Meet Justin Cook

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Father of four.  Mayo spouse.  Soccer coach.  School volunteer.  Energetic.  Lawyer.  Problem solver.  Passionate about public education.

My wife Sara and I relocated with our four young children to Rochester 3 years ago for Sara to pursue residency training at the Mayo Clinic.  Like every family, the primary consideration for us when we made the big move was finding the best place possible to raise our kids.  When our youngest begins 5-day preschool in fall 2020, all four of our kids will be enrolled in RPS schools.  I recognize that our schools do best in partnership with engaged parents and community members.  I have enjoyed my time as a Volunteer in Education, helping with classroom reading, field trips, carnivals, and more.  I have also cherished the time I have spent as an RYSA soccer coach for my oldest child’s teams.  I have coached each season since we moved to town -- with the exception of this past spring as the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I am a product of public education.  I grew up in Davenport, Iowa, where I attended Davenport Community Schools and graduated from Davenport Central High School.  Since then I lived in Iowa City, IA and Champaign, IL before moving to Rochester.  I received a B.S. from the University of Iowa, where I studied physics and astronomy.  I then went on to law school at the University of Illinois.  I am a lawyer admitted to practice in Illinois and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and  I have practiced intellectual property law for the past ten years.  I am currently Associate General Counsel for intellectual property at the Nielsen Company, which I have done via telework for the past several years.