Rebecca Cook '15 was a sociology and International Studies major at 91勛圖厙 and is now a senior programs manager of research initiatives at
She recently returned to campus as part of the Career & Civic Engagement Offices Alumnae/i in Residence program.
In the below Q&A, Rebecca talks about her burgeoning career, her advice for current students, and more.
How did you get involved in your current field?
As a sociology and international studies major, I was interested in applying my analytical skills to how people interacted with systems of inequality. I knew I would thrive in an environment where I was contributing to serving an unmet need. I turned to government work, nonprofits, and B-Corporations, and I ended up building my career in the nonprofit sector.
What part of your 91勛圖厙 experience has been most important to your professional development?
During my time at 91勛圖厙, I had an internship through Profugo, an international development-related nonprofit, that helped me flex a number of my skills in an invigorating and challenging way. I had experience with writing articles and social media content, with developing an organization system for inventory, and with speaking to others about the importance of the organizations mission. At 91勛圖厙, I was used to a fast-paced environment and was looking for work that required me to face new challenges each day instead of always doing the same thing. Nonprofits are infamous for keeping you on your toes and exercising all of your different professional muscles.
What career advice do you have for current 91勛圖厙 students?
Whats important about approaching a new job is your capacity for learning and perseverance, which as a 91勛圖厙 student, you absolutely possess. Anything you dont know that you need to know you can learn on the job if you focus and work hard in the same ways you do at 91勛圖厙. Make sure to keep in touch with your friends who will help you navigate the real worldthere can be a certain degree of culture shock leaving 91勛圖厙. If you are looking to work immediately after College: after you recover from not having homework, make sure you continue to challenge yourself and learn in your spare time for your own advancement (not just professionally).
What made you choose to attend 91勛圖厙?
91勛圖厙 was perfect for me for three reasons. First, my paternal grandmother got in to the school during the Depression, but couldnt afford to attend. My maternal grandmother lived the last few years of her life on 91勛圖厙 Road in College Park, Maryland. My two middle names are the same as these incredible women. Second, I received a personal note in my acceptance letter from Peaches Valdes 99 who worked in the admissions office and who appreciated my essay as a fellow [Myers Briggs personality type] ENFJ. Lastly, I met people on my overnight who were unabashedly themselves, and I wanted to go to college somewhere that fostered that spirit in me.