Originally hired to file papers in the department of physiology and cell biology, Cook said she never actually filed any papers as her job description noted. “When I arrived, everyone was running around trying to get their posters ready for an annual meeting,” she said. “I jumped right in and volunteered to help them.”
With a minor in art, Cook tapped into her creative side as she designed the posters. “For the first 10 years, I did the research illustrations, line drawings and photography work for their journal publications,” she said.
As technology evolved, Cook soon realized that computers were able to produce the same images that she was developing by hand. Her responsibilities shifted as she started to handle the grants for the department.
“I worked with great people and everyone had a great sense of humor,” she said. “I would not have stayed for 40 years had it not been an enjoyable job with people who know how to work hard, have fun and be friends.”
