Terence Cooper, W’94, WG’03, first began meeting with applicants to Penn in the late 1990s, soon after earning his first Wharton degree, as a volunteer for what was then known as the Penn Alumni Interview Program.
A Bridge Between Generations
Through conversations with tomorrow’s students, Alumni Ambassadors bridge Penn’s past and future
Published: November 17, 2023
Now, 25 years and a second Wharton degree later, Cooper is still chatting with prospective Quakers. In fact, he is now a leader in the Penn Alumni Ambassador Program in his hometown of Houston.
“When I first started, I was only five years out, so I was more of an older peer to the students,” he recalls. “My conversations are different now that I’m older and sporting gray hairs.”
But one important thing hasn’t changed: “I still find it invigorating to speak to bright, ambitious high schoolers. And I still find it to be a good use of my free time—the conversations benefit the student, Penn, and myself.”
From Houston to Philadelphia and Back Again
Growing up in Houston, Cooper learned of Penn from his father, who earned his MBA at Wharton. “I was attracted by Penn’s strong academics and its location in Philadelphia,” Cooper recalls. He also appreciated the fact that Penn offered a great balance between business and the liberal arts. Cooper enrolled at Wharton, where he majored in Finance and Accounting.
Then it was back home to continue his education. He earned his law degree at the University of Texas.
At 28, Cooper had a revelation: “I finally knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to work in real estate.” Since Wharton has such a great program in the field, Cooper returned to Philadelphia to earn his MBA. Today, he serves as Director of Investments at Foxgate Capital, a real estate private equity firm, a role that brings together his interests in business, law, and real estate.
While building his career in Houston, Cooper continued to chat with applicants to Penn. At one point, he was having conversations with as many as 50 high school students a year.
Some of those young people can be nervous or intimidated, he explains. “I try to remember what it is like to be on the other side of the table and make it a conversation about their interests.”
Today, Cooper serves as co-chair of the Penn Alumni Ambassador Committee in Houston. It’s a big job. Penn is a popular college choice among high school students in Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city. Each year, Alumni Ambassadors speak to 500-600 student applicants from the area. Cooper works with his fellow co-chairs to assign local applicants to ambassadors, trying to match students to alumni with similar interests.
New Name, New Focus
This fall, Penn rebranded this program, moving from the old name—Penn Alumni Interview Program—to the new name—Penn Alumni Ambassador Program. The name change was intentional, explains Monica Stepanow, LPS’19, Director, Penn Alumni Ambassador Program. The goal was to shift the focus from “interview” to “conversation” and to encourage a genuine exchange of information between the alumni volunteers and prospective students.
During their conversations with prospective Quakers, Alumni Ambassadors ask questions of the student applicants and talk about their own Penn experiences. The objective is to provide a welcoming space, distinct from the rest of the Admissions process, where students can share information about themselves and get a flavor of the Penn experience. Notes from the alumni ambassadors add valued context to the student’s application.
Terence is a great volunteer who has chaired our program in Houston for years. He is very engaged with the program and has personally interviewed hundreds of students over the years. Whenever Penn comes to Houston, Terence is happy to represent the University. We’re honored to count him as one of our long-time leaders.”Monica Stepanow, LPS’19, Director, Penn Alumni Ambassador Program
One of the most popular alumni volunteer opportunities, the Alumni Ambassador Program boasts more than 21,000 volunteers. Stepanow emphasizes that the program is always looking for new volunteers. “It’s a great opportunity for people who love Penn and enjoy talking to bright, talented students who are going to go on to do great things.”
Cooper agrees. “It’s a great way to get involved with the local Penn community. I’ve made connections with other Penn people as well as community members. And as the parent of a three-year-old, I find it helpful to learn more about high school today and the college admissions process.”
