BioScience Center of Excellence Names Assistant Director

Dr. Ellee Cook, Assistant Director of the BioScience Program

Academics

Jul 11 2024

FARIBAULT, MINN. - Approaching its 15th year of existence, the Shattuck-St. Mary’s BioScience Center of Excellence (COE) has cemented its place at the forefront of innovative secondary education within the healthcare field as it announced the appointment of Dr. Ellee Cook as the Assistant Director of the program.

Cook will assist BioScience Director Dr. Maren LaLiberty with all facets of the program, including helping to develop and grow the BioScience program through unique, exploratory opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing a health-science related career.

"With its unique coursework, opportunities for independent research, and dedicated mentorship, the BioScience Center of Excellence at SSM is truly an innovative program for students passionate about science,” said Dr. Cook. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join this program, and am so excited to begin working with students this fall!"

Dr. LaLiberty is enthusiastic about the addition of Cook. “With Dr. Cook’s combination of research expertise and teaching experience, she will bring a wealth of knowledge to multiple areas of the BioScience Program, including mentorship of student research projects, guidance for writing scientific manuscripts, and design and presentation of health-science related curriculum. We are so fortunate to have such a multi-talented individual joining the BioScience Program, and I very much look forward to working with Dr. Cook for many years!”

Cook comes to SSM after spending the last five years at Santa Fe Preparatory School in New Mexico. During her time at Santa Fe Prep, she taught Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Virology to students in grades 9-12.

Cook graduated from Trinity University with her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and then went on to earn her PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Missouri. She served as a graduate teaching and research assistant at both Duke University and the University of Missouri. While working towards her degree, she conducted field-based research in the Caribbean studying animal behavior, ecology, and endocrinology.

Cook has also served at a variety of summer institutes including at Phillips Academy and the Los Alamos National Laboratory summer physics camp. She also had a fellowship with the Klingenstein Summer Institute.

To learn more about the Shattuck-St. Mary’s BioScience Center of Excellence, please visit our website. Students interested in joining the program can express their interest by filling out an inquiry form here.