Six years after graduating from Clark, Sami Noor ’15 has stayed engaged with the University as a member of the GOLD Council. We caught up with him to learn about his work, goals, and his next “adventure.”
When did you graduate and what did you do at Clark?
2015! I completed my bachelor’s in international development and social change and was pretty involved on campus — I was on Student Council, the Muslim Cultural Society, EMS, served as Spree Day co-chair, and was a Reunion volunteer, along with a few other things.
Where are you now? What have you been up to? What are some of your long-term goals?
After college, I moved back home to NYC and have been here ever since. Currently, I’m working in quality and safety in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Mount Sinai Health, while working part time on my MBA online. As for long-term goals, I want to take my health care operations experience and connect it to my undergrad degree — as I aspire to work on optimizing health care on a global level.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned at Clark?
Categorizing is something we don’t do here — but also the importance of community and how it can play a pivotal role for us in various capacities.
You were a co-chair of the GOLD Council. Can you talk about your experience on the GOLD Council and your next adventure?
Yes, I was co-chair for two years, and it was definitely rewarding working with the Council and Alumni and Friends Engagement. It’s definitely been a nice ‘golf cart’ ride with the many transitions Clark has experienced in the last six years. My next “adventure” is to finish this MBA — and then take a breather. Honestly, it was great to dedicate my time and energy, but I’m very excited to prioritize myself for the next year.
What is a favorite memory from your time on the GOLD Council?
Meeting up with the NY GOLD members for our own version of Spree Day. But also, just seeing and hearing everyone on calls or Zoom warms your heart — it feels as if we’re all still together in some capacity (and at Clark).
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received? What insight have you gained through professional experience that you would like to share with current students?
It was when I was told “to tone down my ambition,” which at first felt like an insult, but the person who gave me this advice really wanted me to learn how to assess my capacity and learn how to set my own boundaries. Often we are told to go above and beyond, but we are not taught how to set limits in a professional setting.
To current students: I would recommend outlining what is important for you to achieve personal and professional success and how to attain pleasure within these buckets, along with noting down what you will never accept. By grounding yourself and understanding your own needs in various contexts, you will further align yourself with your passions and goals.
What is the most significant career experience you’ve had so far, and what made it meaningful?
Working the past year in health care has been exhausting for us all. Once the pandemic started, I was placed on the system’s COVID crisis planning workgroup. This is where I was able to witness the resilience of my colleagues. A lot of us were spread thin as we adjusted to working remotely, but the work was meaningful — we were working collectively to bring a “mere spark of light” at the end of the tunnel.
Emilee Cocuzzo is a Senior Consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. She is currently a co-chair on the GOLD Council.
