Molly Michele Cook Curriculum Vitae 517-410-5455 mcook12@ilstu.edu EDUCATION Ph.D. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, May 2023 (expected graduation) Department of Sociology M.S. Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, August 2018 Department of Sociology and Anthropology Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development Fellow Areas of Specialization: Homelessness, Community and Economic Development Cumulative G.P.A.: 4.0/4.0 B.A. Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 2014 Sociology and Theology Areas of Specialization: Homelessness, Stratification Cumulative G.P.A.: 3.93/4.0 RESEARCH INTERESTS Community needs assessments, homelessness, social enterprises, post-graduate service, stratification, Latin American development, culture RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Illinois State University Department of Sociology More Than Just a Job: A Social Enterprise s Response to Homelessness 2017-2018 Conducted a case study of a social enterprise with a goal of employing the homeless. Analyzed results using a framework of affiliation theory and social capital and wrote a comprehensive report. Illinois State University Community Project Design and Management 2017 Community Analysis of Not in Our Town Analyzed best practices of agencies that work to end bigotry and racism; conducted focus groups to determine gaps in access, segregation, racism, and bigotry in the community; presented findings to 150 community members (May 2017) Illinois State University Community and Economic Development 2016 Are Sports an Effective and Innovative Tool for Community Development in Bloomington-Normal? As the group project leader, coordinated efforts to measure the impact of local sports on the social, health, and economic dimensions of the community and participants. Email surveys were distributed to 21 sports clubs and organizations in the Bloomington-Normal area to measure diversity, equality, inclusion, health, and economic input and output.
Aquinas College Summer Research Scholar 2012-2013 The Self-Identified Needs of the Urban Homeless Grant awarded to conduct a community needs assessment on the self-identified needs of the urban homeless in Grand Rapids, Michigan for Park Church and social service agencies in the Heartside neighborhood TEACHING AND MENTORING EXPERIENCE Graduate Teaching Assistant 2016-2017 Illinois State University Normal, IL Assisted with grading and researching for a Contemporary Social Problems Class of 250 students (2016) and two introductory Sociology courses of 50 students total (January May 2017) as well as taught periodically Collaborated with professor and undergraduate teaching assistant to anticipate student concerns and held daily office hours to meet individually with 10-20 students per week 9 th -12 th Grade Religion Teacher 2015-2016 Muskegon Catholic Central Muskegon, MI Encouraged 80 students to articulate their beliefs by engaging them in discussions and daily lesson plans Coordinated and facilitated seventh through twelfth grade retreats and trained 25 student volunteers at weekly meetings Member of the regional theology curriculum committee with 10 other teachers to restructure the standards and objectives for the 9 th grade theology curriculum Peer Tutor 2010-2014 Aquinas College Grand Rapids, MI Tutored one to two peers at a time for one hour per week in the areas of French, Sociology, and Psychology English as a Second Language Tutor 2010-2011 W.O.R.D. Project English as a Second Language Grand Rapids, MI Tutored native-spanish speakers in English once per week CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Oral Presentations Cook, Molly M. Increasing Social Capital and Affiliation: Social Enterprise Employment for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness. Roundtable at the American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, August 11, 2018, Philadelphia, PA. Cook, Molly M. More Than Just a Job: A Social Enterprise s Response to Homelessness. Presentation at the Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting, March 23, 2018, Minneapolis, MN. Cook, Molly M. Innovation Districts. Presentation at the Montana Economic Development Association Annual Meeting, October 5, 2017, Red Lodge, Montana.
Cook, Molly M. and Earl, Lindsey G. Could Service be an End to Classism? The Impact of Post-Graduate Service in Employment Preferences. Roundtable presentation at the Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting, April 1, 2017, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cook, Molly M. and Earl, Lindsey G. Who Lives Here: The Importance of Graduate and Post-Graduate Service. Presented at the Illinois Sociological Society Annual Meeting, November 4, 2016, Normal, Illinois. Cook, Molly M. The Self-Identified Needs of the Urban Homeless. Presented at the Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting, March 28, 2013, Chicago, Illinois. Poster Presentations Cook, Molly M. The Self-Identified Needs of the Urban Homeless. Presented at the Aquinas College Research Symposium, April 30, 2013, Grand Rapids, Michigan. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Missoula Economic Partnership, Missoula, MT Applied Community and Economic Development Fellow August 2017 - June 2018 Meet with 100 businesses per year to attract, retain, and expand businesses in Missoula, specifically businesses in the technology, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors Research trends in economic development and present information on trends, such as biotechnology incubators and innovation districts, to community and state stakeholders Network with business leaders and investors to provide connections and support collaboration between businesses and serve on business start-up challenge committees High Altitude Tennis Fund, Denver, CO Freelance Grant Writer September 2017 Present Apply skills learned in Stevenson Center Grant Writing summer course to write grant proposals for five hours per week for an organization that looks to bring tennis programming to low-income schools in Denver Ele s Place, Grand Rapids, MI Volunteer Coordinator and Administrative Assistant January 2016 July 2016 Coordinated and collaborated with 75 volunteers for children s grief support groups and supervised corporate volunteer groups of 5-15 people Hosted tours for perspective donors and community partners, supported individuals experiencing grief over the phone, and planned a reception for 200 donors and volunteers Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, Detroit, MI Homeless Youth Case Manager August 2014 July 2015 Conducted outreach at three Detroit-area schools to build relationships and provide resources to over 200 at-risk youth weekly Presented on the McKinney-Vento Education Act to educators and managed social media Maggie's Place, Phoenix, AZ Mission Corps Volunteer May - June 2014 Lived with 4-8 expectant mothers experiencing homelessness as a contact person and conducted intake assessments
Aquinas College School of Education, Grand Rapids, MI Student Worker January 2012 May 2014 Completed certification projects and collected data for over 2,000 current and past students HONORS AND AWARDS 2018 University of Arizona, Frederick A. and Margaret S. Conrad Graduate Scholarship 2018 University of Illinois, Presidential Fellowship (declined) 2018 - Illinois State University Sociology Department, Conference Travel Grant 2018 - Illinois State University, College of Arts and Sciences Travel Grant 2017 - Illinois State University, University Club Scholarship 2017 - Illinois State University, Charter Department Graduate Excellence Award 2017 Illinois State University, Susan Kern Special Opportunity Scholarship 2016 - Illinois State University, Applied Community and Economic Development Fellow 2010 2014 Aquinas College, Dean s List 2014 - Aquinas College, Outstanding Sociology Graduate of the Year 2014 - Aquinas College, Outstanding Theology Graduate of the Year 2013 - Michigan Campus Compact, Heart and Soul Award 2013 - Jane Hibbard Idema Women s Studies Center, Outstanding Woman Award Nominee 2013 - Aquinas College, Summer Research Scholar 2012 - Aquinas College, Sophomore Student of the Year PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Midwest Sociological Society American Sociological Association (ASA) ASA Sections: Sociology of Development and Inequality, Poverty, and Mobility Alpha Kappa Delta (Michigan Mu Chapter President: 2013) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE Illinois State University, Normal, IL Stevenson Center Alumni Ambassador August 2018 Present Assist with recruiting future fellows through email and phone communication Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL Volunteer PACE Grant Reader October 2017, March 2018 Review five student mini grant applications per semester Illinois State University, Normal, IL ACED Conference Coordinator February 24, 2018 Wrote two grant proposals and managed grants from the American Democracy Project and the Special Opportunity Fund for $1,800.00 of funding for travel and conference costs for six graduate fellows completing professional practice placements throughout the United States Planned and coordinated all conference activities, including completing a capacity building project for a non-profit agency, facilitating an alumni panel with five alumni, engaging a career services speaker, and planning an alumni and student networking event with 30 participants
Lifelong Learning Center, Missoula, MT Spanish Class Participant September 2017 Present Engage in weekly Spanish learning classes to increase global competence and communication skills The Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, Western Michigan University Book Reviewer August 2017 - Present Review awaiting publication: Fragile Families Human Rights and Democracy Trip, Lima, Huaquicha, and Cusco, Peru June 2017 Spent one month in Peru learning about human rights by talking with government officials and university students, visiting elementary schools, installing solar panels in a remote community, and meeting with Congressional leaders. Stevenson Center Curriculum Committee, Normal, IL Committee Member 2016 2017 Collaborated with professors and students to assess the Community and Economic Development curriculum for Stevenson Center students ACED Student Association Member 2016 2017 Participated in community service activities and demonstrated grant application skills while applying for funding to send care packages to Peace Corps Volunteers Dégagé Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI Shelter Volunteer 2012-2013, September 2015 March 2016 Assisted in the women s shelter during the evening to ensure a welcoming environment Started a book club for patrons, worked at a resource desk, and monitored a computer lab Christ the King Service Corps, Detroit, MI Service Corps Member (equivalent to AmeriCorps service) August 2014 July 2015 Served as a full-time volunteer for one-year in a community in Detroit focusing on faith, service, and simplicity