GENESEO, NY, January 16, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — William Robert Cook has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Cook, a distinguished professor of history, dedicated over 40 years to academia at the State University of New York (SUNY) Geneseo. His lengthy career began in 1970 when he joined SUNY Geneseo as an assistant professor, teaching medieval and Renaissance history. Over the next seven years, he established himself as a respected educator and scholar. In 1977, he was promoted to associate professor of history, a role he held until 1982. His commitment to academic excellence led to his appointment as a professor of history from 1982 to 1984.
Dr. Cook’s tenure culminated in his designation as a distinguished teaching professor of history from 1984 to 2012, when he retired from the university. He has won many teaching awards and is the author of five books. His works include “The Medieval World View, 2nd edition,” published in 2004; “Early Images of St. Francis,” released in 1999; and “Francis of Assisi,” published in 1989.
Adjacent to his work in education, Dr. Cook has earned distinction through his commitment to philanthropy. After dedicating his life to adopting and fostering children from different countries, he established the Bill Cook Foundation in 2015 as a means to enlist others to help children across the globe. The foundation’s mission is to create a world where the poorest children everywhere have access to an education. By funding tuition and other direct expenses for children, the foundation supports education from the early levels of basic literacy through university education.
Over the past nine years, the foundation has successfully implemented programs in various countries such as South Sudan, Laos and Peru, among others. Acting as the primary fundraiser and decision-maker for the foundation, Dr. Cook has allocated close to $3 million toward building schools and providing scholarships, thereby impacting the lives of many young individuals. Additionally, through fundraising efforts like lecturing on luxury cruises, Dr. Cook and the foundation have been able to raise substantial funds, allowing for further support and expansion of their educational initiatives across five continents.
Dr. Cook earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1966, graduating with cum laude honors. He subsequently pursued graduate studies at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he earned a Master of Arts and then a PhD in medieval history in 1971. These academic achievements laid the foundation for his extensive contributions to historical scholarship and education.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cook has been actively involved with civic organizations. He founded the Livingston County Anti-Poverty Society in Geneseo in 2008 and served as a fundraiser for Covenant House in New York City starting in 1985. He also contributed to the academic community through various visiting and lecturing positions. In 2008, he served as a visiting professor of religious history at Wabash College and in 2006 was a lecturer for Friends of Florence in Italy. Furthermore, he engaged with the Young Presidents’ Organization in Dallas in 2002. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys traveling and reading.
Dr. Cook’s dedication to education, scholarship and philanthropy has left an indelible mark on both the academic community and the lives of countless individuals worldwide through his foundation’s efforts.
About Marquis Who’s Who :
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America , Marquis Who’s Who has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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