The Highest Ideals
Laura Cox ’83 and Jay Cohen ’84 direct their philanthropy to create opportunities for students — and to help them graduate into a more equitable, resilient world. Jay and Laura serve on the Division of Social Sciences Dean’s Cabinet, and Laura is a trustee of the UC Santa Barbara Foundation. Their service to campus is informed by their education and careers.
“Jay and Laura, who met at UC Santa Barbara, are very special donors,” said Charles Hale, SAGE Sara Miller McCune Dean of Social Sciences. "Laura has extensive professional experience helping disadvantaged youth meet their educational and career aspirations, which has informed her invaluable guidance for us in creating PROPEL, our student success program. Jay works at the intersection of investment and environmental sustainability; this has made him an extremely well-informed and proactive partner to our 2035 Initiative for environmental policy. Their generous financial support has been wonderful, and their visionary accompaniment in both realms has been absolutely priceless.”
When Laura learned about UC Santa Barbara's PROPEL Scholars Program, she realized it aligned with her life's work. At the time, she ran a nonprofit with a similar goal to help first-generation, low-income students graduate from college.
“PROPEL improves students’ grades and helps them engage with campus activities, which will lead to more opportunities. The students I’ve met say it's significantly changed their ability to thrive at UC Santa Barbara,” said Laura, retired executive director of Bridge the Gap College Prep. “As a first-generation college graduate, when I entered UCSB, doors were opened to career opportunities that I didn’t know existed. I’ve always felt proud of my UC Santa Barbara education because it challenged me and allowed me to move forward. Jay shares this passion, and we have focused on educational equity in our philanthropy for 30 years.”
Launched in 2021, the PRomoting OPportunity and Equity in Learning (PROPEL) Scholars Program provides high-achieving, first-generation, low-income students majoring in the social sciences with $5,000 annual scholarships and access to wrap-around counseling, advising and academic services throughout their undergraduate experience. Scholars also benefit from social events, career advice and a close-knit community.
“As we near the program’s fourth year, we see our first students ready to graduate, equipped with the skills, experiences and confidence to apply to graduate and professional programs and pursue their careers. The example set by donors like Laura and Jay instills a strong sense of community and commitment to giving back, fostering a supportive environment where students help each other succeed. The opportunities to connect with donors like Laura and Jay inspire our scholars to envision their own roles as future leaders and change-makers,” said Gabriela Gutierrez-Serrano, program director.
“When I received the PROPEL scholarship, I sighed in relief. It removed financial pressure and opened new opportunities for me,” said Lorenzo Bilbao ’26, an economics student.
Like Lorenzo, Jay studied economics at UC Santa Barbara. After working as an investment banker, Jay founded Cohen Capital Management Inc. in 1995. Jay’s interest in overlooked external costs — when the price of a product does not reflect its social or environmental impact — eventually connected him with UC Santa Barbara’s The 2035 Initiative. This “think and do” tank works to accelerate the clean energy transition, phase out fossil fuels and advance climate change adaptation.
“When I found out about The 2035 Initiative, which advances policy rather than just researching externalities, I knew I had to get involved,” he said. Jay and Laura's support of The 2035 Initiative will advance its goal to create actionable strategies that can influence public policy and lead to tangible environmental and social improvements by the year 2035.
Laura and Jay invest in the highest ideals of the Division of Social Sciences. Their philanthropy creates a tangible impact on the lives of students and society at large.
“We get to see the impact of UC Santa Barbara firsthand, and also the impact that donors can make by supporting strategic initiatives,” said Laura. “It’s inspiring to see how individuals can make a difference.”