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Kim Cook

Chief Executive Officer 

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Kim Cook, NCAN's leader since 2008, has worked in the higher education and college access field for her entire professional career, including experience in undergraduate admissions and financial aid, administration of a last-dollar scholarship program, and a succession of responsibilities at NCAN. As a former Pell Grant recipient herself, she personally understands the imperative to help more Americans – especially those who have been historically underserved by higher education – get a postsecondary credential. At NCAN, she sets the vision for supporting over 500 member organizations across the country, serving an estimated 2 million students annually, in their mission to close the equity gap in postsecondary attainment through member capacity building, policy and advocacy, and systemic change.

She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of College Access, the National Student Clearinghouse Equity Hub Advisory Council, advisory board of the American University Center for Postsecondary Readiness and Success, and recently joined the board of Common App. She is often consulted to speak on federal policy issues and building college access and success collaboratives. In 2016, she was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for College Opportunity.

Prior to joining NCAN in 1999, she was a Senior Program Associate at Plan for Social Excellence, Inc., a foundation supporting innovative projects in education, and served as its Grants Manager and Scholars Program Manager. Previously, she was a college admission counselor at Pace University in New York. She holds a Master's in Public Administration from Pace University and a bachelor’s degree in communications, law, economics, and government from American University. She has completed continuing professional development through courses in Georgetown University’s Certificate in Non-Profit Management and Harvard University’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management institute.