David Cooper began his tenure as Professor of Education and Dean of the School of Education on June 1, 2009. Prior to Elon, Dean Cooper served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and School Partnerships at the College of Education, University of Maryland. He was a member of the faculty in special education for 25 years, focusing his teaching on research methods, and his research on studies of early literacy and risk factors in child development.

Dean Cooper attended public schools in Lynchburg, VA, then earned an A.B. degree in Biological and Medical Sciences from Brown University. He received his Master of Education then his Doctorate in Special Education, with a minor in Developmental Psychology, from the University of North Carolina in 1984. He was supported by a Pre-Doctoral Research Training Fellowship at UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center where he did research on the factors that place young children at risk of referral to and placement in special education programs.

Photo and accompanying personal statement were part of the faculty/staff portrait exhibit installed in Mooney Building in May 2010.

• E-net note about faculty/staff portrait exhibit
• Photographer Barbara Tyroler
• Other faculty/staff portraits taken by Barbara Tyroler