Official Biography

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Dr. Olivia Janay Cook is the Founder and CEO of OVA Consulting Firm, a globally minded company founded in July 2020 and based in Birmingham, AL, which provides strategic services relevant to leadership, entrepreneurship, economic and business development, technology, and DEI for institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government entities. Over the span of her career, Dr. Cook’s leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of women in leadership and entrepreneurship through her scholarly publications, public speaking engagements, and premier grant writing skills. As a direct reflection of her impactful work, she secured the funding and led the establishment of the Miles College Women’s Business Center located in Fairfield, AL through a grant made possible by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

To celebrate her commitment to excellence, Dr. Cook has also received a number of fellowships and awards from local to international organizations such as the Auburn University Board of Trustees, Alabama Power, the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Women’s Foundation of Alabama, and The PhD Project by way of the KPMG Foundation, to name a few. Most recently, she was inducted into the 2022 Rural Leader’s Magazine Forty Under 40 Class and the Inaugural Thirty Under 30 Class for the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University where she serves as a board member of the Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB), the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI), and the Harbert College of Business’ Women in Business Advisory Board. She is also a newly appointed Advisory Board Member of the Alabama Business Center Council for Walker’s Legacy, which is a national organization headquartered in Washington, DC that promotes entrepreneurship and honors the life of the first African American female self-made millionaire, Madam CJ Walker.

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Dr. Cook, a native of Auburn, AL, and a tri-alumna of Auburn University, holds a B.S. in Polymer and Fiber Engineering, and a minor in Spanish, a MPA (Master of Public Administration), and a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Public Policy. She is also an alumna of Pennsylvania State’s 2022 Anti-Racist Leadership Academy where she developed critical leadership competencies to inform policies and practices for people of color. Beyond her industry and academic accomplishments, Dr. Cook is an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University’s Executive MPA Program, the author of For the Love of Thirty: 30 inspirational life lessons for your journey towards purpose, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. These endeavors have assisted her greatly in her work abroad, which includes international collaborations in Spanish speaking countries, Canada, Europe, and Africa.