STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Following a national search, Tarleton State University has named Dr. Amy Cook its next Vice President for Research, with her appointment set to begin Dec. 7.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cook to Tarleton State and look forward to the leadership she will bring to our growing research enterprise,” said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley. “With nearly 15 years of executive research leadership at a top-tier R1 institution, Dr. Cook brings the experience and vision to elevate our research operations, empower our faculty researchers and position Tarleton State for even greater discovery, innovation and impact.”
Dr. Cook, a certified research administrator and licensed attorney, comes to Tarleton State from Texas Tech University, where she has spent her career in progressive senior leadership roles, most recently as senior associate vice president for research operations and research security officer. During her tenure, she provided leadership in sponsored programs and research contracting, post-award administration, research analytics and strategic intelligence, research facilities and infrastructure, and research compliance and security.
“Tarleton State is at an exciting moment in its history, and I’m eager to help shape what comes next,” said Dr. Cook. “Continuing to build a strong research enterprise means connecting people and ideas, creating opportunities, and providing faculty and students the support they need to succeed. Together, we can build on the university’s impressive momentum, expand the reach of its research, and make an even greater impact across Texas and beyond. I’m honored to join this community and excited about what we can accomplish together.”
The exponential growth of Texas Tech’s research enterprise is a defining focus of Dr. Cook’s career. After the university achieved R1 status in 2016, she helped advance its research and innovation efforts as a member of the executive leadership team. Dr. Cook played a key role in strengthening the administrative, operational, and physical infrastructure supporting Texas Tech’s growing research enterprise. Her key initiatives included overseeing institutional research agreements, strengthening relationships with federal and state partners, and building the university’s research intelligence function to support research metrics, benchmarking, environmental scanning, institutional profiles, strategic analysis, ranking assessment and executive decision support.
Dr. Cook was named the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI) Future of the Field recipient in 2021. She also served as an inaugural member of the Texas Higher Education Research Security Council, helping advance research security policy, implementation guidance, coordination and practical tools for Texas higher education.
Dr. Cook’s educational journey began at Texas Tech, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1998 and a Juris Doctor from the Texas Tech School of Law in 2002. She spent 10 years in West Texas serving as an assistant district attorney, private-practice attorney and first assistant district attorney before returning to Texas Tech and becoming a Certified Research Administrator (CRA) through the Research Administrators Certification Council in 2021.
Tarleton State is experiencing unprecedented research growth. Since 2019, research expenditures have increased 120%, and in 2021, the university earned its designation as a Doctoral University with High Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Last year, Tarleton State achieved its largest single-year increase in research expenditures at 31.5%.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 28,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 127 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real-world learning and address regional, state and national needs.