LA MIRADA, CALIF. President Clyde Cook of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, local resident of Fullerton, Calif., will step down from his position on June 30, after serving 25 years three times longer than the average university president, according to The American Council of Education.

Cook has had roots in Orange County since his high school days living in Laguna Beach, Calif., where he was named California Scholastic Federation basketball player of the year in 1953. He and his family arrived in Laguna Beach after being interned in a Japanese Concentration Camp during World War II. As a stand-out athlete, Cook received basketball scholarship offers from many universities in California, but chose to attend 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 as an undergraduate to pursue a future in ministry.

Cook was named president of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 in 1982, a year after 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 was named a university. During his presidency, he earned the respect and admiration of the 10,000 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 alumni who live in Orange County, and nearly 100,000 alumni and friends of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 around the globe.

As president, Cook transformed 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 from a small Bible-college to a leading academic institution, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a National University. He made substantial changes to 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 and emphasized marketing and fundraising. He was also a proponent of increasing 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s academic profile and added a School of Intercultural Studies, School of Professional Studies, the Crowell School of Business, and the School of Education totaling seven academic schools.

Since his presidency, 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 has nearly doubled its enrollment to 5,752 students. The campus has increased in size 20 acres and Cook added 1.1 million square-feet of new facilities including a state-of-the-art athletic field, a tennis complex, two new residence halls, new library and a new 32,000-square-foot business building.

Cook also brought the endowment of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 from almost nothing when he assumed the presidency in 1982 to $43.5 million today. By virtually all measures, 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s financial footing is stronger today than at any other time in history, said Carl Schreiber, the vice president for financial affairs and information technology at 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023.

With all the growth and change of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, Cook insisted that its founding values remain. Cook said one of his biggest achievements was maintaining 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s spiritual dynamic and not compromising it for the sake of academic responsibility.

晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 has honored their long-serving president with a variety of celebrations and farewell events, including a Smithsonian-like art gallery exhibit, open to the public, featuring pictures and artifacts documenting Cooks 50-years of being connected with the University. Included in the exhibit are portraits of Cook and his family, yearbooks from when he attended 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, awards and degrees he received all on display, the academic regalia Cook wore when he was inaugurated in 1982 and a framed copy of his inaugural address.

Dr. Charles Swindoll, founder of the Evangelical-Free Church of Fullerton where Cook and his wife have attended since 1982, honored Cook at his final commencement as 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s president on May 26. Swindoll, a best-selling author and speaker, presented President and Mrs. Cook with a special leather-bound copy of his newest book, A Life Well Lived, which he dedicated to Cook.

This month, Cook and his wife, Anna Belle, will celebrate another milestone their 50th wedding anniversary. After 50 years of marriage, 25 years of being 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s president, and with 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 about to begin its centennial celebration, Cook said, It seemed like an appropriate time to step aside.

For more information, and interviews call 562.777.4061.

晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, founded in 1908, is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a National University, which they consider the major leagues of higher education. 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 offers 145 academic programs through its six schools, ranging from the B.A. to the Ph.D. As a theologically conservative, Protestant university, 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 provides Evangelical students with biblically centered education, equipping them in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ in any professional setting. In 2003, 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 launched a new vision to be a global center for Christian thought and spiritual renewal, addressing the crucial cultural issues of our day. For more information, visit www.biola.edu.