Professor Sir Ronald Urwick Cooke, FRGS (born 1 September 1941[1]) is a Professor of geography and geomorphology who was Vice-Chancellor of the University of York from 1993 to 2002.[2]
His academic career began as a lecturer in the Department of Geography at University College London in 1961: he rose to the position of Professor in 1981 and Vice-Provost (1991–3) at the same institution.[1][2] From 1993 to 2002 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of York.[2] Cooke was appointed chair of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) in 2004.[3] He was a Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry from 2005 to 2008.[4]
He lives in York where he is active in city life, for instance in fund-raising for the restoration of York Minster, and in planning and restoration through the York Civic Trust.[5] The York Civic Trust also published his monograph Why York is Special.[6]
He was awarded the Founder's Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in 1994,[7] and was President of the RGS from 2000 to 2003.[8] In 2002, he received the Scottish Geography Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.[9] He was knighted for services to higher education in the Queen's 2002 New Year's Honours list.[10] In 2006, he was made Honorary Freeman of the City of York.[8]
The Ron Cooke Hub at the Heslington East campus of the University of York was named in his honour.
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Berrick Saul |
Vice-Chancellor, University of York 1993–2002 |
Succeeded by Brian Cantor |