Brooks School Spotlight: Holten Moreno & Anna Peters
Meet Holten Moreno & Anna Peters, Wolpe Center Staff, Cornell in Washington
Located at the Brooks School’s Wolpe Center near Dupont Circle, Cornell in Washington gives students the chance to study, live, and work in the heart of the nation’s capital. This fall, the program expanded with DC Start, a new residential academic experience for first-year Brooks School students majoring in public policy and health care policy.
We spoke with Anna Peters and Holten Moreno, who lead residential life and academic support at the Wolpe Center, about helping students adjust to life in DC and what makes the experience so unique.
Q: Could you tell us about your roles at the Wolpe Center?
Holten: I’m the Director of Residential and Student Life. I manage student operations and programming, supporting students as they build community and transition into college life.
Anna: I’m the DC Resident Fellow. I support Holten’s work, hold office hours for students, and assist with courses like DC Up Close, Ethics and Public Policy, and Building Success in Brooks. We both live on campus, so we’re here for students around the clock. It’s fun to be part of their community and see them thrive.
Q: What advice do you have for students adjusting to DC?
Holten: We actually have a few students from the area, so it’s great that they can help others explore. My first piece of advice is always: go explore. Stay open-minded about what you want to do and dig deep into what DC has to offer. There’s so much here; you just have to be willing to put yourself out there, make connections, and really throw yourself into this amazing community. I think DC is an excellent place to grow up. I’m definitely biased, but it’s great for students to take initiative and find their passions, especially in relation to public policy.
Anna: I agree with Holten. Go out and actually explore. The semester goes so fast. If you read about something in class, go find it in the city—visit the buildings we’re discussing, the monuments, and the many symposiums and seminars for college students. I just moved to DC, and it’s a great city: small enough to get around, and you learn public transportation and living without a car.
Q: You just welcomed the first DC Start cohort. What was most rewarding about that experience?
Holten: Watching our students build their confidence, especially from day one. There were some nerves about being in a new place, but they’ve done a great job building community. They want to explore together and get to know their peers. It’s awesome that they’re comfortable, happy, and really making this space their own.
Anna: I love seeing that they’re already making friends and planning for the future. They’re discussing internships, careers, and even returning to DC after graduation. They’re also so grateful to be here and often tell us how much they appreciate the opportunity.
Q: What makes the Cornell in Washington program unique for students?
Holten: Internships are a big pull for Ithaca students who come to DC. They want real-life experience. From a residential standpoint, first-year students in DC Start join a smaller community than those on the main campus, which eases the transition to college.
Anna: Overall, you’re in a dynamic living classroom. The city itself is your classroom, and you can make connections by being here. Cornell is unique because we have on-campus housing in DC. You’re living where you’re learning, with live-in staff and classrooms in the building. It’s very comprehensive in a way many other programs aren’t able to provide. That enhances the experience—students live together, learn here, and have staff to create a supportive environment. That’s what makes this program special.
Q: Do you each have a favorite DC spot you recommend to students?
Holten: The Kennedy Center rooftop is beautiful, with stunning views of the Potomac and the city. It’s a great place to get a feel for DC.
Anna: Holten took me to Georgetown when I arrived, and that was so fun. DC has amazing museums and monuments, but it’s also great to just walk through neighborhoods and experience DC as a city, not only the tourist districts. It makes it feel more like home.
Q: What’s your favorite spot at the Wolpe Center or in Dupont Circle to take a break?
Holten: Tatte Bakery in Dupont is gorgeous. It’s a stunning space with great coffee, and I love working there on remote days.
Anna: The ground level at the Wolpe Center is a great hangout for students. There are cute red chairs, board games, and small private offices to study in. It’s a new feature we’re really using this year. And I agree with Holten: DC’s cafés are friendly for solo work; you can pop in, get time to yourself, and reset.
Q: What’s your perfect afternoon in DC?
Holten: The weather’s been amazing lately. I love fall. I did a Little Free Library walk to donate books and pick up new ones, then stopped for tacos at Surfside. That was an ideal afternoon.
Anna: I recently went to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. It’s free, and the weather here makes it easy to walk and enjoy it. I walked a mile there and back and saw the animals. I love how much free stuff there is to do and how walkable it is from the Wolpe Center.