really feel like I’ve experienced a part of history.
What has that been like to go through so many different forms of technology for events?
It’s been amazing to see how technology has evolved and how we’ve adapted along the way. Not just from my group but as a department. We were using Zoom pre- COVID, but when the pandemic hit it pushed us to dig deeper, to learn more and adapt. We had to find new solutions to meet the rapidly changing needs of those we support.
With the pandemic, you must have seen such a jump in demand for your services.
We were always busy but in a different kind of way. Our focus pre-pandemic was on in-person classes and meetings, with occasional video and audioconference, and we were already using WebEx and Zoom. But when the pandemic began, everything shifted overnight. We went from supporting a handful of hybrid events to completely virtual.
At first, I remember it was a scramble. We held countless meetings with faculty and staff to navigate our new reality. We had to think on our feet and ask “how can we deliver high-quality classes, meetings, and events virtually? How do we make it seamless and engaging? We were tasked with figuring out how to execute hundreds of virtual interviews for the Graduate School, medical and graduate school classes, meetings, conferences, symposia, holiday parties, office gatherings… all remotely. We leveraged every tool and resource at our disposal and that signifies who we are as a team. Whether it’s dealing with a last-minute technical issue, taking care of a last-minute request, or figuring out a new way to deliver our service, we’re always ready to make it happen.
This had a lasting impact on how we operate today. Remote and hybrid events are now the norm and add another layer of complexity. It requires a little more effort and creativity to meet the needs of those we support. But that’s what we’re here for.
What's your favorite part about what you do?
It’s my people – it’s my team. Genuinely, that’s what I love most. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with a such a diverse group of individuals who are all focused on getting the job done to the best our ability. There’s a strong sense of collaboration and truly enjoy being part of a team that supports one another.
I also thrive in a fast-paced nature of the job. We handle a high volume of requests, and there’s always something to troubleshoot. Every day brings a new challenge, and I believe with every challenge is a solution – and that is what I love about my work. Finding the solutions.
Are there any projects or initiatives that you've been a part of in your time at Weill Cornell that you've been particularly proud of?
I’m most proud of how I’ve grown alongside our group, adapting as our services expanded and evolving my role to meet new demands. From the very first day I walked through the door, I’ve had the opportunity to help shape how we operate, developing policies (sometimes alone, with colleagues or leadership) streamlining processes, and building the structure that allows us to manage scheduling and support effectively.
As we evolved, so did my responsibilities. I’m always on the hunt for ways to improve our operations and create solutions that benefit both our team and those we support. Along the way, I learned how to advocate for myself, and my team, and find my voice and style of management.
Looking back, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come and to know that I’ve helped play a role in that process.
Since you’re working a pretty fast-paced job, as you said, I'm sure that can get very challenging. What keeps you motivated?
I’m the type of person who thrives on challenges. I love learning something new, solving problems, and figuring out how things work – that’s just who I am at my core, it’s how I’m built. Whether it’s personal or professional development, taking a class, learning a new language, or exploring new ways to improve, that is what drives me.
Lately, I’ve been especially focused on health, wellness, and mindfulness. I believe in taking micro self-care moments and making sure that I’m at my best, physically and mentally, so I can show up fully present in all areas of my life.
But at the heart of it all, my child. They have always been a driving force in my life - the reason I push myself to grow, to create better opportunities, and to set an example of perseverance and resilience. Their future and their successes mean everything to me. My long-time partner/best friend/fiancé, who is the kindest and most loving person I know. He always has a supportive word, gives the best advice, and is always encouraging me to pursue my interests. I am incredible blessed and fortunate to have such powerful and loving relationships. My family and friends are my rock, my center, my motivation.
(L-R) Monica, her child, Chris Camacho, and her mother Phyllis Pacheco on vacation at Universal Studios.
Monica with her fiancé, Manuel Santiago.
Who are some women you admire and why?
My mom, hands down. That might be the easiest answer, but I truly admire her for her strength and tenacity. I come from a long line of strong, fiercely independent women who were unafraid to live life on their own terms. My great-grandmother left Puerto Rico and traveled to NYC in search of opportunity, arriving without knowing the language, without family or friends, yet determined to build a new life – for her, for her family, for us. I never had the opportunity to meet her, but her story and the lessons she passed down to my grandmother shaped the foundation for our family. My grandmother, raised in Spanish Harlem, later raised eight children on her own, carved a path for us despite greater social, political, and economic inequality. My mother carries that same strength and resilience, and through her, I feel the love and sacrifices of the women who came before me.
Monica's mother, Phyllis Pacheco (left) and her grandmother, Melida Pacheco (right).
Monica's great-great grandmother, Catalina Solis Santiago (left), and her great grandmother, Dominga Solis Colon (right).
I also think of the incredible women outside of family who have mentored and guided me. Martiza Rivera my first mentor and supervisor at Weill Cornell. The lessons she taught me have carried over throughout my career. Dr. Margaret McDermott, my academic advisor, professor, and mentor, who believed in me long before I believed in myself. She never let me quit as I worked full time, went to school full time, all while raising a child.
These women- both those I’ve named and those whose names remain unspoken have shaped me, challenged me, encouraged me, and supported me. I carry their strength, love, and example within me every day.