Cooke Alumni Currents - June 2026
Over 25 years, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has served nearly 3,900 high-achieving Scholars, with Alumni now pursuing careers across a wide range of fields. Check out some recent accomplishments and updates from members of the Cooke Alumni community!
Ryan Baril – 2002 Young Scholar; 2007 College Scholar, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Ryan is the author of The Amped Trilogy and published the second book in the series, Deception, earlier this year. Deception follows sixteen-year-old Jonny Leferd who joins an elite combat unit to stop a rogue conjurer, uncover the truth behind a web of deception, and rescue his kidnapped brother. Ryan continues to captivate readers through the twists, secrets, and high-stake challenges presented in this fast-paced adventure.
Carlos Biaou – 2012 Transfer Scholar; 2014 Graduate Scholar, University of California at Berkeley
Carlos joined Arinna, a space research and technology company, as the Head of Systems Intelligence in May. In this role, Carlos will build physical and digital infrastructure needed to support future generations of space technology. Carlos will also lead projects to develop data systems and AI-powered tools that advance innovation across research, manufacturing, and operations. Through his work at Arinna, he is developing technologies that could make space exploration more efficient and accessible.
Wyatt Deihl – 2018 Transfer Scholar; 2022 Graduate Scholar, Yale University
Wyatt recently presented at SYNChronicity, a national public health conference centered on health equity and community care. His presentation was focused on media bias and stigma in reporting HIV-related arrests. His research is closely connected to his role as Community Affairs Manager at CAN Community Health, where he uplifts CAN’s presence on HIV policy and advocacy. Through both his research and professional work, Wyatt is helping advance evidence-based approaches to public health and HIV criminalization.
Colby King – 2018 College Scholar, Columbia University
Colby recently founded the Kiki Arts Collaborative, an organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ youth and young adults of color (ages 18-30) access opportunities in the arts and enter creative careers. Soon after its launch, the organization was awarded the David Prize, a $200,000 investment awarded to innovative community leaders across New York. The Kiki Arts Collaborative was also featured in Forbes for connecting artists from the Kiki Ballroom Scene with opportunities in the creative industry.
Elizabeth McCarthy – 2007 Graduate Scholar, University of Oxford
Elizabeth was promoted to Deputy Director, Head of Content and Digital Communications at the University of Oxford in February. Prior to her promotion, she served as the Head of Campaigns and Digital Communications. In her new role, Elizabeth will be leading the university’s digital publishing and content strategy, including digital transformation projects that showcase Oxford’s research.
To read more about what Cooke Alumni have been up to this month, check out the June edition of the Alumni Buzz!