Mantra Health Welcomes Student Affairs Leadership Council Member and Talks Student Wellness with Les Cook, EdD
- Heather Harman
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
Mantra Health welcomes Les Cook, EdD, Chancellor Emeritus at Montana Technological University, to Student Affairs Leadership Council.
Mantra Health is proud to announce Les Cook, EdD, as the newest new member of our Student Affairs Leadership Council, a strategic advisory group dedicated to advancing Mantra Health’s mission of providing high-quality mental health services to college students nationwide.
With nearly four decades of experience in student affairs and higher education, Dr. Cook has devoted his career to advancing student success and institutional effectiveness. As Chancellor Emeritus at Montana Technological University – and throughout his tenure in higher education – he has developed, managed, and reimagined programs that strengthen retention while fostering a deeper sense of belonging and purpose across the student journey.
Students have always been at the center of Dr. Cook’s work. In addition to the Council, Dr. Cook has taken on leadership positions at organizations such as NASPA, NODA, the LeaderShape Institute, and Frontier Athletic Conference of the NAIA, all in an effort to stay connected to the campus community and continue to invest in student engagement and well-being. His ongoing mission is to see students be successful and help them figure out things during their college experience so they can live long and incredibly fulfilling lives.
Get to know Dr. Cook, a lifelong advocate of student mental health and well-being.
Q: What keeps you invested in this work?
During my time as Chancellor at Montana Tech—and throughout my career—I’ve developed, managed, and reimagined programs that not only support retention but foster a sense of belonging and purpose across the student journey.
At the heart of this work has always been a guiding belief: to make a difference in the lives of those who will make a difference in the lives of others. This philosophy applies just as meaningfully when working with a first-year student as it does when advising a senior leadership team. Retention isn’t a metric – it’s the outcome of intentional, human-centered strategies that prioritize connection, relevance, and well-being.
Q: What’s your hope for the future of student mental health?
Society as a whole has become far more health-conscious, yet many people, including students, struggle to prioritize wellness in their busy lives. The common refrain, “I don’t have time to work out,” often reflects a lack of structure rather than a lack of commitment. By intentionally carving out time, even just 1.5 hours in a week and integrating wellness into daily routines, I believe students can make it a sustainable lifestyle choice.
Campuses and institutions can play a crucial role in supporting the shift to better health and well-being by helping students and communities develop habits that promote both personal and collective well-being. When individuals prioritize their health, they not only feel better about themselves but also become more engaged citizens and more invested in their communities, their work, and their families. Wellness contributes to a fuller, more balanced life and can even enrich the ways students engage with the community and the world around them.
These conversations tie closely to broader discussions about liberal and general education. What are the essential skills students need to thrive? Beyond academic knowledge, critical life skills – including health and wellness literacy – are fundamental. Equipping students with the tools to understand and manage their well-being is as important as preparing them intellectually.
Q: What do you believe is Mantra Health’s role in shaping the future of student mental health and well-being?
It’s rare to find a campus where student success isn’t central to the mission, strategic plan, or institutional goals. This was certainly true during my time at both Montana Tech and Michigan Tech and remains a guiding principle across higher education. Mantra Health’s Whole Campus Care model offers a timely and compelling opportunity to demonstrate how mental health and well-being are foundational to that success.
We know students thrive when they have access to a full continuum of care, from clinical services and coaching to peer support and proactive wellness programming. Faculty and staff, too, are more effective when they know crisis response and critical incident support are available 24/7. Mantra makes this possible through a coordinated, campus-wide approach that ensures students are supported wherever they are, whenever they need it. This should be – and truly is – a big deal. What sets Mantra apart is not only access, but insight. Through actionable data, institutions can see what’s working, identify gaps, and make informed decisions that enhance outcomes. The potential for cross-campus collaboration is immense, all centered on one priority: the student.
We’re thrilled to collaborate with Dr. Cook, who, in addition to his latest role as Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Montana Tech, held prominent positions in student affairs, orientation, recruitment, and admissions at Michigan Technological University, University of the Pacific, University of Utah, and Salt Lake Community College.
Learn more about the Council and its members here.
Read the original story in full here.