Theressa Cooper
Position
- Assistant Dean, Collaborative Initiatives
- Director of GWC Summer Research Internship Program
- Adjunct Associate Professor, Agricultural Education and Studies
Theressa Cooper serves as the assistant dean, collaborative initiatives, for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Studies. She has held this position since 2013.
Theressa's responsibilities include leading initiatives to cultivate partnerships, enhance interdisciplinary programs and activities, support innovative educational and research opportunities, and promote community engagement. She also serves as the Director of the George Washington Carver Summer Research Internship Program.
Theressa has specialized training in intercultural competency, organizational development, leadership development, youth development, coaching, intercultural conflict, systems thinking, and action-oriented learning. Her research focuses on the representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in agriculture and the food system, as well as the implementation of culturally responsive planning and programming that assists all members of a community in building and strengthening their individual intercultural competence. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in agricultural education, youth development, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and multicultural education.
Previous to Iowa State University, Theressa was the director of academic success programs and outreach initiatives in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Theressa served the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources for nine years.
Cooper earned her doctorate in cultural studies from the University of Tennessee. She earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural development and a master's in agricultural education at Texas A&M University, College Station.
Area of Expertise: Cultural Competency & Agricultural Education
Theressa's responsibilities include leading initiatives to cultivate partnerships, enhance interdisciplinary programs and activities, support innovative educational and research opportunities, and promote community engagement. She also serves as the Director of the George Washington Carver Summer Research Internship Program.
Theressa has specialized training in intercultural competency, organizational development, leadership development, youth development, coaching, intercultural conflict, systems thinking, and action-oriented learning. Her research focuses on the representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in agriculture and the food system, as well as the implementation of culturally responsive planning and programming that assists all members of a community in building and strengthening their individual intercultural competence. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in agricultural education, youth development, leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and multicultural education.
Previous to Iowa State University, Theressa was the director of academic success programs and outreach initiatives in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Theressa served the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources for nine years.
Cooper earned her doctorate in cultural studies from the University of Tennessee. She earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural development and a master's in agricultural education at Texas A&M University, College Station.
Area of Expertise: Cultural Competency & Agricultural Education
Contact
Email
tncooper@iastate.edu
Phone
515-294-8574
Contact Info
139C Curtiss
513 Farm House Ln.
Ames
,
IA
50011-1054