Jack R. Cole, PhD, dies; was visionary leader and lifelong advocate for pharmacy education

Jack R. Cole, PhD, dean emeritus, esteemed professor and one of the most influential figures in the history of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, passed away Aug. 2. With a career spanning six decades, Cole leaves behind a remarkable legacy of scholarship, leadership and service that forever transformed the college and elevated the practice of pharmacy at the University of Arizona.

Born in Milwaukee, Cole’s path to becoming a foundational figure at the University of Arizona began when he earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Coit College of Pharmacy in 1953. After receiving his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1957, he returned to Tucson to join the U of A faculty, marking the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the institution he so deeply shaped.

Cole served as an assistant professor, associate professor and, eventually, professor of medicinal chemistry. By 1975, he was appointed head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His teaching and research interests encompassed medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics.

In 1977, Cole became the first alumnus to be appointed dean of the college, a role he held until 1990. His deanship marked a transformative era for the college, specifically championing the construction of a new College of Pharmacy building. With relentless advocacy and strategic vision, he secured a $1 million gift from the Skaggs Companies, the largest corporate donation in the university’s history at that time, paving the way for the building that the college continues to occupy today.

Cole’s impact was equally profound in advancing research and academic programs. Under his leadership, federal research funding at the college quadrupled from 1978 to 1979, and the Doctor of Pharmacy program was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in 1981. He was instrumental in launching the graduate program in medicinal chemistry as well as foundational programs in clinical pharmacy, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and hospital pharmacy. His contributions laid the groundwork for the college’s national reputation for academic and research excellence.

His influence extended beyond the college. Cole served the university in several senior administrative roles, including vice provost, provost and, ultimately, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost from 1990 to 1992. In these capacities, he oversaw academic programming across 10 colleges and multiple research and policy centers, directing strategic planning, faculty development, diversity initiatives and a major overhaul of the university’s general education program.

From 1992 to 1994, Cole served as director of graduate education, research and scholarship at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in Washington, D.C., before returning to the College of Pharmacy, where he remained an active mentor and educator well into retirement. In 1994, he was named dean emeritus and continued to teach, advise and inspire future generations of pharmacy leaders.

In 1992, the college established the Jack R. Cole, PhD, Distinguished Alumnus Award, a tribute to his enduring influence and dedication. This award has become one of the college’s highest honors, recognizing alumni who exemplify Cole’s legacy of leadership, service and impact on the profession.

Throughout his career, Cole was a model of integrity, curiosity and humility. Known for his unwavering support of students, he often described his most important role as being “a representative of the students, someone to whom they can turn if they have any problems.” That philosophy defined his leadership style — one of compassion and accessibility and deeply rooted in a belief in the potential of others.

Cole received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 1983, and he held leadership roles in multiple professional organizations. Yet it is perhaps the community of students, faculty, alumni and health care professionals he cultivated that best reflects the breadth of his influence.

Cole is survived by his wife, Joan; their children, Deborah, Catherine and David; and his grandson, Hunter. His family, like many of the students and colleagues he mentored, was an integral part of his journey and shared in his lifelong commitment to education and service.

The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy will forever recognize Cole's contributions as a scholar, builder and mentor whose influence continues to shape the lives of thousands. His legacy endures in every corner of the college he helped build and in every mind he helped inspire.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Jack R. Cole Scholarship for the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona Foundation. 

The original version of this story, with photos, is on the Coit College of Pharmacy website.