Board of Regents appoints Dr. Scott Cook as next president of Dyersburg State Community College

The Tennessee Board of Regents voted unanimously today to appoint Dr. Scott Cook as the next president of Dyersburg State Community College.

Dr. Cook, who is provost of Madisonville Community College in Madisonville, Ky., will succeed Dr. Karen Bowyer, effective Jan. 4, 2022, when Dr. Bowyer is retiring after 37 years as the third president in the college’s history.

Cook was one of five finalists selected and announced Oct. 21 by a 17-member Search Advisory Committee, composed of four Board of Regents members and representatives of the Dyersburg State community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and business, industry and civic leaders in the area. After all five finalists participated in campus and public forums Oct. 27-Nov. 2, TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings recommended Cook to the Board for the presidency.

As provost, Dr. Cook has been the chief academic officer and chief student affairs officer at Madisonville Community College since March 2018. He previously was a senior administrator and professor at Motlow State Community College, including assistant vice president for academic affairs for quality assurance and performance funding, assistant vice president for academic affairs, honors program director, and professor of history. He also served as department coordinator and assistant professor of humanities at Georgia Military College at Columbus, Ga.

“I feel incredibly honored to serve the citizens of West Tennessee as the fourth President of Dyersburg State Community College,” Cook said following the Board vote. “I am excited to work with the talented employees at Dyersburg State, to continue the legacy that Dr. Karen Bowyer fostered and created, and to build on the documented success of the institution.  In addition, I look forward to establishing relationships with business, industry, and community partners in Dyersburg State's service area to promote economic opportunities for those who want a chance to have a better future.”

Cook earned a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, with a History Concentration, from Tennessee State University; a Master of Liberal Studies in Humanities from Fort Hays State University in Kansas; a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University, and an Associate of Science, University Parallel, with emphases in History, Political Science, and Psychology from Motlow State Community College.

In delivering her recommendation to Board members in a special called meeting this morning, Chancellor Tydings said that “Dyersburg State Community College contributes heavily to the economy and welfare of the community. I know that Dr. Cook will continue the progress that has been made there and will strive to keep the momentum going for student success at this fine institution. After careful consideration, I am pleased to recommend his appointment.”

Regent Greg Duckett, who chaired the Search Advisory Committee, thanked “the community of Dyersburg, the entire team at Dyersburg State, and especially the individuals who served on the committee. Dr. Cook was one of the five finalists chosen by the Search Advisory Committee, from 62 applicants from around the country. I wholeheartedly support Chancellor Tydings’ recommendation and make the motion to appoint Dr. Scott Cook as the next president of Dyersburg State Community College.”

Regents Mark George, Nisha Powers and Emily Reynolds also served on the committee.

Reynolds, vice chair of the Board of Regents, said “We’re excited for you (Dr. Cook), we’re excited for us, and we’re excited for Dyersburg…. We had an opportunity to travel to Dyersburg last week  for an event the college held to honor Dr. Bowyer and it was a pleasure to be there. The spirit of community there is very strong.”

The virtual meeting was streamed and is archived for review on the Tennessee Board of Regents website at https://www.tbr.edu/board/november-16-2021-special-called-board-meeting. Cook’s full resume and other information about the search process are available for review on the Dyersburg State Community College presidential search page of the Tennessee Board of Regents website at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-dyersburg-state-community-college.

Dyersburg State Community College is a member public institution of the College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Dyersburg State was established by Tennessee General Assembly in 1967 and held its first classes in 1969. The college primarily serves seven West Tennessee counties: Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, and Tipton counties. In addition to its home campus in Dyersburg, other primary campuses are the Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County in Covington and the Gibson County Center in Trenton. More information about the college is also available on its website, https://www.dscc.edu/.