Staff Report
Published March 10, 2009

S.C. State University will inaugurate its 10th president, George Cooper, at 11 a.m. March 27 at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

Cooper joined S.C. State on July 16, 2008. Most recently he was deputy administrator for science and education resources development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. While at the USDA, Cooper also worked in the partnerships unit, in the technology and distance learning unit and as coordinator for strategic planning.

He has held professor and administrative roles at several colleges. At Alabama A&M University, he served as vice president for academic affairs and was an animal science professor. He also was dean of the agriculture and home economics school as well as a professor at Tuskegee University.

Cooper’s presidency follows the much-debated firing of former president Andrew Hugine, which attracted the attention of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. S.C. State was issued a warning by the accrediting body in December, and Cooper is working with the board and other leaders to resolve the issues brought up by the warning.

Cooper holds a degree in animal husbandry from Florida A&M University, a master’s in animal science from Tuskegee University and a doctor of philosophy in animal nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

S.C. State was established in 1896 as a land grant university and has a student population of about 4,500.