As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2022, Josephine Cort, a marketing major with minors in French studies and international business from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has not had the typical student experience at UD due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cort, and her entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered as students. Each installment of this series will profile an outstanding member of this class, showcasing their achievements, experiences at UD and what it means to be a Blue Hen.
Cort was nominated for this series by UD Assistant Professor of Marketing Dee Muir, who said, “I have only had Josie for six weeks, but she is in both classes I am teaching, and she is simply amazing. I assigned the first project in marketing analytics in the second week and in that same week she was already asking me questions about coding on the fifth problem! I was super impressed and so far she has lived up to that amazing first impression in both my marketing analytics and digital marketing classes.”
“She is one of the only students to actively participate in almost every class, and I have witnessed her work with her team and she has impressed everyone with her work and her extraordinary work ethic,” Muir continued. “What makes Josie so great is that she too is the trifecta of intelligence, humility and determination. She’s smart, she’s humbled by her own intelligence, but she is determined to win the race. She is a go-getter, and I really see her going places after UD.”
In this profile, Cort shared her favorite UD memories, how she has changed during her time at UD and her plans following graduation.
Lerner: How have you grown from your freshman year at UD to now?
Cort: Looking back on who I was freshman year, I find that I am now a more confident, capable adult instead of a nervous overthinker. I started college as hyper-focused on school work and didn’t really absorb all the extracurriculars UD had to offer, but now I am a more well-rounded individual who focuses more on the holistic experience of being a student instead of spending all of my time studying. Generally, I gained a lot of confidence in my ability to tackle problems and am ready for anything life throws at me.
Lerner: Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? If so, how did they shape your experience at UD?
Cort: I was a member of the Women’s D1 Club Lacrosse team and Pi Beta Phi sorority. My experiences with both of these organizations gave me a new perspective on student life at UD, and I connected with people I wouldn’t have met in my classes. I also took three study abroad trips (one through UD to London and two funded by UD through grant money to Brussels, Belgium and Costa Rica). These trips shaped how I approached my studies, pushing me to pursue a minor in international business and helping me finish my French studies minor.
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Cort: To me, being a “Lifelong Lerner” means taking what I learned at school and applying to my new experiences. It’s a balance of remembering my roots while also being fearless and spreading my personal and professional “wings.” It also means acknowledging what I don’t know and continuing to pursue education and knowledge in those areas.
Lerner: What was the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Cort: The most memorable course I took at Lerner was International Marketing. The content was so intriguing and built upon experiences I’d had abroad, so it was fun to apply the terms in the context of my trips. All of the real-world examples we discussed helped me further understand the concepts, and I really enjoyed having Professor Bambach.
Lerner: What was your favorite UD experience?
Cort: It’s really hard for me to choose my favorite UD experience because I had so many amazing times, but I think it was participating in Airband my freshman and senior years. The energy of the performances were electric, and it was amazing to see so many Greek chapters come together to put on unforgettable shows. I also really enjoyed playing in Nationals with my lacrosse team during my freshman year. We finished as second in the country and it really made me proud to be a Blue Hen!
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Cort: Following graduation, I will be moving out to Madison, Wisconsin to start my Project Manager position at Epic Systems. I’m so excited to be starting my post-grad life in a new place — the possibilities are endless!