Lisa Cook

Walden University’s first director of career services, Lisa Cook, is already at work in the Office of Student Development in Minneapolis, where she is defining comprehensive services that will help students make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others.

A career-development expert from the top ranks of the higher education, government and private sectors, Cook has a master’s degree in counseling and development, and a law degree. She has also completed formal training in distance education and instruction design.

“Building Walden’s Career Services Center allows me to capitalize on my experience at the U.S. Department of Labor providing career counseling nationwide to working professionals with diverse educational and experiential backgrounds,” says Cook, who most recently managed career development programs at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.

She says her priorities are to better understand the needs of Walden’s students and to make the online Career Services Center available as quickly as possible so that students can access the right tools to further their professional development and career management. Once the Career Services Center is operational, phone counseling and email advice will be available to those seeking more in-depth information.

Cook says she already feels a bond with Walden students. “I have a special empathy for professionals pursuing new higher education and career avenues while working full time—I experienced that transition myself in shifting from law to education.”

She also relates to the Walden mission of providing a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they may transform society. Besides helping people build rewarding careers, Cook has served as a child’s mentor and as a volunteer in areas such as disabilities, homelessness and breast cancer. “Personally and professionally, I am passionate about making a difference in people’s lives,” she says. “It’s exciting to meet members of the Walden community who share that world view.”

Cook, who recently met with students, faculty and staff at the Winter Session residency in Dallas, says her philosophy on choosing and developing a career expands on the “Me Inc.” concept: “Whether we are self-employed or employed in an organization, it’s beneficial to view our careers as if we’re in charge of own companies. Through proactively engaging in lifelong learning, networking and role expansion, we land opportunities which play to our strengths, interests and values.”

Email your ideas for the new Career Services Center to lisa.cook@waldenu.edu.

February Ponder front page