Source: Amy Button Renz, 785-532-5050, arenz@k-state.com
Hometown connection: Hope
News release prepared by: Tim Lindemuth, 785-532-5061, tlindemuth@k-state.com
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Cook joins senior administration of K-State Alumni Association
MANHATTAN -- Bringing a depth of senior corporate and nonprofit communications experience and creative skills, Linda J. Cook is the new assistant vice president of communications for the K-State Alumni Association. Her appointment takes effect May 21.
She will lead the association's communications department staff and supervise the planning, design and production of printed and electronic communications including the K-Stater magazine, association website and various newsletters and brochures, said Amy Button Renz, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. Cook replaces Steve Logback, who recently became the university's assistant vice president for communications and marketing.
"Linda is passionate about K-State as she has been serving as a member of the alumni association board of directors, and she understands our important mission of keeping alumni linked to the university," Renz said. "Additionally, she has an extensive background in developing successful, integrated communications strategies to help us reach K-State's 166,000 living alumni."
A 1977 K-State graduate in journalism, Cook also has a master's in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After graduation, she worked for 24 years at General Motors Corp. in Detroit, ultimately becoming director of public affairs – GM North America and director of planning for GM's Truck Group. Later Cook became vice president of corporate communications at the Midwest Research Institute and senior manager of communications at Honeywell, both in Kansas City, Mo. She also founded and was president of AdvantaComm, a public relations freelance and consulting service.
Among her memberships, Cook has been active in the Public Relations Society of America and Central Exchange, as well as serving on the advisory council for the Kansas State University's A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Her record of community service is extensive and includes serving as president of the Gift of Life board of directors, ambassador to the Kansas City Performing Arts Center and chair of the Lansing, Mich., Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she coordinated a program that raised $1.5 million for economic development.
Raised in Hope, Cook was active as a student on the Kansas State Collegian newspaper staff, cheerleading and other campus organizations.
