Rene Cook, left, and Jonathon Modica earned doctoral degrees in higher education this spring. Photo courtesy of athletic department
Rene Cook, co-coach of the Arkansas women’s gymnastics team, and Jonathon Modica, a former Razorback basketball player, each earned doctoral degrees in higher education this spring from the College of Education and Health Professions.
Cook wrote her dissertation about the gymnastics program being added to UA athletics. She and her husband, co-coach Mark Cook, built the program after they arrived on campus in 2001.
The Cooks have taken the Arkansas program to seven consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, four trips to the NCAA Championship in eight years, including four in the last five seasons, one trip to the NCAA Super Six, one NCAA regional title, and helped produce 21 All-America selections and 10 NCAA individual event participants.
Modica wrote his dissertation on the perceptions of career advancement of African American research university faculty. His dissertation committee was made up of G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the university, Charles Robinson, vice provost for diversity, Michael T. Miller, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Education and Health Professions, and Kenda Grover, clinical assistant professor of workforce development. The dissertation was recognized with an award from the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education.
A native of Smackover, Modica played four seasons as a guard with the Razorbacks. He was a two-time All-SEC player and ranks 12th on Arkansas’ all-time scoring charts with 1,589 points.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2007 and a master’s degree in journalism in 2008. He has served as a graduate assistant in the Multicultural Center for several years.
Modica was recently hired as assistant director of development for university programs in the University of Arkansas office of university development.
