Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Leadership and Higher Education Leland Ross Cooper (September 13, 1926 - ), retired university professor, was born in Greenville, South Carolina. He married Mary Lee Lambert Cooper. They have one daughter, Catherine, in medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and one son, Ross, attending Watauga High School in Boone. Cooper earned a B.S. degree in arts and sciences from Clemson College in 1950, and a M.Ed, degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1957. In 1964, he earned an Ed.D. degree from the University of Florida, where he held the Kellogg Fellowship for Doctoral Study in Junior College Leadership. In 1950, Cooper began teaching in the South Carolina public school system. While there, he served as a coach and an English, math, and science teacher for the eighth through the twelfth grades. He also served in the Durham county school system as audiovisual director from 1953 to 1958, after which he came to Appalachian State Teachers College as an instructor of education and a supervisor of student teaching. While working on his doctorate, Cooper served at the Central Florida Junior College in Ocala, Florida, where he was an instructor of English and held the positions of director of Institutional Research and Assistant to the President. Cooper remained at Central Florida until 1966, when he went to Polk Junior College in Bartow, Florida. At Polk, Cooper served as Dean of the Evening College and was responsible for the Continuing Education Program. In 1967, Cooper came to Appalachian State University where he served in the Department of Leadership and Higher Education as a professor and Director of the Bachelor of Technology Program. While at Appalachian, he received the Trainers of Teacher Trainers (TTT) Fellowship for 1970-1971. During his professional career, Cooper has written numerous publications including: "Developmental Studies for the Non-Traditional Student," in Developmental Studies in the Community-Junior College, Boone, N.C., 1976. Self-Concept Change Among Adult Basic Education Students, U.S. Office of Education. Morehead State University, 1974. 'Teacher Education for Developmental Instruction." Paper read before the Occupational Directors Association Conference on Preparatory Programs, Greensboro, N.C., 1969. In addition, he was the editor of Developmental Studies in the Community-Junior College (1976), and A Practical Guide for the Beginning College Teacher (1981). Cooper has arranged for several international higher education professionals to visit Appalachian for teaching or consulting. His travels have taken him to Western Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, the Soviet Union, Japan, and the Philippines. Also, he has lectured in the Peoples Republic of China. In "retirement," Dr. Cooper continues to teach part-time in the Department of Leadership and Higher Education, and is serving as editor for the Appalachian Consortium Press. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe
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