Suzan Johnson Cook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Suzan Cook
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| 3rd United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom | |
| In office April 2011 – October 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | John Hanford |
| Succeeded by | David Saperstein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 28, 1957 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Emerson College (BA) Columbia University (MEd) Union Theological Seminary (M.Div., DDiv) |
Suzan Denise Johnson Cook (born January 28, 1957) is an important American leader. She has been an advisor to presidents, a pastor, a writer, and a teacher. From 2011 to 2013, she served as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. This means she worked for the U.S. government to protect people's right to practice their religion around the world.
Suzan Johnson Cook has held many different roles. She advised President Bill Clinton and worked with the Secretary of Housing. She was also a dean and professor at Harvard University. She taught theology and served as a pastor in several churches. She even produced television shows and wrote many books. She was the first woman to be a senior pastor at Mariners Temple Baptist Church in New York City. She was also a close friend of Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr..
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Early Life and Education
Suzan Johnson Cook grew up in the Bronx, New York. She was the younger of two children. Her father was one of the first Black trolley drivers in New York City. Later, he started his own security company. Her mother was a public school teacher in Harlem.
Both Suzan and her older brother were very smart. They skipped grades in school. Her brother later went to Dartmouth College. Suzan attended Riverdale Country Day School. She finished high school at age sixteen. She first went to Fisk University and then transferred to Emerson College. She graduated in 1976 with a degree in speech. After that, she earned a master's degree in educational technology from Columbia University. She also got early experience in politics by helping her brother win a seat in the New York State Assembly.
Later, she earned another master's degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1983. She also received a special doctorate degree in ministry in 1990. She also studied business at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.
Career Highlights
Starting Her Career
After college, Suzan Johnson Cook started working in television. She was a producer for news channels in Boston, Washington, and Miami. Then, she decided to become a minister. She was ordained as a minister in 1982. From 1983 to 1996, she was the senior pastor at the Mariners Temple Baptist Church.
She made history as the first woman to be a senior pastor in the 200-year history of the American Baptist Churches USA. In 2002, she became the first woman elected president of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference. This conference represents many historically African-American church groups. Suzan Johnson Cook also became the official chaplain for the New York City Police Department. She held this important role for twenty-one years. She was the first and only woman to ever hold this position.
In 1996, Johnson Cook started the Bronx Christian Fellowship Baptist Church. She was its pastor until 2010. She also created several non-profit groups. These groups help people and work for good causes. One of them was the Multi-Ethnic Center Inc. She also started Moving Up Productions, a company focused on communication and leadership. She taught at New York Theological Seminary from 1996 to 1998. She also taught at Harvard University, where she was a dean and a professor of speech and communication.
Suzan Johnson Cook was the goddaughter of Coretta Scott King, who was married to Martin Luther King Jr.. They became very close friends. Johnson Cook even led the funeral service for Coretta Scott King. In 2013, she became an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. This happened during their 100th-anniversary celebration.
Working in Politics
In 1993, Suzan Johnson Cook was chosen as a White House Fellow. This is a special program for young leaders. After that, she became an advisor to President Bill Clinton. She helped him with many issues related to life in America. She was part of the Domestic Policy Council. She also helped with President Clinton's One America Initiative. After advising the president, she worked as a consultant for the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1994 to 1997.
In 2016, she ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress. She wanted to represent New York's 13th congressional district. However, she did not win the election.
Diplomatic Role
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On June 15, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated her for a very important job. She was chosen to be the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. This role is part of the U.S. State Department. It means she would work to protect religious freedom around the world. Her nomination was delayed, but she was confirmed on April 14, 2011. She officially started her work on May 16, 2011.
Suzan Johnson Cook was the first woman and the first African-American person to hold this position. She traveled to many countries to discuss religious freedom. She resigned from her role in October 2013. She wanted to earn more money in the private sector. Her goal was to help her sons pay for college without having to take out loans.
Personal Life
Suzan Johnson Cook lives in New York. She is married to Ronald, and they have two sons.
Selected Books
