Career Pathways Connections
We recently launched Career Pathways Connections - a campaign to create professional networking opportunities and cultivate mentoring relationships between Cooke Scholars and Alumni. This is a great opportunity for current scholars and newer alums to meet more established members of our alumni community who are further along in their professional lives and are in a position to provide valuable career guidance and mentorship. Those who participate can also get a very cool piece of Thrive Together swag! Featured below are Cooke Scholar Alumni who are excited and interested in connecting and speaking with scholars to share their expertise, guidance, and wisdom.
Dr. Young Seol
Program(s): 2005 Young Scholar; 2010 College Scholar, Brown University; 2014 Graduate Scholar, Brown University
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Ophthalmology; Medical School; Medicine
Contact: Email alumni@jkcf.org and we will put you in touch with Dr. Seol
“I am a current ophthalmology resident at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. I spent the nine years prior to moving to New York City in Providence, RI, where I completed undergrad, medical school, and my intern year of medicine at Brown University. In college, I studied applied mathematics and economics with a focus in finance and behavioral economics. In medical school, I fell in love with ophthalmology for its combination of medical and surgical expertise, the elegance of microsurgery, and the impact on patients' lives of protecting sight and restoring vision. I'm happy to mentor other scholars who may be interested in becoming a doctor, or medical students who think they might enjoy the best subspecialty ever!”
Courtney Thurston
Program(s): 2015 College Scholar, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Computer Science; Software Engineering; Microsoft
Contact: LinkedIn
“I interned at Microsoft three times as a software engineer and have been full time here for a year and a half. Excited to mentor students looking for careers in software engineering, technical program management, and other computer science related technical jobs. I have successfully referred Cooke Scholars to Microsoft in the past. Especially as someone with the typical financial background of a Cooke Scholar, working here has provided a transformative level of financial, emotional, and health insurance security. It is the kind of job that completely changes the direction of your life. I would be happy to facilitate that for others to the extent I'm able.”
Ana Parra Vera
Program(s): 2014 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Stevens Institute of Technology; 2017 Graduate Scholar, University of California at Davis
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Data Science; Technology; Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence
Contact: LinkedIn
“I am originally from Caracas, Venezuela and have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and a Masters in Business Analytics. I have 3+ years of experience in Data Science and I am a Data Scientist now at a tech company in the Silicon Valley in California. I’d like to meet other folks in Data Science/Machine Learning/AI field.”
Trung Quach
Program(s): 2014 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Georgia Tech; 2017 Graduate Scholar, Georgia Tech
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Biomedicine; Medical School; Medicine;
Contact: LinkedIn
“I got a bachelor in biochemistry and a master in biomedical innovation and development. I will start my MD program in Fall 2021. I worked at Becton Dickinson, a medical device company, for 2 years during my gap years. I can give advice to pre-med students or students who are interested in the biomed engineer career path.”
Homero Sosa Mendoza
Program(s): 2015 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Arizona State University
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Google; Technology; Business
Contact: LinkedIn
“I currently work for Google in StratOps. I have a background in supply chain management and business management and a wealth of experience working in/with large tech firms like Microsoft. I am totally open to speaking with anyone seeking to learn more, whether that is a new scholar interested in tech, business, or a veteran in the industry. As an undocumented immigrant, I believe firmly on the work of the foundation, and I seek to meet with individuals who want to make the world be a better, more fair and equitable place for our and future generations.”
Nancy Le
Program(s): 2016 College Scholar, Northwestern University
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Healthcare; Public Health; Covid-19
Contact: LinkedIn
“I graduated from Northwestern University in 2020, with a degree in Learning & Organizational Change and Global Health Studies. During college, I interned at bioStrategies Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. I'm currently working as the deputy team lead for Harris County's COVID-19 Workplace Investigation Team, where we provide isolation/quarantine/operating guidance for businesses and employees. After this, I will be working at Capgemini Invent as a life sciences consultant in Chicago. I'm just starting out, but I'd love to give advice to anyone interested in public health / the healthcare industry, and hopefully I can be of help or reassurance. I'm going for a Master's in Public Health (MPH) sometime in the next 2-3 years, so I'd also love to speak with anyone who is in a program or has an MPH about next steps.”
Flavio Umeda Pacheco
Program(s): 2016 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Cornell University
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Technology; Google; Law School; Career Transition
Contact: LinkedIn
“I have background mostly in operations, legal, and program management. I transitioned from a career in biological research to a full time position as a policy specialist at Google back in 2018 and since then have become a legal program manager. I work with security and privacy attorneys, operation specialists, data scientists, and engineers. I love working in the intersection of tech and law. I would love to connect with anyone trying to make a career move, thinking about law school, or wanting to know more about program management.”
Karen Herrera
Program(s): 2017 College Scholar, University of Pennsylvania
Areas of Expertise & Interests: Consulting; Boston Consulting Group; Interview & Networking
Contact: LinkedIn
“I have had corporate experiences mostly in strategy and consulting. Will be joining the Boston Consulting Group after graduation. Happy to speak to any students looking for advice as to how to succeed in the consulting interview and networking phase.”
Couldn’t find a Cooke Scholar Alum on this page sharing your professional interests? Visit Cooke Connect to search and network with alumni sharing your passions. Cooke Scholar Alumni are more than 1,800 extraordinary individuals combining unique talents and perspectives to impact and lead change across the world.