Dr. Cook has chaired and participated in national conservation committees and panels; led multiple international consortia and communities of practice; was President of a national museum association (Natural Science Collections Alliance); and served on the National Academy of Sciences panel that reviewed US biocollection infrastructure. Over nearly 40 years, his international field research projects and molecular genetic studies have trained students to understand the evolutionary history, diversity, and conservation status of mammals in the American Southwest, at high latitudes on the Tongass National Forest-Alaska, and in Latin America, including Fulbright Fellowships in Ecuador and Uruguay. Those efforts integrated 45 graduate and >200 undergraduate students into research and outreach projects that often engage local communities, resource managers, public health agencies, scientists, artists, and educators.

"As a recently appointed Distinguished Professor of Biology at UNM, I would simply re-emphasize that this honor, in my case, should be viewed as recognition of the many fascinating students and colleagues from diverse backgrounds and perspectives who have collaborated with us over many years to begin to realize the promise and potential of higher education in the enchanted and incomparable state of New Mexico."

Congratulations and thank you, Dr. Cook for your outstanding contributions.