Dr. Cox is a past president of the Southern Risk and Insurance Association. He currently serves as president-elect of the American Risk and Insurance Association and he has been a vice president and director of the Academy of Financial Services. His research has been published in the Journal of Risk and Insurance, Risk Management and Insurance Review, Journal of Insurance Issues, Insurance: Mathematics and Economics, and Financial Services Review. Dr. Cox’s articles have been recognized with the Journal of Risk and Insurance (JRI) Award for Best Feature Article (1988), the JRI Award for Best Shorter Article (1991), and the Kemper Award for Best Perspectives Article published in Risk Management and Insurance Review (2000). He serves as an Associate Editor for Risk Management and Insurance Review and Financial Services Review and is a frequent reviewer for other scholarly journals.

 Since Dr. Cox's arrival, the number of Insurance and Risk Management majors at Ole Miss has more than quintupled to over 110 majors as the undergraduate program has emerged as the eighth largest in the nation according to Business Insurance magazine. He initiated the Annual Insurance Careers Day on campus and he has been very active in finding internships and professional positions for Ole Miss students. To date, virtually all Insurance and Risk Management majors actively seeking a paid internship in the industry have received one and the placement rate for Ole Miss graduates in Insurance and Risk Management is nearly 100 percent.