Elease Cook

Elease Cook began the Social Work PhD program at West Virginia University in the Fall of 2024. Her research interests focus on gerontology, caregiver support, and elder care in marginalized communities. Elease's interest in the program began in 2018 when she first learned about it at the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) conference. She was drawn to WVU’s social work department for its connection to rural and community social work, as well as the hybrid nature of the program.

With a background in private practice, outpatient psychiatry, and community mental health, much of Elease’s work has centered around older adults. She witnessed the stress and lack of support that caregivers often face and felt compelled to contribute to finding solutions. A highlight of her PhD experience so far has been her involvement with the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training Program (RIBHT), where she enjoys supporting the mission of training future social workers to work in integrated care settings in rural areas. Looking ahead, Elease aims to become a professor, teaching geriatric social work to BSW and MSW students, and hopes to mentor other BIPOC students navigating higher education.

Her research interests were inspired by personal and professional experiences of working with older adults of color in rural areas in integrated behavioral health, hospice and outpatient psychiatry. She hopes to research how communities can best support older adults and their caregivers mental health and well-being, while using a holistic and ADEI lens. With her interests, she plans to teach at an R1 or R2 institution and influence marginalized social workers to pursue higher education and working with the geriatric population.