Geneseo celebrates Bill Cook's 42 years of teaching

Distinguished Teaching Professor Bill Cook raises his glass in a toast at his retirement dinner on April 14 at the Big Tree Inn. Colleagues, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate his more than 40-year career at Geneseo and beyond. /PHOTO BY KEITH WALTERS '11

Distinguished Teaching Professor of History Bill Cook taught his first class as a faculty member in 1970. Since then, he has guided thousands of students in seeing the world with insightful perspective and earned a highly respected reputation as a scholar, lecturer and author across the world.
As Cook prepares to teach his final class at Geneseo next month, colleagues, Geneseo leaders and alumni from many eras whose lives have been touched by him gathered on April 14 to celebrate his lifetime of teaching.
President Christopher C. Dahl, friend and collaborator Distinguished Teaching Professor of English Ronald Herzman, with whom Cook has team-taught on campus and abroad since 1973, were among the many guests who attended the event at the Big Tree Inn.