The recipients of the 2025 Cook Community Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Awards, from left, Paul Fischbach CC’87, Dr. Anne L. Nielsen GSNB’08, Sara H. Shama CC’02, Louis Cooperhouse GSNB’87, Margaret O’Donnell CC’93, and Katie Bobowski CC’92.
The Cook Community Alumni Association held its annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon on April 27, 2025, at Nielson Dining Hall on the George H. Cook Campus at Rutgers. This annual event is held during the same weekend as Rutgers Day and Ag Field Day. Awards are presented to deserving alumni who have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievements in academic, career, or volunteer work. The George H. Cook Award is presented to eligible Cook undergraduate alumni and the Dennis M. Fenton Award is presented to eligible Cook graduate alumni. The Awards Committee is chaired by Dr. Lee Schneider (CAES ’70, GSNB’72, GSE’88) and Dr. Linda Madison (CC ’80, GSE’94, ‘02).
The luncheon began with a greeting from CCAA Co-president Amanda Dougherty (CC’08, GSE’09) and welcome from Executive Dean Laura Lawson. A large group of past awardees attended to help induct this year’s class. Each of this year’s six inductees were introduced by a past recipient, who then presented them with a personalized plaque. The awardees spoke about their experiences at Cook and how their lives were shaped by the staff, fellowship, and support each of them received while a student. They engaged the audience with highlights of their journeys since college. At times, they became overwhelmed with emotion, as they vividly recalled the wonderful memories of a joyful time and the impact Cook College/SEBS had on their lives. Their accomplishments were some of the most outstanding since the inception of the award.
If you know a deserving alumnus for either of these awards, please consider taking the time to nominate them. The form is easily accessible on the CCAA website.
George H. Cook Distinguished Alumni Awardees
Katie Bobowski CC’92
Katie Bobowski.
Katie Applegate Bobowski is a dedicated environmental educator and community leader based in Glennallen, Alaska. Since graduating from Cook College in 1992, she has lived with her family in seven states (with three children born in three different states), from Maryland to Oregon, Arizona to Alaska. Everywhere she has gone, she has remained deeply committed to community volunteerism, particularly for organizations that invest in youth and their futures. She has meaningfully contributed throughout her life to a variety of community organizations in leadership roles, including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts of America, the Estes Park, Colorado 4-H Club (founding leader), and board membership on multiple community organizations. In this service, Katie has received multiple awards and recognitions from the communities in which she’s worked, including the 2022 Advocates for Victims of Violence Woman of Distinction Award and the Bette Maxine Cato Inspirational Award, for being an inspiration and role model to others.
Katie’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Cook College, where she graduated with highest honors with an Environmental Science major and two minors (Natural Resource Management and Animal Science), as well as teaching certificates in general science and agriculture. Since graduating, Katie has pursued opportunities in environmental education, contributing in multiple ways and in various roles that emphasize science, nature, and community development. Along the way, she added two master’s degrees from Slippery Rock University, both with honors.
Katie currently serves as the Administrative Manager of the Copper Basin Extension Center of Prince William Sound College, a community campus of the University of Alaska, Anchorage, where she has dedicated her time since 2017. She is passionate about place-based education for undergraduates that harnesses the power of traditional knowledge in tandem with western science. She has also scaled up her passion for all students K-12 through professional development courses for Alaska’s teachers. Katie spearheaded the development of a Natural Resources Technician Occupational Endorsement Certificate program that emphasizes the development of core skill sets for young professionals at the beginning of their careers. She leads multiple, week-long professional development courses annually for teachers, that introduces them to place-based education, emphasizing how curiosity and science can be woven into any discipline. Her collaborative work contributing to rural communities of Alaska was recently recognized with the 2022 University of Alaska’s Chancellor’s Choice Award for Opportunity Creation. It was subsequently highlighted at the North American Association for Environmental Education National Conference.
Throughout all of this, Katie’s first passion has been, and remains, her family, dedicating most of her time to raising those three children (including a decade of homeschooling) and encouraging them, through example, to take advantage of all the adventures life has to offer. When not volunteering for, or working with, her community, you can most often find Katie with her family, enjoying nature, whether through gardening, birding, fishing, sunning and swimming at the beach, or setting out on some new life adventure!
Margaret O’Donnell CC’93
Margaret O’Donnell CC’93.
Margaret O’Donnell returned to Rutgers to work professionally 5 years after her 1993 graduation from Cook College. Beginning as a program coordinator at the University Inn and Conference Center, Margaret progressed through increasingly responsible roles in the Division of Continuing Studies and the Center for Management Development. She is currently an executive education program manager at Rutgers Business School. By far, the work most meaningful to Margaret has been her time spent in support of Rutgers student veterans and military-affiliated students. Recognized as a leader in this field, Margaret is still regularly an invited speaker at both regional and national conferences and workshops. In 2019, the STEM Veterans USA at Rutgers organization recognized Margaret’s role in the academic and career success of student veterans and alumni with the “To Infinity and Beyond” Award.
In addition to her work at Rutgers, Margaret also frequently volunteers her personal time on campus. She was named a Loyal Daughter of Rutgers in 2014. A long-time volunteer at Rutgers Gardens, she was the recipient of the Gardens’ DOC Award in 2009. It is so named for dedication and outstanding commitment, as well as being a sweet nod to longtime director, Bruce “Doc” Hamilton.
Margaret is a past president, vice president, and chair of numerous Cook Community Alumni Association committees. She is best known for running events (notably golf outings, murder mystery dinners, chocolate and wine tastings), as well as acquiring the association’s “merch.” If you have something with the Alumni Association logo, Margaret probably designed and ordered it – from the bags and pins graduates receive walking off the stage after getting their diplomas to every sweatshirt, t-shirt, or hat you’ve worn this weekend, Margaret surely had a hand in it!
Within her community of Milltown, NJ, Margaret is a past Planning Board member and Councilwoman. She is currently a district committee woman and the mayor’s representative to the Library Board. Margaret also serves as the volunteer coordinator for Milltown Recreation’s two volleyball leagues.
Spare time is precious, and Margaret enjoys spending it with family, friends, and neighbors. She is a fixture at “Alumnut” tailgates and Rutgers football games, as well as Cook Alumni events!
Sara H. Shama CC’02
Sara H. Shama CC’02.
Sara Shama is a proud graduate of the Cook College Class of 2002, earning a degree in Nutritional Science with a Pre-Med option. During her time at Cook, she was deeply involved in the community, actively participating in numerous organizations. She served as Class President, chaired the Cook College Council, and worked as a Resident Assistant. Her engagement in college life and the opportunities she embraced shaped her into the person she is today, paving the way for her success.
After graduation, Sara found herself at a crossroads. Medical school was no longer her dream, and she was unsure of her next steps. Seeking guidance, she turned to Professor Malcolm Watford, who offered simple yet impactful advice: “Sara, you have a degree in Nutrition—go use it.”
Taking that advice to heart, she began working an entry-level job at Muhlenberg Hospital. It was there that she realized she needed further credentials to advance in the field of nutrition. Determined to follow her passion, she returned to Rutgers University to complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics. She then matched with her top internship choice, Sodexo NY, where she excelled and was honored for her academic excellence.
With five years of experience in both inpatient and outpatient nutrition counseling—and with the unwavering support of her husband, Mohamed Shama, whom she met while at Cook College—Sara took a leap of faith. Just six weeks before the birth of their first son, Zane, she launched her own private practice, SHS Nutrition, LLC.
Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship was a priority for Sara. Two years later, she welcomed her second son, Tarek, and remained grateful for the organic growth of her business alongside her family. She cherishes the opportunity to be a class mom, a wrestling mom, and a small business owner, all while watching her children grow and become more independent. As her kids matured, her focus shifted further toward expanding SHS Nutrition, which she affectionately calls her third child.
As her business flourished, Sara began employing and mentoring other women, providing them with a supportive work environment that encourages work-life balance and personal growth. She takes great pride in guiding ambitious young women toward achieving their goals and finding their purpose.
Today, SHS Nutrition has become a trusted name in nutrition counseling, with numerous doctors and healthcare professionals referring patients due to the compassionate and personalized care it provides. The practice continues to grow, strengthening its media presence as “Simple Healthy Solutions”, reinforcing the philosophy that better health is achieved one simple, healthy solution at a time.
Sara also plays an active role in the Monroe Township wrestling community, where both Zane and Tarek wrestled, and Mohamed coached. Naturally, she became involved in planning fundraisers and organizational efforts to strengthen the program. She worked closely with the school board and administration to allow 6th graders to compete at the middle school level, a change that significantly improved the town’s wrestling program. This initiative contributed to the team securing second place in the county.
Throughout the different aspects of her life, Sara sees a common theme—guiding, educating, and caring for others to help them live their best lives. Her family, employees, and patients inspire her to be her best self and serve as an example of a healthy, purposeful life.
Sara remains committed to making her community proud, embodying dignity, hard work, and dedication. She is deeply grateful to her parents, Hesham and Alia Halim, for their love and support. She also thanks her husband, Mohamed, and her two sons, Zane and Tarek, for embracing and loving her through all of life’s moments—the good, the bad, and the crazy.
Sara firmly believes that everything happens for a reason. She is grateful for the mentors who guided her, including Dr. Schneider, Dr. Watford, and the late Francine Corley, whose belief in her came at a pivotal moment in her journey. Their influence shaped the path she walks today.
In her own words: “Everyone you meet teaches you something. The choice to pay attention and receive the lesson is entirely yours.”
Paul Fischbach CC’87
Paul Fischbach CC’87.
Paul Fischbach is currently the Director of Operations for Recreation at Rutgers University. He has dedicated his career to the health and well-being of the University community. For the past 35 years, Paul has worked with thousands of students to help them find their sense of belonging and success outside the classroom at Rutgers.
Paul graduated from Cook College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1987. He then earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in 1989. Paul was fortunate to return to Rutgers as a professional staff member, joining the Cook/Douglass Recreation Services team in October of that year.
Paul supervised the Intramural Sports program. He recruited and trained student employees and coached them on developing critical thinking and decision-making skills. He developed and led special events for the campus community, where he provided opportunities for student volunteers to learn and practice leadership, management and program planning.
When the colleges merged in 2008, Paul transitioned to a new role as the Associate Director for Rutgers Recreation. Overseeing the university intramural sports program across 4 campuses, his efforts led to over 10,000 yearly participants. He also developed and managed the Recreation Summer Camp program that serves children ages 5 to 11. Paul conducted all staff training, developed schedules, planned activities and implemented ongoing evaluation procedures for program assessment and employee development.
Prior to his current role, Paul was asked to take on a new responsibility to oversee the Student Success and Training for the Recreation Department. Here, he led the recruiting and onboarding efforts supporting a diverse staff of nearly 500 student employees.
Paul is a recognized leader within the Division of Student Affairs and the larger university, having served as a liaison to university colleagues, including Academic Affairs, Campus Centers, Police, Facilities Maintenance, Athletics, and Alumni/Parent Associations. He has served as an Adjunct Instructor for Exercise Science and currently instructs the Transitions Course for the School of Arts and Sciences for those students who have transferred to the university.
Paul credits his longevity in making a difference in the lives of students to those who impacted him when he was an undergraduate student at Rutgers. Most notably, he recognizes Ed Levy and Lee Schneider, who both showed through their commitment that “students mattered.” Staying true to these values, his simple pledge remains to “pay it forward” and continue to serve as a role model, who provides leadership which engages today’s Scarlet Knights and inspires them on their journey at the university.
Dennis M. Fenton Distinguished Graduate Alumni Awardees
Dr. Anne L. Nielsen GSNB’08.
Dr. Anne L. Nielsen GSNB’08
Dr. Anne Nielsen graduated with a Ph.D. in Entomology in 2008. She then went on to post-doctoral positions at the University of California, Davis and Michigan State University where she studied a variety of invasive insect species. Dr. Nielsen returned to SEBS as an assistant extension specialist/assistant professor in entomology in 2012. Since then, she moved through the ranks and was recently promoted to Extension Specialist/Professor of Entomology. Her responsibilities have included working with invasive insects with an emphasis on those that damage tree fruit and wine grapes.
During her career, Dr. Nielsen has compiled over 70 publications and book chapters about invasive insects, such as the brown marmorated stink bug and spotted lantern fly. Several of her publications are considered seminal works about these insects. She accomplished this work with the help of numerous graduate students, undergraduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Dr. Nielsen was able to do this by securing over $8 million in grant funds from a variety of sources including the USDA, SARE, the Department of Defense and state agricultural groups. The true value of her work, however, is seen in terms of the impact her work has had saving millions of dollars in fruit losses with minimal insecticide use, which has avoided environmental impacts that historically occur with the overuse of insecticides. Her work has had similar impacts in other countries such as Canada, Italy, and New Zealand.
Louis Cooperhouse GSNB’87
Louis Cooperhouse GSNB’87.
Lou Cooperhouse is founder, President & CEO at BlueNalu, the global leader in the development of cell-cultured seafood, that is replacing today’s highly variable and supply-restricted seafood supply chain with one that will be vertically integrated, healthy, humane, safe, sustainable, secure, consistent, and delicious every time.
Lou is recognized as a leading global authority in food innovation and technology commercialization; and as a results-driven professional with the ability to build, develop and transform organizations and teams. His 40-year career in the food industry includes extensive entrepreneurial expertise leading cross-functional teams in a wide array of settings, including new business startups, multinational corporations, foodservice and retail operations, non-profits and trade associations, and university food incubation programs. A summary of his career experiences in entrepreneurship were featured in the cover story in Food Technology Magazine, titled “Oceans of Innovation”, in December 2023. Previously, Lou served as President & CEO of Food Spectrum, LLC, where he provided a broad array of strategic consulting and business management expertise to the food industry; as President & COO of F&S Produce, a leading regional supplier of fresh-cut produce and value-added refrigerated foods; and as Co-Founder, President and CEO of MenuDirect Corporation, a unique health, wellness, and nutrition company. Earlier in his career, Lou held positions of increasing responsibility at Campbell’s Soup, ConAgra, and Nestlé-funded Culinary Brands in areas of business development, product development, quality assurance, and operations.
Lou is a member of the Explorers Club, a prestigious international organization dedicated to promoting the exploration of land, sea, air and space, and to inspire new generations to pursue discovery and conservation. He’s also a member of the Society of Fellows at the Culinary Institute of America.
Previously, Lou served as a founder and the Executive Director of the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, and as Chairperson of the Center’s Advisory Board. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the International Business Innovation Association; President of the New Jersey Business Incubation Network; President of the New Jersey Food Processors Association; on the boards of the Refrigerated Foods Association and United Fresh Produce Association; and on the Board of Managers at the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University. Lou received his MS in Food Science from Rutgers Cook College, and his BS in Microbiology from Rutgers School of Graduate Studies. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the Rutgers Business School.
