Dr. David Cook, an accomplished educator who is highly skilled in intricate details of a university’s operations from multiple angles, has been named provost and vice president of academic affairs at Tusculum University.
His career includes service as a dean, associate dean, director of a master’s-level program and professor of leadership. He has led and supervised the creation of academic degrees, expanded pre-professional programs and developed internship pipelines, mentoring programs and career advising. He is also a published author of a book, book chapters and articles and given speeches on multiple topics.
Dr. Cook’s broad array of experience also encompasses service as special assistant to the president for advancement and senior legal counsel to the president. Earlier in his career, he practiced law in two firms, assisting clients on matters such as estate planning and probate. He has used his skills as a lawyer in higher education to provide guidance on Title IX and advise the president of Dallas Baptist University on religious liberty, compliance, governance and other subjects.
“We are fortunate to attract an administrator whose talents are well-suited for such a multifaceted position at our university,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “He has an exceptional understanding of and practical experience with all facets of a university, and his experience and interests align nicely with our mission. Collaborating with our faculty and staff, Dr. Cook will play an integral role in our preparation of students in a caring Christian environment to be career-ready, civically engaged professionals.”
Dr. Cook is on target to begin his Tusculum duties Aug. 1.
As vice president of academic affairs, Dr. Cook will focus on academic and faculty matters, such as the creation of new academic programs and overseeing the delivery of active and experiential learning. As provost, he will delve into broader matters in partnership with other stakeholders at the university, such as enrollment growth and administrative efficiency. He will also serve as a member of Tusculum’s Executive Cabinet.
Dr. Cook has served at Dallas Baptist University since 2014. He is currently dean of global studies and pre-professional programs, professor of leadership studies, senior legal counsel to the president and special assistant to the president for advancement. As dean, he has coordinated and expanded the university’s travel-study program, developed plans for new semester- and summer-abroad programs and deepened the university’s connections with international partners.
In this post, Dr. Cook has also fostered the growth of pre-professional programs, such as pre-medicine, pre-CPA, pre-health, pre-engineering and pre-law.
One of his biggest academic achievements has been his work as program director for the Master of Arts in Leadership. He created, designed and recruited students for the new program and established the curriculum for nine of its courses. After he left this position, the Master of Arts in Leadership experienced a significant dip in its enrollment, so he returned to restore it to a healthy and vibrant program.
Dr. Cook also prepared and implemented a substantive change proposal for the creation of a new leadership minor, supervised the creation of the Master of Arts in International Studies and redesigned an advanced certificate in leadership studies. He has taught on the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels and served on doctoral dissertation committees. His primary teaching focus has been on leadership, but he has also taught courses in political science and legal studies.
His impact on Dallas Baptist University has also reached outside the classroom. Using his legal background, Dr. Cook created a new Title IX system and policy for the university and supervised the Title IX coordinator and cases involving that statute. He also advised the president on a variety of legal matters that applied to the university.
Dr. Hummel is also impressed with Dr. Cook’s positive influence on fundraising at Dallas Baptist University. Dr. Cook created and directed an initiative to connect with the university’s international alumni to raise scholarship funds for international students. He has also partnered with foundations and donors to obtain contributions for other special gifts to the university. Dr. Hummel said Dr. Cook’s fundraising experience and work with estate planning will be a good fit as he teams with the Office of Institutional Advancement to draw additional donations to Tusculum, especially for academic programs.
“What Dr. Cook brings to the table is not only extensive knowledge of the academic enterprise but also other aspects of the university that can result in success for our students,” Dr. Hummel said. “I am excited to have his intellect, insight and pioneering spirit to help Tusculum progress to the next level of excellence. His work with faculty and staff members and his ability to connect with potential external sources who can help us will produce exceptional results for the university.”
Dr. Cook earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Baylor University, his law degree from Southern Methodist University and his doctorate in leadership studies from Dallas Baptist University.
His community involvement includes free legal work for low-income clients, the Baptist Immigration Center of Plano and First Baptist Church of Duncanville, of which he is a member. He has also reviewed legal and governing documents for nonprofit organizations and served on the boards of directors for nonprofit religious organizations. In addition, he has been extensively involved in churches in roles such as Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader and finance committee chair.
Dr. Cook said he is thrilled to be part of Tusculum. He noted that Tusculum has been a key driver in East Tennessee for 230 years and highlighted the university’s distinction as the first higher education institution in Tennessee. He expressed his gratitude to Dr. Hummel for selecting him.
“Tusculum is an outstanding university that is conducting high-quality research in multiple disciplines and producing graduates who are making their mark on their communities,” Dr. Cook said. “Through their studies at Tusculum and the many opportunities they have for community service and growth in their faith, these Pioneers are discovering their calling and their purpose. I am ready to serve side-by-side with our expert faculty and dedicated staff, who are performing magnificent work, to build on our one-on-one connections with students as we mentor them. I am also excited to meet our students and learn more about their aspirations and how we can help them achieve their dreams.”
More information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu.
