Bryan Cook

Bryan J. Cook is director of higher education policy in the Work, Education, and Labor Division at the Urban Institute. He is a nationally recognized expert in higher education policy with more than two decades of experience shaping the field. Since joining Urban in 2021, he has secured and led a substantial portfolio of funded projects, organized a national convening on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the use of race in college admissions, and authored influential publications on admissions, accountability, and equity.

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