May 2026
Cooke Scholars and Alumni at Cooke Connections: Southern California in April 2026
Compass Feature: Sheena Jimmick
2017 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, University of Minnesota
Sheena became an Undergraduate Transfer Scholar in 2017 when she transferred from Normandale Community College to the University of Minnesota to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Astrophysics. She now works at Jeremiah Program in St. Paul, Minnesota as the Operations Manager. Jeremiah Program serves single moms and their children experiencing poverty in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. In the below interview, Sheena shares her educational and career journey, and how she’s making an impact in her current role.
You can connect with Sheena on LinkedIn here.
Alumni Updates
Cooke Alum Michael Sy Uy
Michael Sy Uy
2008 Graduate Scholar, University of Oxford and Harvard University
Michael just signed a contract with Oxford University Press for his second book, "Endowing Equity: The NEA, Cultural Diversity, and the Battle for Arts Funding." The release date is scheduled for 2027.
Michael shared what to expect with his upcoming book, “‘Endowing Equity’ tells the untold story of the federal government’s first and only sustained foray into affirmative action in national arts funding. Between 1971 and 1995, three charismatic Black leaders spearheaded a bold program within the National Endowment for the Arts, granting over $170 million (more than $500 million today) to minority artists, broadly defined. Called ‘Expansion Arts,’ the program was an unprecedented effort that counterbalanced the agency’s widespread exclusion of Black, Latino/a/x, Asian, Indigenous, and rural white artists.
As their core strategy, the directors built a galvanizing, coalition-based community arts field that extended minority status beyond race and ethnicity. What united their diverse constituencies was an intersectional approach that addressed underrepresentation, class, and geography. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews with former staff and grantees, "Endowing Equity" chronicles Expansion Arts’s struggles and obstacles, as well as its pioneering equity-based initiatives and successes in celebrating cultural diversity. At its heart, "Endowing Equity" tells a story of solidarity and alliance-building, demonstrating the power of the arts to bring forth a more inclusive America.”
You can connect with Michael on LinkedIn here.
Nasra Nimaga
2008 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2010 Graduate Scholar, Princeton University
Cooke Alum Nasra Nimaga
Nasra is a design architect at Perkins Eastman in New York City and recently joined the Associate Board of the Urban Design Forum. The Forum is a member-powered organization that connects and inspires New Yorkers to design, build, and care for a better city.
“[I’m] honored to be a founding member of the Associate Board alongside 24 other civic leaders working to strengthen connections across the Forum community and bring fresh perspectives to shaping and sustaining the Forefront Fellowship, an action lab for emerging urbanists,” Nasra shared.
You can connect with Nasra on LinkedIn here.
Andreas Robertson
2015 College Scholar; 2019 Graduate Scholar, Georgia Institute of Technology
Cooke Alum Andreas Robertson
In March, Andreas joined Sandia National Laboratories’ Center for Computing Research as a Senior Member of Technical Staff. In this role, Andreas will focus on developing algorithms in Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
Andreas shared, “My work focuses on algorithms whose design is inspired by hard challenges in CAD component design, advanced materials, and manufacturing. Recently, my work has focused on building robust agentic systems, generative models, and representation learning.”
Previously on their Scientific Machine Learning team, Andreas is excited to get to “stay at Sandia, work with the wonderful scientists at CCR, and to continue and expand on my work in deep learning and artificial intelligence.”
You can connect with Andreas on LinkedIn here.
Teresa Billick
2023 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, 2026 Graduate Scholar
Cooke Alum Teresa Billick
Teresa recently started a new research assistantship sourcing research on water policy and rights in Northern New Mexico.
Teresa shared more about this project, “This research has to do with acequias, which are communal irrigation canals that bring water from rivers to homes and farms with roots in Indian and Spanish tradition. They are also political subdivisions of the state and face increasing pressures of climate change, water commodification, and population growth as well as societal and generational change. These few hours a week I compile research will help me have a better foundation for when I begin my one year masters degree in August.”
Teresa also starts an internship at a copper mine with Freeport-McMoRan’s Environmental Department this month.
You can connect with Teresa on LinkedIn here.
Cooke Scholars, Alums, and staff at Crunchyroll’s headquarters in Los Angeles
Cooke Connections: Southern California Recap
On Friday, April 17, Foundation staff convened in Los Angeles for our fifth Cooke Connections regional event. Kicking off the day with career center tours, active Scholars and Alumni could choose between USC or UCLA to learn more about their on-campus offerings during a personalized and small-group visit of the career center. Attendees heard from center staff about internship fairs, employer conversations, free headshots, and networking support.
Following the career center tours, Melissa Gordon, Cooke Alum and Director of Global Marketing Strategy & Programs at Crunchyroll, the world's largest anime streaming library, hosted a group of Scholars, Alums, and staff at her workplace. Attendees walked the halls of a leading entertainment company and learned about their different teams, workplace culture, and global reach of its work.
Friday evening, around 40 Scholars and Alumni met at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center for the community social. At the beginning of the evening, Scholars received professional development guidance and advice from Cooke Alums Josue Luna, Kevin Bernal-Rivera, and Luis Veloz, and staff. They were coached on interviewing, graduate school, elevator pitches, and networking.
Continuing into the evening, Young Scholar Alum Jeffrey Garcia gave the keynote speech and shared his educational and professional journey, with a particular focus on how he persevered with the support of his community. Cooke Connections: Southern California was a huge hit, and we can’t wait for our next event!
Check out photos from the event below.
Upcoming Events
On Wednesday, May 27, Cooke Alum Yesmene Chikha, a 2022 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, will discuss her experience being a creative in the corporate world. Currently an Associate CXO Analyst (Creative Experience) at Deloitte, Yesmene merges her background in Communications Design with customer experience strategy to support executive decision-making through insight-driven storytelling. Hear from her experience and how she’s able to balance her passions as a creative with her current role.
Join us on Wednesday, May 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET for this engaging session.
Add “Jack Kent Cooke Foundation” to the Education Section of LinkedIn
Do you have a LinkedIn profile? We’re encouraging all Scholars and Alumni to add the Foundation to the Education section of their LinkedIn. LinkedIn now has the functionality for users to use the “Alumni” section of education profiles as a directory.
Scholars and Alumni are easily able to sort through the “Alumni” listed and search via employer, location, college major, and field.
Click here to access the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation education page.
For instructions on how to add education to your LinkedIn, click here.
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.
Share Your Big News!
Have you landed an amazing new job, published groundbreaking research, or welcomed a new addition to your family this year? We want to celebrate your incredible personal, professional, and academic achievements! Share your exciting updates with us by submitting your news below or emailing our Alumni Engagement Manager Gabby Nicholas.