Family, Faith, and Landscape Architecture: Caye Cook’s gift to MSU  

As a young girl, Caye Cook often followed her father, Leland Cook, as he worked in their backyard. She watched as he shaped the land with the precision of an engineer and an artist. She carried his tools, dug in the dirt alongside him, and observed as he transformed their outdoor space into a peaceful, Japanese-inspired garden. Back then, she wondered at the intentionality of his work.   

Her father’s answer stayed with her for life: “We must be intentional because we don’t own anything, Caye. We are God’s stewards and responsible for the well-being of everything He has given us.”   

That philosophy of stewardship, responsibility and respect for the land became the foundation of Cook’s life’s work. Now an accomplished landscape architect, a former Southern Living contributor, and the owner of a successful woman-owned firm, Cook ensures her family’s values live on through the Caye Cook Endowed and Annual Scholarships in Landscape Architecture at Mississippi State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.   

This scholarship, established in memory of her parents, Leland and Mary Agnes Cook, both MSU graduates, reflects Cook’s profound gratitude for the lessons they instilled in her.   

“My parents were part of what people call ‘the greatest generation.’ They grew up in the Depression and came of age during World War II. That shaped their values of hard work, integrity, and giving back. Their example is a huge part of why I wanted to create this scholarship,” Cook said.   

Cook’s ties to MSU run deep. Inspired by her father’s love for nature and design, she chose to study landscape architecture at Mississippi State, joining her twin brother, Steve, as a Bulldog. Her father, a civil engineer and founder of Cook Coggin Engineers, introduced her to the importance of planning and design, while her mother, a librarian and educator, reinforced the power of learning.   

“My dad would take us for walks in the woods and teach us about every tree and plant. He was also an incredible gardener who knew what was edible and what wasn’t. Not many people in Mississippi were designing their backyards like a Japanese garden, but my dad was,” she recalled.   

After graduating, Cook worked for the MSU Extension Service, designing parks for small communities and using satellite data to monitor land use changes across the state. Then, she moved to Dallas to further study the Bible while working part-time at a multi-disciplinary design firm. This led to full-time work, but she was laid off when a building recession hit. Her attempt to find ministry work failed. However, her sister and brother-in-law, Lee and John Bryson, encouraged her to take a leap of faith to start her own firm.  

“They believed in me before I believed in myself. That kind of encouragement made all the difference in the world,” Cook said.   

With their support, she founded Caye Cook & Associates, a firm specializing in sustainable environments. Her career flourished as she transitioned from residential design to public projects and developed projects that seamlessly blended form and function.   

Throughout her career, Cook’s faith has guided her decisions, including her choice to establish this scholarship.   

“God is the best landscape architect I know, and I try to model His ways of doing things in my landscape design. Financially, if God gives you money, it’s not yours—it’s His. So, I wanted to use His money to help others,” she said. 

The Caye Cook Endowed and Annual Scholarships in Landscape Architecture will support MSU’s landscape architecture program students. The scholarship emphasizes encouraging more young people from the Southeast to enter the field.   

“I want young people to step into this field with confidence. Landscape architecture is about creating spaces that are refreshing and enjoyable and work for people and the environment. It’s important for landscape architecture graduates from MSU to add their perspectives to that work,” she said.   

By funding these scholarships during her lifetime, Cook builds relationships with the students it supports, offering guidance, mentorship and financial assistance.   

“I realized I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to see the impact now so I could get to know and encourage these students,” she said.   

Through this endowed scholarship, Cook ensures that her parents’ legacy, her faith, and her passion for landscape architecture will continue to help others and showcase the strength and kindness of the Bulldog community.   

“At Mississippi State, we are a family. We have a lot of fun together, endure challenging classes, grow up together, and forge lifelong friendships. That sense of community doesn’t end after graduation—we take care of those who follow us.”