{"id":173,"date":"2025-03-16T00:52:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T00:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.odu.edu\/odupresentationtemplate\/?page_id=173"},"modified":"2025-04-28T11:37:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T11:37:36","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/ccook-posley\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"RECOGNITION AND PRESENTATIONS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ODU honored and distinguished Cheryl in a feature article within Monarch Magazine which in this article highlights her accomplishments and strides as a community activist and student<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dynamic Disrupter<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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https:\/\/www.odu.edu\/monarch-magazine<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 May 19, 2024 By Philip Walzer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her strong New England accent, the Rev. Cheryl Cook-Posley describes her mission with a passion fueled by her doctoral degree in theology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to achieve dignity, hope and joy for people \u2014 and not just in an idealistic way,\u201d said Cook-Posley, who in October 2023 was appointed national director of movement building for the Children\u2019s Defense Fund, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want Black and Brown children, particularly those who are most impoverished, to thrive, whether it\u2019s feeling safe at school or getting the right medical care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook-Posley is also working on her second doctorate \u2013 in instructional design and technology \u2013 from Old Dominion University\u2019s Darden College of Education and Professional Studies. \u201cI want to look at how education can impact some of the social challenges that we are experiencing, and how we can do a better job creating culturally responsive pedagogy that engages all people equitably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She describes her job as her \u201cdream role,\u201d adding, \u201cMy passion has always been children, youth and families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As national director of movement building, Cook-Posley said, \u201cI\u2019m coaching leaders in our state offices to help advance platforms in our seven policy zones,\u201d which include children\u2019s health, education, poverty reduction and early learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Cook-Posley\u2019s previous role as chief impact officer of United Community, a nonprofit in Alexandria, Virginia, she saw herself as a \u201cchange agent,\u201d encouraging citizens to \u201cactivate their power\u201d and work with government to improve playgrounds, increase safety and reduce the digital divide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her wide-ranging career has taken her from the National Civic League, where she was director of federal and community partnerships, to the U.S. State Department, where she evaluated the Fulbright fellowship and other cultural exchange programs. Cook-Posley also worked at the University of Virginia, where she assessed pre-kindergartners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about keeping children in the center of everything,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to unleash joy for children, and we want to make sure that those who are charged with taking care of them have the supports that they need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook-Posley serves as associate minister of Shiloh Baptist Church of Odricks Corner in McLean. She received her theology degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. Her doctoral dissertation led to the creation of Hamlets of Hope, a collective of six social action ministries at faith institutions in Virginia and Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt educates members to move from the stained glass of the sanctuary to the streets,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s great to have a homily, but there are hurting people on the outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook-Posley began the ODU program in 2022. She\u2019s found \u201camazing thought leaders and intellectual disrupters,\u201d including John Baaki, associate professor of instructional design and technology, and Brett Cook-Snell, senior lecturer of educational foundations and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re looking at the design process and asking: Is it inclusive? Is it accessible?\u2019 They\u2019re leaning in, asking questions and challenging the academy as well as practitioners to apply a racial justice, equity, inclusion and accessibility lens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baaki, who is also the graduate program director, said, \u201cWhat Cheryl does so well is jump from the big picture, which can be overwhelming \u2013 understanding all of the political, economic and social issues \u2013 and zero in on the actual intervention that we can use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cook-Posley is leading one of seven teams designing learning experiences to revive the language of the Lenape Nation in Pennsylvania, Baaki said. \u201cShe\u2019s so open to learning and challenging herself. She embraces the uncertainty that goes with design. She allows herself a transformative experience. Her enthusiasm is contagious with her peers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in Northern Virginia, Cook-Posley is an online student through ODUGlobal. \u201cIt\u2019s stretching me in a way that I\u2019ve never been stretched,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to make sure I stay organized enough to self-regulate to do the work to maintain a 4.0 average.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love the fact that ODU is one of the leaders in this online learning space,\u201d she said. \u201cHere\u2019s an institution that can rest on their laurels, but they chose to continue to evolve. That\u2019s who I am. I want to continue to be a dynamic disrupter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AWARDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

(2009) Award-Vernon Johns Preaching Prize, Howard University School of Divinity, Washington, DC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2006) Award-American Staffing Association \u2013 National Contractor of the Year Award, Las Vegas, Nevada <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cheryl Cook<\/a><\/blockquote>