Vincent Cooke S.J. | |
|---|---|
| President of Canisius College | |
| In office July 1, 1993 – July 1, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | James Demske, S.J. |
| Succeeded by | John J. Hurley |
| President of John Carroll University (acting) | |
| In office 1992–1992 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 24, 1936 New York City |
| Died | June 22, 2017 Bronx, New York |
| Profession | Jesuit priest Academic administrator |
Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., (May 24, 1936 – June 22, 2017) was an American Jesuit priest, academic, and academic administrator who served as the 23rd President of Canisius College, a private Jesuit college in Buffalo, New York, from 1993 to 2010.
Father Cooke is credited with transforming Canisius College from a small school, primarily attended by commuter students, into the largest private university in western New York during his 17-year tenure.[1][2] Cooke oversaw 24 major building projects, including the construction of eight residential dormitories, the renovation of existing structures, the launch of Canisius' first comprehensive capital campaign in 2000, as well as a second campaign in 2007 which raised $66 million.[1][2] Cooke also acquired several nearby buildings to the expand the existing campus, including the former St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, which was transformed into the 515-seat Montante Cultural Center in 2000.[1]