Adrianne Ryder Cook
President of the Cook Foundation
Adrianne Ryder-Cook Joseph is a bi-national lawyer, educated in the United States, England and France. She is a member of the French bar (Paris) and the New York and Virginia Bars. She holds a doctorate in law from France (University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne), a Masters in Political Science from the Institut d’Etudes Poliiques (Paris), a Masters in Comparative Law from the University of Georgetown (Washington, DC), a Masters In Law from France (Univ. de Paris Pantheon-Sorbonne) and a J.D. from France University of Paris I1 (Assas), as well as a Bachelors in Music from CNU, Newport News.
Adrianne has lived in Virginia since 1987 and has been active in the community through her involvement with Legal Aid in Richmond, the J.L.H.R, and at Riverside Hospital. Currently she presides over the Cook Foundation and she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chrysler Museum.
Adrianne is Chairman of Great Atlantic Management, a real estate property management company located in Tidewater Virginia.
Carolyn Dudley
Vice President of the Cook Foundation
Carolyn has served on the Board for several years. Carolyn earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Science from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She worked at Norfolk Psychiatric Center as the coordinator for adolescent activities and as an art therapist at the hospital working with adolescents and adults. She was also an art therapist for Charter Colonial Hospital in Williamsburg, VA. Locally, in the community, in addition to serving on the Cook Foundation Board, Carolyn has been Treasurer of the Gloucester Montessori School, served on its Board, and even taught school there as well. She is a member of the Garden Club of Gloucester and is the current Lily Chair. Carolyn enjoys the time she spends in her private studio. She works in oils and enjoys landscape and figurative work. When not painting, you will find Carolyn working in her flowers or spending time with her husband, James, and their 4 children.
Karen Flowe
Secretary of the Cook Foundation
Karen Flowe is a veteran educator in he Middle Peninsula. She taught English at Gloucester High School for 29 years during which time she became the English department chair, fine arts department chair, and cluster leader for communication and fine arts. Karen coached the forensics team at GHS for 30 years. Following this work at the school, Karen became director of gifted education for the county schools. She now mentors first year teachers for GCPS. Karen has taught writing at Rappahannock Community College for more than 20 years. At the College of William and Mary, she serves as university supervisor for student teachers in English.
Karen received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Old Dominion University. She has earned additional endorsement in gifted education from the College of William and Mary. She was twice a fellow in programs of the National Endowment for the Humanities at Marymount University. She was also twice a fellow in the Eastern Virginia Writing Project.
Karen has offered workshops around the state and nation in subjects as varied as improving research projects delivered at the High Schools That Work conference in Atlanta, refining student writing for the Virginia Writing Project, differentiation of instruction for the American Federation of Teachers conference in Washington, and readers' theatre for the Middle Peninsula Career Switchers Conference. Karen's personal interests include writing, reading, art, antiques, and her family.
Rachel Burnette
Treasurer of the Cook Foundation
Rachel is a lifelong resident of Gloucester County. She is married to husband John and has 2 grown children. She is very active in church, civic, and service organizations and has been serving Gloucester for over 40 years in these capacities. She is a member of Salem United Methodist Church and serves on the Administrative Council. She is a member of the Salem Memorial Association and the XYZ's of Salem, Olive Branch, Locust Grove, and Mr. Zion. Rachel is a member of the Gloucester Historical Committee, Gloucester Historical Society, Friends of the Museum, the Walter Reed Garden Club, Gloucester Fair Association, and the Botetourt Belles. She also owned and taught at a private kindergarten for 14 years.
