Cassandra Cook has overcome many obstacles in pursuit of her education, including poverty, abuse, abandonment, and placement in the foster care system.

Today, Cassandra is a first-generation college student majoring in public administration with a minor in business management at San Diego State University. She is the president of the Student Public Administration Association and a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, the Pre-Law Society, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She has conducted research with the Business Management Department and SDSU ’s sustainability projects, as well as presented at the 2012 SDSU Student Research Symposium. Cassandra is involved with the LEAP Council of San Diego, Just in Time for Foster Youth, and Casey Family Programs as a foster youth advocate, mentor and facilitator. She participates in the UCLA Law Fellows program and served as a summer foster youth congressional intern in Washington, D.C. this year.

Upon graduation from SDSU, Cassandra plans to become a lawyer to create positive change.