Margie M. "Margie" Cook

Margaret M. "Margie" Cook, the founding director of the LGBT Resource Center, has played all of the roles required both to establish and to sustain a new university function. Margie has been personally responsible for needs assessment, programming, support services, crisis intervention, counseling, networking, advocacy, office management, budgeting, staff supervision and even Web site development. Her Safe Zone program has become a model for other campuses, and the annual Margaret Cook Service Award (given to a student for service to PRISM) demonstrates the high regard in which she is held by university constituents. Colleagues across campus know Margie will be available to help and will give both time and personal resources to further human rights and social justice. Students, friends and co-workers know that NIU is a better place because of Margie's work, her commitment and her personal bravery.