Joy Cook, is a mother, a mogul, and a media maven. Born in Hollywood, California destined to be a star but her parents had other plans. Raised in the Bull City, Joy is the middle child of three children and was educated in Durham
Joy Cook, is a mother, a mogul, and a media maven. Born in Hollywood, California destined to be a star but her parents had other plans. Raised in the Bull City, Joy is the middle child of three children and was educated in Durham County Schools. As a member of the first graduating class to go 9th grade through 12th at Riverside High School, Joy is proud of growing up on Tobacco Road. Growing up in the legendary, “Old Farm” neighborhood, Joy attributes her success to her upbringing and parents who were an attorney and teacher.
A two-time graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Thread at Yale graduate, she also serves on numerous boards and commissions. Joy currently serves as Chief Communications Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for strategic communication at Fayetteville State University, a public Historically Black University founded in 1867 and the second oldest in the University of North Carolina System.
Cook is an experienced public and media relations professional, entrepreneur, and consultant highly skilled in building relationships, fostering engagement and impactful storytelling across traditional and emerging platforms.
A leading professional in navigating the intersection between traditional and digital media platforms, Cook has embraced and mastered the art of social media as an effective and real-time marketing tool. Affectionately titled “Ms. Twitter” by the front page of a popular publication, she has positioned herself as one of the nation's top authorities on Twitter (@JoyCookPR) and stays abreast of current and emerging mediums poised to make an impact. Joy is the author of multiple best-selling books, “Watch the Company You Tweet: A 4 Step Guide on How to Make an Impact on Twitter.”
Since assuming her position, Cook has built a team of
strategic communications, executive communications, media relations, campus news, photo/video production, writing, marketing, administrative and project management professionals to advance and promote the reputation of FSU through messaging, storytelling, earned media, and community engagement.
Since taking the helm as the university’s chief communications officer, Cook has revamped and streamlined the institution’s digital presentation of news items, increased its visibility throughout the community, deepened connections with various local and regional media and communications partners and secured storylines for the university with major publications such as The Washington Post and Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
To that end, Cook develops and oversees the execution of strategic communications plans, messaging platforms, and content strategies that effectively reach and engage target audiences.
Cook has some of her most recent projects include productions where she was executive producer.
A veteran strategist, Cook has more than 20 years’ experience and training in public and media relations, publicity, and digital engagement. In 2010, she founded Joy Cook Public Relations Group (JCPR) where she serves as the CEO and lead strategist.
Cook has successfully mastered and is reimagining the multifaceted world of communications, while serving as a mentor and educator for the next generation.
Blazing trails and venturing into uncharted territories, Cook expertly guides clients from all professions to next level successes.
Many of those clients have been featured on international platforms and made history as a direct result of her strategies and knowledge of effectively communicating in a noisy world.
Cook has facilitated media training programs for elected officials as well as C-suite and executive level professionals.
In 2013, Cook was named one of the Business Journal's “40 Leaders Under 40” Award Winners. She and JCPR Group have been recognized with myriad accolades over the past decade.
Cook and her clients have been featured on: HLN, CSPAN, BBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC, ESSENCE Magazine Online, NPR and other local, national, and international platforms.
As the landscape of communications and relationship building grows and changes, Cook remains a frontrunner and leading authority for exceptional delivery with impactful and proven results.