Kenneth L. Cooke
American mathematician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenneth L. Cooke (August 13, 1925 – August 25, 2007) was an American mathematical biologist known for his contributions to the study of epidemics.[1][2] He was the W. M. Keck Professor of Mathematics at Pomona College in Claremont, California.[3]
Early life and education
Cooke was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1925.[2] He enrolled at Pomona College, graduating in 1947 after serving in the Navy as a radar and radio technician during World War II.[2] He subsequently earned a doctorate in mathematics from Stanford University.[2]
Career
Cooke taught at Washington State University for seven years.[2] He then joined the Pomona faculty in 1957 and remained at the college for the rest of his career.[2] He was promoted to a named professorship in 1985.[3]
His work on epidemics involved modeling parameters under which a disease will spread or die out.[2] He studied HIV/AIDS and other contagious diseases.[2] His work also involved delay differential equations.[2]
