Beginning with the Winter 2026 seme
ster, the BYU Department of Physics and Astronomy welcomes Heather Cook as its new Career and Alumni Engagement Coordinator. Heather’s role focuses on strengthening connections among students, alumni, faculty, and professionals while helping students prepare for life beyond BYU. She assists students at every stage of the career-development process, from creating a first resume and exploring career possibilities to networking, preparing for interviews, applying to graduate school, and searching for long-term employment.
Alumni are an essential part of this work. Their experiences, career paths, and willingness to share what they have learned can help current students better understand the many opportunities available to them. Heather hopes to connect students with alumni who can offer insight, encouragement, professional advice, and a clearer picture of what it is like to build a career with a physics or astronomy degree. These connections can also provide alumni with meaningful opportunities to remain involved with and give back to the department.
As the job market has become increasingly digital and competitive, professional relationships are more important than ever. Students may be competing with hundreds or even thousands of applicants for internships, graduate-school placements, and employment opportunities. Developing genuine connections with alumni and other professionals can help students learn how to communicate their skills, discover opportunities, and become candidates whom others feel confident recommending.
Heather is passionate about helping students not only find opportunities but also build relationships and become better together. Her work reflects the recent focus on “Becoming BYU” by helping students develop into the kind of people alumni and other professionals will be glad to know, support, and recommend. At the same time, she hopes to help alumni stay connected to the department and play an active role in encouraging the next generation of physics and astronomy students.
Heather was raised in Provo and met her husband in a student ward while attending BYU. They now have six children, ranging from a middle-school student to a 24-year-old who is married. Two of her daughters currently attend BYU. Heather enjoys living with her family near campus and loves skiing, hiking in the mountains, and traveling. Before joining the Department of Physics and Astronomy, she worked on events in the Marriott School. She later stepped away from that role to spend more time caring for her children.
Students do not need to have everything figured out before meeting with Heather. As she explains, “Students don’t need to have a ton of things figured out to meet with me.” She welcomes students who are just beginning to explore their options, as well as those who are preparing for a specific internship, graduate program, or career.
Heather also invites alumni to connect with her if they are interested in sharing their experiences, speaking with students, or finding other ways to remain involved with the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She is dedicated to “working together [to] raise everyone up” and wants students and alumni alike to feel supported as they build meaningful futures and strengthen the department community.
Below are resources for students and alumni interested in connecting with Heather, along with a QR code for scheduling an appointment.
Heather Cook,
Career and Alumni Engagement Coordinator
ESC C454
Authors: Aaron Fawley, Joe Williams, Devin Sieverts, Nathan Carlston
