Alumna Spotlight: Brooke Henderson

By Amanda Beck

Today, we’re proud to highlight an incredible CDR alumna, Brooke Henderson (soon to be

Brooke Santarelli!)

Brooke Henderson

Brooke graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2018 with a degree in Integrated Marketing & Communication. During her time at SRU, she served as President of College Dress Relief, helping to shape the organization into the impactful and empowering club it is today. 

Currently, Brooke works as a Lead Communications Specialist at UPMC, where she applies many of the skills she first developed through her involvement in CDR. Serving as President strengthened her abilities in: 

• Strategic communication 

• Organization and leadership 

• Event planning 

• Professional outreach 

  
  

Beyond technical skills, CDR left a lasting impression on Brooke by reinforcing the importance of community impact and empowering others, a mindset that remains key in her daily life.  

Brooke holds many special memories from her time in CDR, but a few stand out in particular. She loved seeing the direct impact of CDR’s work, whether it was helping students feel confident walking into an interview or watching members collaborate to plan and execute successful events. She also enjoyed organizing social media contests, hosting clothing drives, and workshopping the CDR blog. “There was something really special about knowing we were making a tangible difference on campus,” Brooke said. 

As President of College Dress Relief, Brooke developed a strong sense of personal style. Her fashion philosophy? Looking polished while staying comfortable. You won’t often find Brooke in jeans. Instead, she gravitates toward different staples like skirts and skorts that can easily transition from casual to business ready. Brooke loves styling pieces in unique ways, transforming outfits from relaxed to professional with confidence and ease. 

We are so proud to call Brooke one of our alumna and can’t wait to see all she continues to accomplish!