Not many people can say they have dedicated nearly four decades to one organisation. Cocky Adams, Course Administrator at IHS can. Over the years, she has quietly supported students and staff, adapting to change, embracing new challenges and finding meaning in the small, everyday moments that keep an institute running.
A career built on connection
Cocky joined IHS in April 1987, encouraged by a friend who spotted a vacancy at the secretariat. At the time, she thought it might be a short stop in her career. Instead, it became a professional home.
In those early years, job descriptions were flexible and could shift daily. “If a new task came up, someone simply had to take it on,” she recalls. Her first role was as secretary to then-director Cor Dijkgraaf, where she handled the post, stacks of letters from all over the world, as well as meeting minutes, mission reports and various administrative duties. Back then, email didn’t exist, but telex and fax machines did, and computers were basic.
Office life was more personal then. With a much smaller programme, she knew every participant by name. Many brought gifts from their home countries, tokens of thanks that Cocky still keeps in her wardrobe. People would stop by her desk with questions or just to say hello, and she remembers showing students around the city with a paper map in hand.
Evolving roles and responsibilities
In 1990, Cocky moved from the Director’s Office and took on tasks at the Educational Management Office, handling visas, grading sheets and diplomas. This was long before online tools and PowerPoint presentations, when professors handed out photocopies, copy machines broke down often, and paperwork piled high.
With time, her role shifted towards programme management and eventually to the Examination Committee (EC), where she works today. She manages the EC’s daily business, ensures grades and theses are processed according to academic regulations, and serves as key user for Canvas and deputy key user for Osiris.
Learning, adapting and growing
One of her proudest memories is her 25th work anniversary. “One of the best parties ever," she says. Former colleagues attended, speeches were given, and her love for penguins became the theme of the day, complete with penguin cakes, penguin gifts, and even a former director arriving in a full penguin costume. "The party ended with everyone doing the penguin dance!"
She recalls her time in programme management as a period when she went “the extra mile” to help students and colleagues. Whether guiding them through administrative processes or offering practical advice for life in Rotterdam, she valued making their experience smoother. Today, she’s proud to see IHS alumni thriving across the globe.
Over the years, Cocky has developed a range of skills from advanced social abilities shaped by working with people from so many cultures, to technical know-how in various systems, and resilience in crisis situations. Working in such a diverse environment has been a constant source of motivation. “One culture is even more interesting than the next,” she says, reflecting on the hundreds of students she has helped over the years.
“Helping students and colleagues succeed has been the most rewarding part of my career. That’s what makes IHS special: the people and their journeys.”
Hopes for the future
For her, IHS has always been “a home away from home”, which is why its success means so much. If there’s one thing she hopes people remember about her, it’s her sense of responsibility for her work. Looking ahead, she hopes IHS continues to thrive while keeping the qualities that make it unique. “IHS has always been a unique place to work and I hope it stays that way for many years to come.”
