The Advocate Asks: Jacqui Cook, CCE Outreach and Special Events Coordinator
Jacqui Cook.
AA: Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I am a born and bred New Yorker, but I have been working in international development for the last 10+ years. I went to American University in DC with a double major in International Studies and Spanish. I took that and lived in South America for two years, and then I returned to DC, where I worked at the Organization of American States for five years. Just before starting here, I left that job and went backpacking for a little over a year in both Latin America and Europe.
AA: What brought you to Bard?I came back from my trip at the end of last year and was really open to any kind of opportunity that I could find. I’m always open to pivoting and seeing what other opportunities are out there. Since my family lives locally, I knew of Bard so I thought, “Oh, right, Bard College is so close by, what if I take a look at what they're offering?” And then I learned about the Center for Civic Engagement and I thought it would be a really cool team to join…if I would be so lucky. I was so excited when I got the interview, and everyone throughout the whole process was so kind, so welcoming, so interested in hearing my background and how I could contribute to CCE. I am so happy to be a part of the team.
AA: What are some of your passions and interests?
Latin America and travelling. I found a lot of fulfillment and discovered a lot of interests when I was traveling in Latin America and working interculturally. I'm really passionate about knitting and finding community.
AA: As a Special Events and Outreach Coordinator, how would you like to bolster student engagement on campus?
I think it’s really important to consider that everyone here comes from different backgrounds internationally, nationally, ethnically, and culturally, and understanding that maybe not everyone wants to do a STEM event, but finding new interests and new niches that could pique someone's interest. I've been speaking with the STEM Fellows, and there's one in particular who's interested in bringing more social sciences to STEM Outreach. I was more than open to pursuing that; I think that taking students' ideas and interests and showing them how almost anything can be turned into a civically minded project is really valuable. I want to create those opportunities where we can get a student tied to an activity that would support them as an individual while also supporting a local organization.
AA: What have been some of your favorite aspects of the position thus far?
I get to work with such a wide range of people on a wide range of projects, and not a single day has been the same. I doubt I’ll have a single day that’s the same in my entire time working here! By working with staff, professors, students, and the local Hudson Valley community, every day is unique, and I love that it's really dynamic. I think it will be impossible to get bored!
AA: Are there any on-campus organizations or local organizations that you hope to build partnerships with?
With a background in Latin America, I'm really interested in learning more from La Voz. I know they're a major paper and that they started here, but I really want to get more involved with them. That would be a really interesting opportunity.
AA: How do you feel your past in international development informs your work here at the CCE?
I come from a very different, bureaucratic work environment. Now, being able to know what could be possible and what can be organized, but having a lot less red tape to jump through, has made me a lot more productive because of the turnaround. Where I've worked before, you can have a great idea, and then it can die in the red tape. But here, there's so much potential for everything to blossom, and if you have an idea and a passion, it can be realized. We know what we're doing, we know how to do it, and we can get it done.
AA: How do you feel Bard fosters a special environment for civic engagement and student activism?
I think Bard is such a special place. Everyone is so kind and really willing to listen to other people. The students who come to Bard have an incredible level of motivation, interest, passion, and energy. The number of people who show up for our STEM Outreach events who have a real passion to work with local kids, to go to the library and do experiments, etc. is amazing. The student body shows a real level of level of passion and interest in giving back. They want to learn more about the Hudson Valley and see where they can make a difference. While Bard’s a small college in rural New York, there’s a lot of interest in working with local community partners. I think that’s really incredible.
The Advocate would like to thank Jacqui Cook for her time and thoughtful responses, and we look forward to her vibrant future here at Bard.
Post Date: 10-17-2025