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When Eliza Kosoy ’14 and Celia Muto Ladd ’14 think back to their first semester at Emmanuel College, one moment stands out.
They met in St. Ann Hall, on the third floor, where Ladd was drawn to the cheerful decorations on Kosoy’s door. A casual “hello” turned into instant chemistry and a friendship that has carried them through more than a decade of discovery and growth.
Their bond deepened through campus life. Both founded the Chess Club (The Chess Nuts) and Math Club (The Pi-Rates), spent evenings at ECRadio, the student-run radio station, and later co-hosted programs on Cambridge Community TV “We were always curious, always trying new things,” Ladd recalled. “That sense of exploration really defined our Emmanuel experience.”
Divergent Paths, Shared Foundation
Today, their professional lives could not look more different — Kosoy is an artificial intelligence researcher in Silicon Valley, while Ladd is a portrait photographer and communications professional in Boston — yet both trace their paths back to the same Emmanuel foundation: curiosity, creativity, and confidence in exploring the unknown.
Kosoy, a mathematics major, is now an AI researcher and trust and safety specialist at Character.ai, a fast-growing startup in Silicon Valley. She recently earned her Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, where her dissertation, Youth in the Loop, argued for including children’s perspectives and data in building more ethical, aligned AI systems. “Being a math major at Emmanuel was foundational,” she said. “That training gave me the tools for everything I’ve done since.”
Her faculty mentors remember that same spark. “Eliza’s creativity, enthusiasm and curiosity about the world is truly an inspiration,” said Associate Professor of Mathematics Dr. Christine Sample. “She exemplifies the diverse opportunities that await Emmanuel math majors after graduation.”
“Eliza was not only an outstanding student but also a driving force on campus,” said Professor of Mathematics Dr. Yulia Dementieva. “She founded the EC Chess Club, organized the Ig Nobel Prize Lectures, and helped launch several math-focused initiatives. Her contagious enthusiasm brought students and faculty together.”
Ladd, an art major, is a Boston-based photographer, while also working in communications at Harvard Medical School. She founded “Creatives Run Boston,” a portrait-and-storytelling series that spotlights the city’s entrepreneurial community. “Everyone has an interesting story,” she said. “If we can amplify their journey, that’s the most exciting thing in the world.”
Both women point to pivotal moments at Emmanuel that set them on their way. For Kosoy, it was a first-year seminar exploring higher dimensions that convinced her to pursue mathematics. For Ladd, it was a flyer advertising a photography job at Kings Bowling that turned into her first steady gig behind the camera.
They also recall the encouragement of faculty mentors. “I thought I knew everything about photography,” Ladd laughed, recalling a critique from Associate Professor of Art Stephan Jacobs, who reminded her that mastering the basics was the key to executing her vision. “He was right. That advice has stayed with me ever since.”
A Friendship That Endures
The two remain close friends, and their professional paths, while distinct, share a commitment to curiosity and human connection. Kosoy focuses on how young people interact with technology, at a moment when lawmakers and companies alike are grappling with the ethical implications of AI. Ladd, meanwhile, frames her subjects in environments that capture their authentic selves — whether through her Harvard Brain Initiative “Humans of HBI” series or her small-business portraits.
Both offered advice for today’s students. “Stay curious and active. Don’t be afraid to fail — failure is part of learning,” said Kosoy. Ladd added: “Keep an open mind. Everyone you meet, from a classmate to a professor, has something to teach you.”
For two friends who first met outside a decorated dorm room on the third floor of St. Ann Hall, Emmanuel was both a testing ground and a launchpad. “It gave us space to explore who we were,” Ladd said. “And that exploration continues.”
