Bryan Cook

Bryan J. Cook is a nationally recognized expert in higher education policy with more than two decades of experience shaping the field. He currently serves as Urban Institute’s director of higher education policy in the Division of Work, Education, and Labor where he oversees a team of scholars advancing analysis, tools, and evidence to inform federal and state higher education policy. Since joining Urban in 2021, he has secured and led a substantial portfolio of funded projects, organized national convenings on major federal policy issues, and authored numerous influential publications on admissions, accountability, and equity.

Previously, Cook held senior leadership positions at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the American Dental Education Association, and the American Council on Education. Cook’s career began in academic advising and student affairs before moving into research and policy analysis, giving him a broad perspective on the intersection of student experience, institutional practice, and policymaking.

Cook earned his doctorate and master’s degree in higher education from the University of Michigan and his bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from Miami University (OH).