Youndy Cook has served as vice president and general counsel at the University of Central Florida since December 2021. She leads the Office of the General Counsel in providing legal services to the entire university and its direct support organizations.
Cook joined the Office of the General Counsel in April 2002, where she served in different legal roles before being appointed interim vice president and general counsel in December 2020. Prior to joining UCF, she practiced labor and employment litigation at law firms in Tampa, Florida. Cook works with departments and units across the university on a wide variety of issues, including general advice, employment, litigation, student affairs, policies and procedures, regulations and contracts.
A Louisiana native, Cook received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law. She is active with the Florida Bar and the National Association of College and University Attorneys, presently serving on the association’s board of directors. She is certified by the Florida Bar as an education law specialist.
In addition to providing training across the university, she has spoken at various education law conferences.