Clayton Cook

Clayton Cook combines academic expertise with practical experience as a licensed psychologist and former educator to advance the field of educational psychology and youth mental health. As Chief Development Officer at CharacterStrong, he develops innovative solutions for student well-being and character development. His academic career includes distinguished positions at Louisiana State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Minnesota, where he held the John W. and Nancy E. Peyton Faculty Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Well-Being. His research portfolio includes authoring over 100 peer-reviewed articles and securing more than $20 million in grant funding, focusing on youth mental health, educator well-being, and social-emotional learning. Drawing from his experience as a middle school math teacher, Cook specializes in creating practical, evidence-based interventions for school-based mental health programs. His work emphasizes promoting mental health in both young people and the adults who support them, with particular attention to resilience and life satisfaction optimization. He has established himself as a leading voice in educational consultation, delivering numerous keynote presentations nationwide and developing multitiered solutions for creating positive educational environments.