Cook House Programs

The Cook Leadership Board at Alice Cook House offers residents a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the community while developing leadership skills and earning a credential from the House. Recognizing that leadership takes many forms, the Board provides two distinct pathways for involvement: Cook Catalysts and the Cook Honor Society.

Cook Catalysts work closely with Undergraduate and Graduate Resident Fellows (URFs and GRFs) to help plan and execute events for the Cook House community. This role is ideal for students who enjoy hands-on involvement and bringing ideas to life. Catalysts participate in brainstorming sessions, provide feedback on planned activities, and assist with organizing and promoting events. Expectations include attending monthly team meetings, helping organize at least two events per semester, and joining a dinner with House leadership once per semester. Through this role, students develop skills in strategic execution, creative leadership, community stewardship, and reliability. Benefits include a certificate of membership, closer interaction with House leadership, a graduation cord, and extra points in the House Perks system.

The Cook Honor Society is designed for students interested in enhancing the intellectual life of the House. Members engage deeply with the House Speaker Series, attend dinners with House leadership to offer feedback, and creatively extend speaker discussions into the broader community. This opportunity is ideal for those pursuing academic interests or who enjoy thoughtful dialogue. Honor Society members are expected to attend four Speaker Series events per semester, participate in one leadership dinner, lead two creative engagement activities, and complete a training with the Center for Teaching Innovation. Skills developed include facilitative and reflective leadership, academic networking, and public speaking. Members receive similar benefits to Cook Catalysts, with the added opportunity to network with invited speakers.