LaWanda Cook joined the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability in July, 2010. She has extensive experience in vocational counseling, personnel management and program development within non-profit organizations. She holds a BS in Rehabilitation Services from the University of Connecticut and a MS in Human Resource Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a certified rehabilitation counselor. Ms. Cook completed a PhD from the College of Applied Health Sciences/Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois. Her research explores the well-being and the inclusion of people with disabilities in integrated work and leisure settings.