Youndy Cook

Youndy C. Cook is Vice President and General Counsel of the University of Central Florida (UCF), where she leads the Office of the General Counsel in providing a full range of legal services to the University and its Direct Support Organizations ^[1]. She first joined the Office of the General Counsel in April 2002 and held several roles—including Associate General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Interim Vice President and General Counsel—before her appointment as Vice President and General Counsel ^[1].

Cook's practice is focused on higher-education law. She works with departments and units across the university on a wide variety of matters, including general advice, employment issues, litigation, student affairs, public records, compliance, policies and regulations, governance, and contracts ^[1]. She has been certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in education law since 2012 ^[1].

Before joining UCF, Cook practiced labor and employment litigation in Tampa, Florida ^[2]. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she has spoken on multiple occasions at education law and higher education conferences and has served on various university committees and work groups ^[1].

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 ^[1]. She is active in the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Florida Bar, where she has served on the Education Law Committee and the Corporate Counsel Committee ^[1][2].

Cook currently serves on the Board of Directors of NACUA, the principal professional association for attorneys who represent colleges and universities ^[2].

Recognition

• Board of Directors — National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) (2025) ^[3]