September 2023
Thrive Together picnic on Museum Campus with the Chicago Regional Chapter
Compass Feature: Ousmane Kabré
2013 Transfer Scholar, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ousmane Kabré is a 2013 Transfer Scholar who attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In 2015, while still a student, Ousmane founded his first non-profit organization called Leading Change Africa, which provides educational and leadership opportunities to students from Africa. Ousmane recently added to his passion for equitable education by creating an ed-tech startup called YAM Education, which is a self-paced platform designed to equip students with the skills and on-demand certifications they need to compete in today's work environment.
Ousmane’s work with YAM Education led him to be awarded the Cooke Foundation’s 2023 Matthew J. Quinn Prize. In the below video, Ousmane shares about the transition from his community college to his transfer university.
Compass Feature: Mandolyn Ludlum
Check out the next installment of our Cooke Alum Interviews 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.
Most recently, Mandolyn gave a powerful keynote address during Scholars Weekend 2023. Watch the recording and our SW slideshow video here. In our Cooke Alum Interview 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.
Aaron Jessup
2003 Transfer Scholar, 2011 Graduate Scholar, University of California at Davis
Aaron just started his new role teaching 6th Grade Humanities at The Brandeis School of San Francisco. Prior to this position, he was teaching English and co-directing the drama club at a middle school in Alta Loma, CA. Aaron shared that he is honored" “to be welcomed into this incredible collection of talented and heartfelt educators. I'm excited to get to know my students, as we discover the ancient world together.”
To connect with Aaron on LinkedIn, click here.
Veda Eswarappa
2003 Young Scholar, 2008 College Scholar, 2016 Graduate Scholar, Harvard University
Veda was recently selected for GrowthCap’s Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing List. The Vice President of Great Hill Partners, Veda is a supporter of bringing increased diversity, equity and inclusion to the alternative investment space. She launched Great Hill’s CEO Lunch & Learn program, is deeply involved with new hire recruiting and training, and actively mentors women and other underrepresented populations in investing.
Veda shared her love for her team and her work, “At Great Hill, I get to spend my time thinking about the most interesting themes to invest behind and building relationships with the most brilliant, innovative, and scrappy people in those sectors. It is a privilege to be able to partner with such incredible teams to help them maximize their impact via significant yet sustainable growth.”
You can read the full press release here.
Hollie Joy Wagner
2013 Transfer Scholar, 2018 Graduate Scholar, University of Washington
With a background in working with students on various innovative learning platforms, Hollie recently got together with some of her colleagues to help co-found the global, intergenerational education nonprofit, Launchpad23. There, she is building a community of inquiry for the curious, Fuse23, as a philosophy facilitator.
She is also collaborating with another group of educators on Edventure Alliance where they offer supplemental specialized programming to schools across the world. Hollie shared, “I am delighted to be able to forge an unconventional path by teaching philosophy to learners of all ages - outside of the academy, just as Socrates did in the Agora!”
To connect with Hollie on LinkedIn, click here.
The Latest from the CookeAlumni.org Blog
To check out previous blog posts from CookeAlumni.org, click here.
Career Perspectives in Climate Change and Sustainability
Date: Wednesday, September 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET
Are you interested in working to fight against climate change?
This Cooke Alum Virtual Chat will offer attendees career perspectives in climate change and sustainability. Cooke Alums Joel Charles, Sharmen Hettipola, Daniela Martinez, and Adhitya Jayasinghe will share their experiences and insights in a conversation moderated by fellow Alum Patrick Soltis.
Register here.
Seeking Regional Chapter Leaders!
I’m excited to share that since the last call, we’ve had Alums fill in roles in Central Florida, Dallas, TX, and San Diego! We’re still looking for folks in any of the following regions to become a Cooke Regional Chapter Leader:
Minneapolis, MN
New Orleans, LA
Denver, CO
Phoenix, AZ
Seattle, WA
Bay Area, CA
Washington, D.C. (Cooke Alum Susan Wu is seeking a co-chapter leader)
United Kingdom
Any other region where we don’t have an organized chapter
Please email alumni@jkcf.org if you want to learn more about becoming a regional chapter leader. We will have an onboarding and regional chapter leader meeting this summer to share best practices and updates from the Foundation!
Introducing our 2023-2024 Alumni Engagement Council
We would like to welcome our 2023-2024 Alumni Engagement Council (AEC) members! Composed of both returning and new members, 20 Cooke Alums will serve on the AEC this year.
These Alums will help program and plan activities, participate in Cooke events, and serve as a liaison between the Foundation and the community. We’re so excited for the ideas they’ll share with us, and the feedback they’ll provide.
To meet our 2023-2024 AEC members, click here.
Check out the Cookie Jar Recipe Book!
In March 2023, Cooke Alum Maile Harris had the incredible idea to collect cookie recipes from fellow Cookie Cousins and compile them into a recipe book. This recipe book was given as a gift from Alums to new Scholars at Scholars Weekend 2023.
We wanted to share a digital copy with the larger community, so you all had access to the wonderful recipes shared by your fellow Alums. Check out the digital recipe book here.
A huge thank you to everyone who sent in recipes and photos. We’re so grateful you shared your love of baking with our community.
Share an update with us!
Alums, do you want to be featured in an upcoming Alumni Buzz? Do you have an academic, professional, or personal update to share? We would love to hear it!
Throwback Photo: Scholars Weekend 2016