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President Cook’s Tenure
BADGERnews SNOW COLLEGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING PRESIDENT COOK’S TENURE
RANKED #1 BY THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION NAMED SAFEST COLLEGE IN UTAH BOLSTERED ENROLLMENT PARTICIPATED IN NATIONAL ATHLETIC TOURNAMENTS INSTITUTED STRATEGIC PLANNING SECURED $5 MILLION FOR NEED-BASED STUDENT AID INITIATED REIMAGINE CAMPAIGN
EXPANDED TECHNICAL EDUCATION BROADENED ONLINE RESOURCES CREATED THE “BADGERS BELONG” INCLUSIVITY CAMPAIGN MANAGED COVID-19 PANDEMIC REAFFIRMED ACCREDITATION ESTABLISHED OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS WON 10 GOLD MEDALS AND 2 BOSS STATUES AT BEST OF STATE
By Marci Larsen
When Bradley J. Cook, then-Provost at Southern Utah University, accepted the invitation to become the 17th president of Snow College, few could have anticipated what would happen in the world during the next three years. President Cook’s energy and optimism were evident at the January 11, 2019 announcement of his appointment, his vision to “reimagine” (the theme of his inauguration), and his encouragement to embrace a “positive restlessness” (a mantra displayed in his office) became crucial during his tenure, which ended July of 2022.
While navigating through a worldwide pandemic, historic changes to higher education, and political unrest during these three years, the college managed to achieve the largest enrollment growth in its history, complete a $5 million capital campaign for need-based aid, and receive numerous state and national recognitions and accolades. A top personal honor for President Cook was the surprise Best of State Statue (BOSS) given by the 2022 Best of State organization for his work in education. With President Cook’s leadership, the college also founded two different online learning platforms; prioritized significant planning processes for enrollment, strategic operations, and inclusion; maintained face-to-face instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic; and created a Technical Education Division to effectively serve as the technical college for the six central Utah counties. President Cook’s
determination to secure additional THANK YOU FOR LEADING WITH VISION AND COMPASSION ongoing legislative funding to correct past budget inequities resulted in an additional $4.5 million, which will benefit Snow College students for years to come. Focusing on access initiatives for prospective students and supporting current students have been the motivation behind all of President Cook’s decisions. He and his wife, Jen, have made it a personal mission to help all students—whether in Ephraim, Richfield, or online—know that “Badgers Belong.” The Cook Era will be remembered as a time of innovation, growth, reimagination, and positive restlessness—all with the desire and intention to provide Snow College students with an experience that truly is transformational.