Jeffrey Cooke

“The cool thing about Towson University,” says the finance major, “is that it’s a large and growing school, but you still get that small-school feel.”

That’s because faculty offer students tailored instruction and personal attention, along with deep expertise and real-world application.

“The professors are there to help you,” he explains, also pointing out that finance faculty continually facilitate opportunities for students to network with finance professionals.

In fact, it was the department chair Babu Baradwaj himself who connected Cooke with Timothy Chase ’85 — TU alum and chief executive officer at WMS Partners, a top investment advisory firm.

“ I am being exposed to everything now that I am going to be doing when I graduate. ”

That contact led to Cooke’s dream internship.

Now, the former Calvert Hall soccer player spends 15 to 20 hours a week getting on-the-job experience in everything from investment and cash flow analysis to estate planning and risk management. Just as important is the opportunity to observe seasoned wealth managers develop relationships with their clients. All this, says Cooke, is preparing him for a smooth transition from college to career.

“I am being exposed to everything now that I am going to be doing when I graduate,” enthuses the Baltimore County native, whose passion for helping people manage their wealth is inspiring.

“It’s a career that enables you to transform the financial lives of others. There are a lot of people out there who just don’t like diving into the details of finances. But I love it,” Cooke says.

“Being able to help people while also building a rewarding career is amazing.”