07/17/2025
When Greg Cook ’72 P’07 came to Pomona from Evanston, Illinois, as a “flatlander”, he never imagined a simple hiking trip to the San Gabriel mountains with his head sponsor, David Smith ’70, would change the course of his life. After a Grand Canyon trek during his sophomore year, the wilderness became his lifelong passion.
After graduating, Greg spent years climbing mountains and exploring the great outdoors across the U.S. and Canadian West. In the summer of 1977, just before finishing law school at the University of Oregon, he worked as a law enforcement officer for the Alaska Division of Fish and Wildlife Protection and fell in love with the state. He settled in Alaska in 1978, eventually building a career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and running his own law practice focused on wildlife and public lands law.
His passion for adventure took him beyond Alaska — with treks through the Himalayas and the Andes Mountains to the Arctic Circle and the Alps.
Years later, Greg was proud to see his daughter, Corinna J. Cook ’07, follow in his footsteps and attend Pomona College too.
A loyal donor since 1972, he gives back to ensure future Sagehens can experience the same life-changing adventures. His support for the Outdoor Education Center of Pomona College (OEC) is a tribute to the trails that shaped him.
“Pomona gave me a great start at the intellectual life,” says Greg, “and I really believe in what the College Gates say about bearing our added riches in trust for humankind.”
