JOHNSON COOK, Suzan D(enise) 1957-

PERSONAL:

Born January 28, 1957, in New York, NY; daughter of Dorothy C. Johnson (an educator); married Ronald Cook (an executive in the motivational speaking field), October 11, 1991; children: Samuel David, Christopher Daniel. Ethnicity: "African American." Education: Attended University of Valencia, 1973; Emerson College, B.S. (cum laude), 1976; Columbia University, M.A., 1978; Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY, M.Div., 1983; United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH, D.Min., 1990. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Sports, politics.

ADDRESSES:

Office—P.O. Box 226, Peck Slip Station, New York, NY 10272-0226; fax: 718-537-6945. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Worked as producer and host of daily and weekly programs for WBZ-TV, Boston, MA, WPLGTV, Miami, FL, and WJLA-TV, Washington, DC, between 1977 and 1980; Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY, public relations officer and spokesperson, 1980-81; American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York, New York, NY, consultant in media ministry and church development, 1981-83; Mariners' Temple Baptist Church, New York, NY, senior pastor, 1983-96; Bronx Christian Fellowship, senior pastor and chief executive officer, 1996—. Multi-Ethnic Center, Inc., executive director, 1985—; Jonco Productions, Inc. (motivational speaking business), executive producer and chief operating officer, 1994—. American Baptist Churches of the United States of America, member of general board, 1990-94. New York Theological Seminary, adjunct professor, 1988—; Harvard University, visiting lecturer at Divinity School, 1989-91, visiting professor of homiletics, 1991-93; Renaissance Institute, Hilton Head, SC, moderator, 1995-97; Hampton University Ministers Conference, president. WWRL-Radio, guest host of The Bob Law Show, 1997—; works as guest preacher, motivational speaker, and corporate consultant. White House, Washington, DC, domestic policy analyst, 1993-94; member of President's Initiative on Race and Reconciliation, 1997-98; consultant to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. New York Police Department, chaplain, 1990; affiliated with Bronx Health and Human Services Corp., 1995-97; New York Coalition of 100 Black Women, honorary president; New York City Mission Society, director of Black Women in Ministry Project; Chinatown History Project, member of advisory board.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Named woman of the year, New Harlem Young Women's Christian Association, 1984; Woman of Conscience Award, National Council of Women, United Nations, 1989; Building Brick Award, Manhattan Urban League, 1989; President's administrative fellow, Harvard University, 1989-90; Martin Luther King Award, CBS-TV, 1995; Visionary Leaders Award, South Bronx Overall Development Corp., 1997.

WRITINGS:

(Editor) Wise Women Bearing Gifts: Joys and Struggles of Their Faith, Judson Press (Valley Forge, PA), 1988.

(With William D. Watley) Preaching in Two Voices: Sermons on the Women in Jesus' Life, Judson Press (Valley Forge, PA), 1992.

(Editor) Sister to Sister: Devotions for and from African-American Women, two volumes, Judson Press (Valley Forge, PA), 1995.

(Compiler) SisterStrength: A Collection of Devotions for and from African-American Women, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1998.

Too Blessed to Be Stressed: Words of Wisdom for Women on the Move, Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1998.

(With Sharita Hunt) A New Dating Attitude: Getting Ready for the Mate God Has for You, Zondervan Publishing House (Grand Rapids, MI), 2001.

Balancing Your Life, 2003.

Praying for the Men in Your Life, Zondervan Publishing House (Grand Rapids, MI), 2003.

Contributor to books, including Those Preachin' Women, Judson (Valley Forge, PA), 1985. Contributor to periodicals, including American Baptist Woman, Leadership, and Christianity and Crisis.

SIDELIGHTS:

Suzan D. Johnson Cook told CA: "My topics are motivated by wanting to help lift people to a new level in their lives. Self help, self care, and spiritual fitness are my primary themes.

"I write late at night and in the pre-dawn hours of the day. With two young children, I must write when they're asleep. I also enjoy the water very much. Any combination of sun and water really helps me to write. Lately I enjoy writing on airplanes. So I write whenever I'm inspired, and later I piece it all together.

"As a mom, minister, and motivational speaker, I care very much about how people are doing in the midst of all they are doing. Balance is critical, so I write out of my experience."