November 2026
Cooke Scholars, Alumni, and staff during Cooke Connections: Boston 2026.
Alumni Updates
Maria Fernanda Martinez-Donaus, EdD
2009 Young Scholar; 2014 College Scholar; 2020 Graduate Scholar, Harvard University and Baylor University
Last month, Maria had the opportunity to give a TEDxBrownsville talk about her work and leadership as founder of RioProgress.
As shared in the video description, “In her talk, she tells the stories of three Rio Grande Valley students who did everything right and still hit a wall: missed deadlines no one explained, financial aid offices that passed them from desk to desk, and the quiet work of becoming your own translator, researcher, and advocate just to access help you’d already been awarded. She argues the question we keep asking is backwards. It isn’t whether students are ready for college. It’s whether the systems around them are ready for students.”
As the founder and executive director of RioProgress, Maria helps students and families navigate college admissions, financial aid, and the transition to higher education through mentorship and individualized support. Inspired by her own educational journey, Maria’s work focuses on making complex systems more accessible so that students can pursue their goals with confidence.
You can connect with Maria on LinkedIn here, and you can watch her TEDx Talk above.
Cooke Alum Mitch Peterson
Mitch Peterson
2022 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2025 Graduate Scholar, Stanford University
Mitch was recently featured in the Stanford Report for his work on medical technology that help others with chronic conditions.
As shared in the article, “…He spends much of his time in the lab developing the device for treating diabetes. The core problem that Peterson and his fellow researchers are working to solve relates to how glucagon (a natural hormone of the pancreas that raises blood sugar levels) is stored and delivered in the body, which is 60% water. Many soluble drugs are unstable and have short lives in aqueous environments. Storing it in powdered particulate forms extends glucagon’s shelf life. But there are currently no technologies that reliably inject powder drugs subcutaneously on demand.
The device they are developing is a wireless system inserted beneath the skin. It’s outfitted with a Bluetooth chip, which communicates with a phone app that Peterson created. When activated, the app reads continuous glucose monitoring data from the patient’s body. When their glucose levels become too low, the device will automatically release a powdered form of glucagon into the bloodstream.”
Inspired by his own medical journey, which you can read more about in the article, Mitch wants “those who are hindered by medical hurdles, like I’ve been, to see a boost in their quality of life because of something that I’ve helped make.”
You can connect with Mitch on LinkedIn here.
Ferdinando Castro Gonzalez
2021 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar; 2026 Graduate Scholar, Columbia University
Ferdinando’s student story was recently featured for Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, see above video.
Ferdinando shared more about this opportunity, “SIPA has opened more doors than I ever imagined, from learning alongside figures such as Hillary Clinton and Mike Pompeo to presenting my research on displacement, international security, and diplomacy in Washington D.C., and at Harvard University before figures like the Vice President of Ecuador, Chile's Minister of Defense, senators from the Dominican Republic, and more. What has meant the most, however, is the community…Looking ahead, I am confident that the relationships I am building here, especially through the Institute of Latin American Studies, will help me begin the work I hope to do for Venezuela and other communities facing similar challenges.”
Additionally, Ferdinando was recently selected as the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) Scholar for SIPA. The CAA selects one student per school each academic year in recognition of strong leadership and academic & community engagement across the university. As part of the program, Ferdinando will be mentored by former FTC Commissioner and current Thompson Strategic Consulting CEO, Mozelle W. Thompson.
You can connect with Ferdinando on LinkedIn here.
George Ramirez, Ph.D
2006 Young Scholar; 2011 College Scholar, Yale University
Cooke Alum George Ramirez
Earlier this semester, George joined the tenure-track faculty of Providence College as Assistant Professor of Communication and Art History.
With a Ph.D in Media, Culture, and Communication from New York University, George researchs and writes about the relationship between race, media, and sensation with a focus on Latinx popular culture.
He shared more about his role, “I will be teaching courses in visual culture and media studies with electives in my research areas of critical race studies and media theory. Communication recently became a department at [Providence College], so I'm very happy to be able to be part of one of the institution's fastest growing majors and minors, pushing students to be more critical communicators in an increasingly mediated world. I will also be working on a book that develops an approach to think about mediation and sensation rooted in Latino cultural practices such as soul music, photography, independent film, and dance. However, I am most excited to be back in the northeast, close to my home, family, and friends!
You can connect with George on LinkedIn here.
Robert Serrano
2023 Undergraduate Transfer Scholar, Arizona State University
Cooke Alum Robert Serrano
A recent graduate from Arizona State University, Robert just annoced that he joined CA Group, Inc. as a Transportation Project Engineer, working on light rail and public transit in Arizona.
Robert shared, “In this role I’ll be serving as one of the engineers working on the West Phoenix Extension. My grandfather grew up in East Los Angeles and saw his neighborhood cut up by freeways, so I’m extremely excited to lend my input to this project and thankful to my new company that they saw my talent as a young, fresh out of university engineer-in-training. I’m excited for the possibilities that a project like this will bring to the place I call home and can’t wait to see it get built.”
You can connect with Robert on LinkedIn here.
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.
Recap from Cooke Connections: Boston
Last month, members of the Foundation traveled to Boston, MA for our most recent Cooke Connections event. We had more than 40 members of the community show up to our community social and networking night at the West End Museum. Thank you to Cooke Alums Brenda Lin, Fatoumata Diarra, and Diego Degenhart for volunteering their time and expertise on our Alumni panel.
We also had the privilege to accompany Scholars on five separate company tours, hosted and/or supported by Cooke Alums. A HUGE thank you to the following Alums for their support:
Maelee Chen, J.D. Candidate at Harvard Law School
Kuong Ly, Associate at Anderson & Kreiger LLP
Bryan Valdivia, Senior Research Associate at Dyne Therapeutics
Brian Wu, Senior Electrical Engineer at Owl Labs
Lucy Marcil, StreetCred at Boston Medical Center
Submit an Internship Opportunity!
Support Scholars by submitting an opportunity through the Cooke Career Network. By sharing internship opportunities, you are helping Scholars gain hands-on experience that will shape their professional development. In return, your organization will gain valuable support from exceptionally talented Scholars.
The Cooke Graduate Scholarship is Open!
The Cooke Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2027 Cooke Graduate Scholarship. This scholarship program is available only to Cooke undergraduate scholarship recipients and recent Cooke Alums who plan to pursue a graduate degree beginning in fall 2027. Alums who have received their undergraduate degree within the last four years – that is, graduated in fall 2022 or later - are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Applicants for the 2027 Cooke Graduate Scholarship must attend one of our Application Sessions in order to be eligible for the scholarship (Option 1 or Option 2). For more information, see the detailed FAQ section on our website (scroll down toward the bottom of the page). If you have more questions or would like support on your application, email gradscholars@jkcf.org. The application deadline is January 10, 2027.
Alumni Workshop Recording
Last year, Cooke Alum Bérénice Sylverain hosted a webinar called “Introduction to Public Speaking.” Whether you're preparing for a presentation, a job interview, or simply want to improve your everyday communication skills, this Alumni webinar is perfect for you. Bérénice draws from her years of experience as a public speaker and shares tips and tricks to transform your public speaking abilities and gain the confidence to speak with ease.
You can watch the recording here or below.
If you’re interested in hosting a webinar, please fill out the form below and a member of our Alumni Engagement Council will be in contact with you if it matches our needs for the year.
Cooke Alums: We need your expertise!
The Cooke Alumni Mentoring Program (CAMP) is recruiting Alums to mentor current Cooke Scholars this coming spring. We especially need mentors in the following fields:
Engineering (mechanical, electrical, aerospace, and software)
Artificial intelligence
Law
Civil and human rights advocacy
Entrepreneurship
As a CAMP mentor, you will meet with your Scholar mentee at least two times between January and April, virtually or in person. You will share your professional experience and talk about pathways for their development. We match mentors and mentees by shared academic and professional interests, and will provide participants with a guidebook with conversation topics and other helpful resources.
Register by Friday, November 6: Mentor Registration Form. Questions? Email mentoring@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.
Recent Grads - Update your Contact Information
New Alumni - we want to connect you with the regional chapter leader in your city! In order to do so, we need your current mailing address. Please share you updated address with us, and we can help connect you with your local Cooke community.