Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Board of Trustees Chair, business leader, and philanthropist Carl Cook, CEO of Cook Group, was inducted into the prestigious Indiana Academy during a special gala event on October 15 in Indianapolis. The honor recognizes his lifetime of achievement and significant contributions to the state of Indiana and Rose-Hulman.

The Indiana Academy promotes the advancement of Indiana through the Academy’s support of the Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc., and its member institutions. Academy membership highlights people who live in or are from the state who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in philanthropy, business, public service, advancement of the sciences, the arts, literature, culture, and scholarship in connection with Indiana’s independent non-profit colleges and universities.

Cook is chief executive officer of the Cook Group, Inc., a privately held company based in Bloomington, Indiana, that primarily manufactures media devices. It has three main divisions: Cook Medical, CFC (real estate), and the French Lick Resort and Casino.

Cook’s commitment to improving the lives of others and making a difference in Indiana follows in the footsteps of his late father, William Alfred Cook, a pioneer in the biosciences and biomedical device fields. He has worked directly on several Cook products, managing several innovative research and development projects, including cardiac pacemakers and Doppler blood flow monitors.

As Chair of the Rose-Hulman’s Board of Trustees since 2023 and a trustee since 2009, Cook has worked closely with the Institute’s administration to help the college navigate higher education’s ever-challenging and changing landscape, especially following the worldwide pandemic, the shrinking market of 18- to 24-year-olds, and significantly rising public concern over the costs and value of attending college. 

Rose-Hulman is experiencing record enrollment and retention, along with earning national distinction in Best College guides by the U.S. News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, and Princeton Review.

“Carl’s leadership and support helped us successfully achieve a $250 million comprehensive fundraising campaign in 2021 that helped increase student scholarships, brought new learning spaces to campus, and further solidified our position as a national leader in STEM education,” said Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons. “Also, as Board Chair, Carl continues to play an instrumental role in the planning and implementation of our ‘ Advancing by Design’ Strategic Plan, building upon this year’s sesquicentennial celebration.”

Cook has supported a range of initiatives at Rose-Hulman, including the Endowed Faculty Chair for Innovation in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education, as well as the enhancement of academic facilities that foster innovation in education. His commitment extends to student support through sponsorship of the FIRST Robotics program and scholarships that attract top young minds interested in STEM and entrepreneurship.

Cook discussed reasons for supporting Rose-Hulman to achieve its mission: “The successful leaders and engineers that I have been around, if you talk with them about what they did when they were kids … they were trying lots of new and interesting things that were very hands-on. What sets a Rose-Hulman graduate apart is the hands-on experiences. Having more of those facilities and better facilities means the students will get those hands-on experiences that they will need to be successful in the future.”

Cook also has a love for historic restoration. In 2013, the Tivoli Theater in Spencer, Indiana, was fully restored on behalf of all employees of Cook Spencer. Cook Group has also supported an expansion of Ivy Tech State College’s Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building, restored the Lions Club office building in Newport, Indiana, and restored several Indiana Landmarks, including the West Baden Springs Hotel and French Lick Resort in southern Indiana – to name a few. He has served as the board chair for Indiana Landmarks; executive advisory council member for the Sisters of Saint Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana; and co-chaired Harmony School’s building restoration campaign in 2004.

Cook received an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from Rose-Hulman in 2015 in honor of his distinguished career achievements and service to Rose-Hulman.