August 2024
Cooke Alums at a Chicago Thrive Together Meetup in June 2024.
Compass Feature: Manuel Ruiz-Ramos
2013 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Southern Polytechnic State University
Manuel became a Cooke Transfer Scholar in 2013, and earned his degree in Computer Science from Southern Polytechnic State University. After graduating, he joined Goldman Sachs as an analyst, and has now become Vice President in the Core Engineering Division. In the below video, Manuel talks about why the Cooke Scholar community means so much to him.
You can connect with Manuel on LinkedIn here.
Compass Feature: Mandolyn Ludlum
Check out a previous Cooke Alum Interview featuring Mandolyn Ludlum, a 2013 Transfer Scholar and a 2018 Graduate Scholar. Her research at UC Berkeley, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Oxford has spanned from the use of policymaking for equity in elementary education in an international context to the use of culturally relevant arts education by educators of color with elementary students of color. In our conversation with Mandolyn below, she shares more about her journey as an artist and an educator.
Please note, the video contains discussion of experiencing and overcoming childhood trauma.
Event Spotlight: Scholars Weekend 2024
This past weekend, we welcomed our newest Scholars into the Cooke community at Scholars Weekend. To read more about our new Undergraduate Transfer Scholars, read this press release. To learn more about our new College Scholars, read this press release.
This year, we invite you to share your advice for our newest Cooke Scholars, which will be compiled into an article and shared out next month. Feel free to share any lessons you’ve learned throughout your life experiences that would be helpful for a new Scholar to read. You can provide guidance and encouragement around any areas you see fit, including academics, professional life, extracurricular activities, and mental wellness. Your words of wisdom are appreciated! Submit advice here.
Summer Skye Allison
2014 Young Scholar, 2019 College Scholar, Hollins University
Since graduating from Hollins University, Summer has joined Planned Parenthood South Atlantic as their Health Care Assistant in Roanoke, VA.
Summer shared, “I wear several hats at Planned Parenthood including front desk and clinical staff due to our cross-training program. I enjoy my clinical staff role because it requires building a strong connection with new patients every single day, some of whom travel from as far away as Alabama to receive our care. As a Queer woman myself, it has been especially meaningful to provide care to people seeking abortion services and gender-affirming hormone therapy because I can relate to and acknowledge the reality that legislation targeting these populations has created a healthcare crisis requiring all of our continuous, diligent resistance to overcome.”
In the near future, Summer hopes to continue with an advanced degree in public health, specifically focused on the unmet healthcare needs of gender and sexual minorities.
Christopher LeFlore
2007 Young Scholar, 2012 College Scholar, 2018 Graduate Scholar, University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Chris recently published a research paper on lending by minority depository institutions (MDIs) from 2019 to 2022, highlighting the social impact of MDI mortgage lending, particularly as compared to lending from other types of financial institutions. Chris’ paper, called “The Social Impact of MDI Mortgage Lending,” also features insights gleaned from interviews from key personnel at seven MDIs. You can read his commentary here, and the full paper is available to be downloaded here.
Chris explained, “Our study shows how Minority Depository Institutions (banks owned or operated by people of color) lend to communities of color at a higher rate than the rest of the banking industry. We have a history of extraction from communities of color, and we need remedies that purposefully correct those injustices and promote community development and wealth building. One of tools we have are financial institutions that are mission-driven to serve their communities. So we explored how these institutions provide service and what we can do to amplify their work.”
You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn here.
Mikiko Freund
2019 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Rutgers University
Mikiko was just promoted to Senior Associate Software Engineer at Capital One.
Mikiko shared, “This new role will allow me to tackle more complex projects and contribute to innovative solutions, further honing my skills and expertise. I am most excited about the opportunity to lead and collaborate with my fellow talented engineers to drive impactful software developments within the financial technology sector.”
You can connect with Mikiko on LinkedIn here.
The Latest Alumni Blog Features
20 Years of Cooke Conundrum: The Scholars Weekend Tradition that Never Fails to Puzzle the Community
For any Cooke Scholar who has attended a Scholars Weekend in the past two decades, they’re probably familiar with the famous, or infamous (depending on who you ask), Cooke Conundrum. This hours-long team activity encourages Scholars to work together to solve a series of experiential puzzles that rely on various skills and problem-solving abilities in the group. In this blog, we share the history of the Cooke Conundrum. Read the blog here.
Catchin’ Up With a Regional Chapter Leader: Annie Seo
Our Catchin’ Up with a Regional Chapter Leader blog features Cooke Alum Annie Seo, a 2019 College Scholar currently based in the Bay Area. In this blog, she shares more about her college journey, and how she enjoys staying connected with the Cooke community. You can read more about her here. Read the blog here.
Alumni Class Notes - August 2024
Welcome to the Alumni Class Notes section, where we celebrate the latest news and milestones of our Alums and their families.
Cooke Alum Sam Chen, a 2022 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar and 2024 Graduate Scholar at Loyola University Chicago, married her long-term partner Lucie-Ann in January, and they’re now pregnant with their first child, due November. Sam shared, “This year has been filled with so many new opportunities for growth and learning. Marriage to my partner of 7 years, Lucie-Ann; graduation from Loyola University Chicago's accelerated undergraduate social work program; receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship to continue my education in Advanced Clinical Practice, and now welcoming a new baby in November. I remember when I wanted my life to look like this, and I feel grateful I've made it here. Forward and onward.”
Sam will also be starting an internship as a Clinical Group Therapist specializing in trauma at Compass Health Center in Chicago. We are so excited for Sam, Lucie-Ann, and their growing family!
To share your Alum Class Notes, email Alumni Engagement Manager Gabby Nicholas, or follow the link at the bottom of the page.
Recipient Announcement of the 2024 Alumni and Scholar Awards
We are excited to announce that Cooke Alum Mario Mutis and Cooke Scholar Leah Basaria were selected as our 2024 Quinn Prize Recipient and Undergraduate Scholar Award in Honor of Dennis I. Belcher, respectively.
They were recognized for their outstanding achievements that have touched the lives of others in meaningful ways. Leah Basaria, a 2022 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar from the University of Central Florida, has made significant strides in post-incarceration reform by creating a nonprofit re-entry program focused on supporting incarcerated individuals. Her initiative aims to revolutionize America's approach to corrections through treatment and advocacy.
Mario Mutis, a 2012 Graduate Scholar from the University of Florida, has revitalized an ancient Colombian metal casting technique, establishing workshops in his home country to teach this craft and empower local communities. His work has impacted over 122 families, highlighting the transformative role of art in preserving cultural heritage and fostering community autonomy.
To learn more about this year’s recipients and previous year recipients, click here.
Join the Alumni Engagement Council
The Alumni Engagement Council (AEC) consists of Cooke Alums representing the diverse backgrounds, strengths, scholarship programs, professional experiences, and geographic distribution that empower our Cooke Scholar and Alum community. The council meets online quarterly, and there are additional monthly committee meetings, individual cohort outreach, and encouraged in-person meetups with local Cooke Scholars and Alums. AEC members serve 2-year terms.
We currently have about five spots left on our Alumni Engagement Council. Apply to join the council here. Applications are due at the end of August.
Do you want to share your work in our “Cooke Career Snapshots” blog?
We are looking for folks who would be interested in writing a blog about their current careers for CookeAlumni.org. The purpose of these blogs is to introduce our Scholars and Alums to as many career paths as possible, from the perspective of fellow Cooke Alums who are leaders in the field. Our first blog was written by Scott Pine, a 2013 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar from UCLA, and can be viewed here.
If you’re interested in writing a blog, please send a message to alumni@jkcf.org.
Connect with other Cooke Scholars and Alums in our private LinkedIn Group
Are you a member of the private LinkedIn Group “Cooke Scholars & Alumni”? Join our group to expand your network and discover professional opportunities. Together, we foster a vibrant community where we exchange insights, support each other's endeavors, and unearth exciting professional prospects. Request to join the group here.
We want to hear from you!
Have you recently changed jobs? Did you have your research published this year? Is your family growing? We would love to hear your personal, professional, and academic updates! Feel free to submit your news below or email Alumni Engagement Manager Gabby Nicholas.
Cooke Scholars and Alums on a visit to Salesforce led by Annie Seo in April 2024.