The sixth president of Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), Dr. John B. Cook was appointed in 2016. As Chief Executive Officer, he manages an annual operating budget of $50 million, stewards a campus with one million square feet of infrastructure, oversees the efforts of 800 employees, and champions transformative experiences for the approximately 9,000 students enrolled in degree, certificate, and workforce training programs each year.
As president, Dr. Cook has led essential institutional evolution that coincides with dynamic changes in higher education, including strategic navigation of enrollment declines. During his tenure, STCC has launched a number of new degree and training options including a Health Science degree, Baccalaureate pathways in Nursing with Westfield State University, Urban Studies with Worcester State University, and Manufacturing with Northeastern University, as well as certificates in Brewing and the Internet of Things. STCC also developed and launched a statewide online water treatment training in partnership with other Massachusetts community colleges and the Massachusetts Colleges Online consortium. The college continues to invest significantly in early college efforts with area high schools, and hosts signature community engagement initiatives including STCC “College for Kids.”
With a campus co-located on the grounds of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Dr. Cook facilitated a process resulting in the adoption of a comprehensive Campus Master Plan. Those efforts coincided with the opening in January 2019 of the $50 million Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons, the first major campus infrastructure project in three decades. A federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, at STCC Dr. Cook also prioritizes critical equity initiatives that seek to enhance the retention and graduation of female students, and students of color.
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Cook served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Manchester Community College in New Hampshire. In his role as Chief Academic Officer, he was responsible for the administration, leadership, and oversight of all academic programs and faculty at the college. He also worked for 12 years at Granite State College, one of four institutions that constitute the public University System of New Hampshire; Granite State is known for being the leading provider of public online education in the state. He served in multiple roles including Assistant Dean of Faculty, and for a number of years Dr. Cook taught Research Methods and Educational Psychology part-time.
Dr. Cook holds a B.S. from St. Lawrence University in Psychology and Anthropology, a Master's degree in Community/Social Psychology from UMass Lowell, and a Ph.D. in Education (Curriculum/Instruction) from the University of New Hampshire. Active in the community, Dr. Cook serves on numerous boards including the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
