Top

Getting to Know: Jonathan Cook

COOKJune 22, 2022

In our newest segment, "Getting to Know," we profile recent hires at CCRI and provide an in-depth look at their role at the college, their background prior to joining our community, and how their work reflects CCRI's guiding principles. Email [email protected] to nominate a co-worker. 

As the Community College of Rhode Island’s new Assistant Director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, Jonathan Cook serves as the college’s Title IX Coordinator and ADA/504 Coordinator, ensuring employees and students alike are able to learn and work in an environment free from discrimination of any kind. In addition, Cook is responsible for CCRI’s affirmative action plan to achieve equity in hiring across underrepresented protected classes.

Cook’s years of experience in the legal field have prepared him for his new role in higher education. A Washington, D.C., native and current Newport, RI, resident, Cook is one of the most experienced Title IX and higher education attorneys in the United States. Since 2013, he has advised students and educators, both complainants and the accused, in more than 200 university disciplinary proceedings nationwide. He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

His accomplishments include numerous successful outcomes for clients in Title IX sexual misconduct proceedings at several different universities. A graduate of Radford University with a bachelor’s in Communication and Media Studies and Roger Williams University School of Law alumnus, Cook is an exceptionally well-rounded advocate who is equally skilled in independent investigations, in the university hearing room, in the appeals process, and at the negotiating table with university administrators as well as in the criminal courts.

Today, we check in with our new Assistant Director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity to find out what motivated him to work in higher education and whether or not he believes the work being done by coordinators like himself is making an impact on reducing the number of incidents at colleges nationwide.

You’ve been a Title IX and higher education attorney for nearly a decade. How did you develop a passion for this specific field?

When I first began practicing law in Washington, D.C., I was primarily working on whistle blower actions pursuant to the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act, criminal law, high profile white-collar crime, and served as outside general counsel for a charter school in D.C. Shortly after I started, my managing partner, CNN Legal Analyst Shan Wu, began to receive requests for representation in campus sexual assault investigations and hearings from both complainants and the accused.

As we started taking on clients involved in campus disciplinary proceedings it became clear that the investigators’ and decision-maker(s)’ lack of legal training was having a chilling effect on the rights of all parties to have a prompt, fair, and impartial process. With little to no evidentiary safeguards, cases could be won and lost based solely on unreliable hearsay, the admission of irrelevant and prejudicial evidence, and rampant confirmation bias among appellate reviewers. With so much at stake, including life and future-altering findings of guilt, a Title IX sexual misconduct outcome can be just as devastating as a criminal conviction.

The free-for-all approach was at times gut-wrenchingly unjust and I became more determined than ever to fight for students and professors facing the often complex and confusing Title IX disciplinary procedures. Our student rights practice exploded and I represented hundreds of clients in less than five years-- securing successful outcomes for students and professors on campuses across the country from UVA, Yale and Georgetown to Stanford and the University of Chicago, as well as Oxford and institutions in Canada.

In addition to Title IX sexual assault, I also handled domestic violence and stalking cases. Aside from gender related discrimination cases, I handled discrimination cases based on race and age, plagiarism at the doctoral level, and drug and alcohol cases.  My passion grew with each “win” because I was truly felt like I was protecting and saving people’s futures.

What motivated you to work in higher education after spending many years in private practice?

I decided that to make real change, I would need to oversee the discrimination resolution process, including Title IX, rather than advocate for one party going through it. When the opportunity presented itself to make positive change by implementing affirmative action polices and to ensure Title IX and other discrimination complaints were solved equitably, I jumped at the opportunity.

Studies show there has been a decrease in unwanted sexual contact and an increase in student awareness of sexual misconduct resources since 2017. Has some of that been related to the pandemic, or do you think it speaks to the work being done by people like yourself in this area of expertise?

I would have to read the studies, but I think it’s generally difficult to trust studies on the frequency of unwanted sexual contact because sexual assaults are often unreported.

I actually saw a massive increase in complaints of sexual assault in 2017, corresponding with the “Me Too” movement, which took off in the wake of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers coming out publicly paired with Time Magazine awarding Person of the Year to the women who spoke up against sexual abuse, dubbing them “The silence breakers”. I did not witness any slow-down at all in campus sexual assault cases until COVID.

I do believe student awareness of sexual misconduct resources has steadily increased in the wake of President Obama’s 2011 Dear Colleague Letter and as a by-product of a renewed focus on sexual harassment, but any substantial decrease that I could see as an on-the-ground practitioner was not until COVID, which was expected given schools, dorms and many off-campus apartments were empty.

Share this story

Latest News

CCRI Launches Free Ophthalmic Technician Training Program

CCRI Launches Free Ophthalmic Technician Training Program

April 23, 2025

Warwick, R.I. – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce the launch of a new Ophthalmic Technician training program through its Division of Workforce Partnerships. This 120-hour program, beginning in May 2025, is free of charge and designed to prepare participants for immediate employment in a fast-growing healthcare field.

Read More

CCRI Foundation Elects Four New Members to its Board of Trustees

CCRI Foundation Elects Four New Members to its Board of Trustees

April 23, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Foundation has appointed four new members to its Board of Trustees. We are honored to welcome these four distinguished leaders to the CCRI Foundation,” said Rosemary Costigan, Ph.D, RN, Interim President of CCRI. “Their diverse backgrounds, deep ties to the community, and shared dedication will support us in advancing the college’s mission of access, equity and opportunity.

Read More

CCRI and Rhode Island Energy partner to launch free utilities career exploration program

CCRI and Rhode Island Energy partner to launch free utilities career exploration program

April 17, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Energy are teaming up to offer a free exploratory program designed to give participants a window into the growing utilities industry.

Introduction to Utilities – free to anyone who meets eligibility requirements through funding from Rhode Island Energy – is a seven-hour introductory course that provides participants with foundational skills and knowledge to explore career pathways within the utilities sector, specifically with Rhode Island Energy.

Read More

Four CCRI Faculty Honored with NISOD Awards of Excellence

Four CCRI Faculty Honored with NISOD Awards of Excellence

April 10, 2025

Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announces that four distinguished faculty members have been recognized with the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards. The recipients, honored for their exceptional dedication to student success and academic excellence

Read More

CCRI Achieves Gold Status as Military Friendly® School

CCRI Achieves Gold Status as Military Friendly® School

April 10, 2025

Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce that it has been designated a Military Friendly® School for the fourth consecutive year, achieving Gold status for the first time during the 2025–2026 academic year. This prestigious recognition underscores CCRI's unwavering commitment to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families.​

Read More

CCRI Celebrates First Cohort of MC3 Graduates, Expands Apprenticeship Readiness Program to Providence and Newport Campuses

CCRI Celebrates First Cohort of MC3 Graduates, Expands Apprenticeship Readiness Program to Providence and Newport Campuses

April 08, 2025

WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly celebrates the graduation of its first cohort of the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Apprenticeship Readiness Program, marking a significant milestone in the college’s commitment to expanding career pathways in the skilled trades. The graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, April 3, at 3:30 p.m. at CCRI’s Warwick Campus.

Read More

CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic to Host Free Sealant and Fluoride Community Day for Children & Teens

CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic to Host Free Sealant and Fluoride Community Day for Children & Teens

March 31, 2025

The CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic’s upcoming Sealant and Fluoride Community Day on Friday, April 25, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Lincoln Campus will provide free dental sealants and fluoride treatments for children and teens ages 6 to 17. The event will be led by CCRI’s dental hygiene students, who will provide preventative care under the supervision of licensed professionals.

Read More

Lucas Johnson Named Rhode Island's 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar

Lucas Johnson Named Rhode Island's 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar

March 17, 2025

Warwick, RI- Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) student and Warwick resident, Lucas Johnson, has been named a 2025 New Century Transfer Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship.

Read More

Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship

Governor McKee, CCRI Announces Launch of Associate Degree in Culinary Craftsmanship

March 07, 2025

NEWPORT, RI – Governor Dan McKee and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) today announced the launch of an associate in arts degree in Culinary Craftsmanship on CCRI’s Newport Campus in fall 2025. To support this initiative, Governor McKee is proposing $850,000 to create a Culinary and Hospitality hub at CCRI’s Newport Campus. The hub will serve as a state-of-the-art learning environment designed to meet the growing demand for skilled culinary professionals in Rhode Island’s workforce.

Read More

CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare

CCRI Metallica Scholars: Forging Paths to Success in Healthcare

March 05, 2025

For students like Esther Duran, of Providence, Wanda Wrobleski, of Cumberland, and Richard Garcia, of Providence, the journey to a fulfilling career in healthcare has been transformed thanks to the Community College of Rhode Island and the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Funded by a $75,000 grant from the legendary rock band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, this initiative provides financial support to students enrolled in CCRI’s Medical Assistant and Patient Support Specialist workforce training programs—helping to alleviate financial burdens and empower students to focus on their education and career goals.

Read More

CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament

CCRI Women's Basketball Team Punches Ticket to National Tournament

March 05, 2025

Warwick, RI- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Women’s Basketball teamshowcased their dominance once again in the NJCAA Region XXI Conference, securing the regional title for the fourth year in a row and, punching their ticket to the National Tournament.

Read More

CCRI Players Present Stephen Sondheim's Assassins

CCRI Players Present Stephen Sondheim's Assassins

March 04, 2025

WARWICK, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Players continue their 2024–25 season with a bold and thought-provoking production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, running March 6–9 at the Bobby Hackett Theatre on CCRI's Knight Campus.

Read More

CCRI Players Celebrate 50 Years of Excellence

CCRI Players Celebrate 50 Years of Excellence

February 14, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island's (CCRI) student-run theatre group, the CCRI Players, proudly marks half a century of participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 1, held this year at Central Connecticut State University. Over the five-day event, the Players distinguished themselves by securing 10 awards across various disciplines, including acting and properties design.

Read More

Black History Month

Black History Month

February 10, 2025

February marks  Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans in this country; a time to acknowledge the lasting achievements of the people of the African diaspora who have shaped American history; and a time to walk alongside today’s Black leaders as they lead the work to create a truly anti-racist, inclusive community for all.

Read More

Fall 2024 Dean's List

Fall 2024 Dean's List

January 08, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Fall 2024 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.

Read More

Upcoming Events
Jan.
1

English Language Studies (ELS) - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Driver Ed for Teens - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR Courses - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Maritime Electric Boat Programs - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Westerly Education Center (WEC)

Jan.
1

Fast Track to CNC Manufacturing - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Liston Campus

Jan.
1

Teacher Assistant - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Motorcycle Rider Education - Ongoing Seasonal

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Para-Pro Review Classes and Testing - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Jan.
1

Bridge Program - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Liston Campus

Jan.
1

Global Wind Organization - Basic Safety Training - Ongoing

January 1, 2025 All Day

Flanagan Campus