At 19, She’s a Graduate and a Full-Time Teacher: Meet Cora Anderson

By the time most students are settling into their sophomore year, Cora Anderson will already be walking across the stage at Florida Atlantic University—degree in hand, a full-time teaching job underway, and a clear vision for her future career.

Cora is graduating from the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice in December at just 19 years old. She started at Florida Atlantic at 17, after earning her associate’s degree through dual-enrollment courses at Palm Beach State College—where she began when she was 15! Along the way, she’s launched a career in education and discovered a passion for studying crime and terrorism prevention.

Rooted in Family, Driven by Possibility

Cora grew up in Loxahatchee, Florida, not far from Florida Atlantic’s Boca Raton campus. Her decision to attend Florida Atlantic was as practical as it was personal: she wanted a challenging, rigorous academic experience, but she also wanted to stay close to her tight-knit family that has always supported her dreams.

“We all live very close together,” Cora said about her family, “so I wanted to live at home while I went to college, but I still wanted the full college experience.”

Her parents have both encouraged her academic drive and counseled her on balancing work with the rest of her life. Even while taking college classes at 15, Cora still played sports, traveled with a competitive soccer team, and stayed active at Seminole Ridge High School.

As she put it, “I had the drive, I had the initiative, and my parents have always said, ‘The sky's the limit. If you want to do it, do it.’”

From Crime Shows to a Calling in Criminal Justice

True-crime stories and television crime dramas sparked Cora’s curiosity in criminal justice. But she quickly moved beyond entertainment into serious study. Her early interests led her to read about serial killers, terrorism, and major criminal cases. When she had the chance to choose electives for her associate’s degree, she deliberately chose criminal justice courses in corrections, law, and policing to test whether this was truly the right path.

Cora was very intentional about picking her field of study. “Because I started so young, I didn't want to do all of this, and then get to my senior year and realize, hey, I want to change majors,” she explained.

Some of the high-profile cases she studied, like Jeffrey Dahmer and the Boston Marathon bombing, sharpened her interest in exploring not just how crimes happen, but why. She was especially drawn to the idea that understanding those “why” questions could help prevent tragedies before they occur.

How Soar-in-4 Shaped Her Trajectory

Cora also credits her academic success to the Soar-in-4 program, Florida Atlantic’s university-wide initiative and leadership development program that helps first-time-in-college (FTIC) students stay on track and graduate with their bachelor's degree in four years or less.

Soar-in-4 connected her with faculty, staff, and a dedicated career counselor who helped her refine her résumé, prepare for interviews, and think strategically about her next steps. Cora said one faculty member in particular stands out: Sigal Rubin, MSCCJ, faculty advisor for Criminology and Criminal Justice students in the Soar-in-4 program at the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice.

She praised Professor Rubin for how deeply she invests in her students’ success, from checking in while Cora was studying abroad to celebrating her decision to pursue a master’s program that aligned with her career goals.

“She really cares about her students, and she really goes beyond the classroom,” Cora said. “You can never have too much help. You can never have too many people on your sidelines, backing you up.”

Through touchpoints with faculty, staff, and dedicated career and academic advisors, Soar-in-4 helped Cora refine her goals, prepare for graduate school, and pursue opportunities she might not otherwise have.

Gaining a Global Perspective

One of the program’s most influential impacts was encouraging her to study abroad. Initially, Cora wasn’t sure she wanted to travel, but her advisors urged her to consider the experience. When she ultimately chose the United Kingdom, the decision opened an entirely new chapter in her understanding of criminal justice.

Studying in the UK gave her a firsthand look at the operations of a different legal system. She was struck by how even basic practices—such as warrant requirements or knife regulations—reflected fundamentally different approaches to public safety. In a terrorism and security course, she learned how global threats have evolved from traditional bombings to complex cyberattacks capable of shutting down hospitals and airports.

The experience reframed her academic interests and helped her see how her analytical strengths could contribute to crime prevention.

Snapping a selfie outside of the Roman Coliseum during a solo trip to Italy

Anderson’s family and her best friend came to visit her during her semester abroad. They took a quick underwater train ride to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

One of the many prisons and jails Anderson visited in Europe

A Young Teacher, Shaping Even Younger Students

Even while moving rapidly through college, Cora has already built a professional life in the classroom. Encouraged by her parents, she started as a substitute teacher the day she turned 18, drawn by the flexibility the role offered to a full-time student.

“Substituting really just gave me the freedom of choosing my own schedule while studying,” she explained.

In August 2025, she stepped into a new role as a full-time eighth-grade science teacher. Being relatively close in age to her students gives her a perspective on lesson planning that her colleagues value, especially as schools adapt to students who are more plugged into technology than ever before.

“I can come at assignments from both the teacher’s and the student’s side,” she said. “When I give my class an assignment, I think, ‘OK, if my professor gave me something like this, how would it help me?”

Cora incorporates videos, interactive tools, and online assessments to help students practice the same digital skills they’ll need for state testing and beyond. She makes her classroom a space for hands-on learning and lab activities that challenge and engage her students.

Learning about hands-on games during a peer-training workshop

Looking Ahead: Homeland Security and a Life of Balance

In January, Cora will begin her master’s degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management at Keiser University in West Palm Beach. She hopes to eventually work with TSA, the FBI, or the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on emergency management and prevention.

She’s drawn to the challenge of protecting the public in busy, high-pressure environments like airports, where safety must be weighed against complex logistics. It’s a scenario that engages her analytical mindset and appeals to her desire to help people at scale.

At the same time, she’s clear-eyed about wanting a career that allows room for family, travel, and a life outside of work. That balance, coupled with her drive, curiosity, and dedication to service, is part of what makes her such a standout member of the December 2025 graduating class.

“Cora truly exemplifies the Soar in Four Scholar program,” said Sandra Jakubow, director of Advising Services and Soar-in-4 program coordinator for the College. “With her drive and ambition she excelled in her studies, is graduating early, and has already joined the workforce. She makes us proud!