Lookout Santa Cruz: Co-op helps UC alumna find her 'dream job'
Elisabeth Kooi speaks about the benefits of experience-based learning in launching her career
UC alumna Elisabeth Kooi says cooperative education provided her with a jump start for her career as a senior industrial designer at Herbst Produkt, a Santa Cruz, California-based design agency that specializes in the design of consumer, technology, medical and life sciences products. Kooi, part of the agency since 2019, manages Herbst Produkt’s internship program. She joined the agency after completing a co-op experience there while a UC student majoring in industrial design. Kooi shared her experiences with Lookout Santa Cruz, an online news publication keeping readers informed in the Santa Cruz metropolitan area.
Read about Elisabeth Kooi’s experience in Lookout Santa Cruz.
Kooi says she landed what considers a plum assignment with Herbst Produkt after graduation.
“The day that I stepped into the sunny coastal California office, I knew I had found my dream job,” Kooi explains. “Co-op took me all over the USA, and each job was a whole new learning experience, significantly different from the last. Through UC’s program, I was able to explore several different work fields and company structures."
UC alumna Elisabeth Kooi, far right, is shown with colleagues at Herbst Produkt. Photo/provided.
“I tried designing everything from retail displays to medical devices, in a variety of working environments ranging from a corporate headquarter building to a 3-person family owned business,” says Kooi. “Each location trained me on new software and product development strategies. Even though I was a beginner every time, I received valuable guidance and mentorship from my boss and coworkers. Graduating with 1.5 years of cumulative real-work experience was the catalyst to my successful post-grad job search.
“Today I manage the consultancy’s co-op program, and we exclusively take students from the University of Cincinnati,” says Kooi. “We are consistently blown away by the talent of these students and their great work ethic. They’re simply the best! I hope to be the same kind of impactful mentor to each UC student that comes our way.”
Featured top image: Elisabeth Kooi from Herbst Produkt. Photo/provided.
Beyond the classroom
At the University of Cincinnati, innovation remains key in all aspects of experience-based learning including internships, service learning, virtual and in-person co-ops, community projects and industry partnerships. UC’s classroom extends to nearly every corner of the globe, from co-ops at Fortune 500 companies to trailblazing experiences in places like China, Morocco and South America. UC is ranked first among public institutions for co-op and internships. Students earn a collective $75 million annually working for thousands of employers including GE Aviation, Disney, Toyota, Kroger, Procter & Gamble and many more.
Learn more about co-op at UC online.
Related Stories
Driven by curiosity, guided by care
May 14, 2026
Max Wilson, a University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences health sciences major on the pre-physician assistant track, found his path expanding beyond the classroom and into hands-on research focused on human performance and patient care.
New cohort of nursing students get ready to join co-ops
May 14, 2026
A new chapter is beginning for more than 100 University of Cincinnati College of Nursing rising seniors as they embark on one of the most distinctive experiences in undergraduate nursing education: the UC Nursing Co-op Program. The incoming cohort will fan out across Cincinnati's premier healthcare institutions, stepping into some of the most dynamic and specialized clinical environments in the region. Placement sites include UC Medical Center (UCMC), West Chester Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Burnet, College Hill, and Liberty campus.
Will a gas tax help lower prices at the pump?
May 14, 2026
WCPO recently reported on Kentucky and Indiana’s steps to combat surging gas prices, cutting and suspending state gas taxes, respectively. UC economist Michael Jones explained the impact on Cincinnati.