The Passing of Executive Director Dr. George Cooper

The Passing of Executive Director Dr. George Cooper

I, along with the entire staff of the White House Initiative on HBCUs, am deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Dr. George Cooper.  Yesterday, I spent some time at Dr. Cooper’s home with his family.  As they mourn, they appreciate the encouragement and support from many people with whom Dr. Cooper has inspired.  Dr. Cooper provided us with guidance and mentorship.  As a supervisor, he was light on giving directives and heavy on imparting wisdom.  We grew under his leadership, as he provided the perfect mix of candor, levity and urgency with dealing with office priorities.  He was interesting to listen to and easy to talk with.  He took joy in blending new and senior perspectives on HBCUs.  His legacy lives on through all of us. – Ivory A. Toldson, Deputy Director

Below are official statements on Dr. Cooper’s passing:

Statement by the President on the Passing of Dr. George Cooper

Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. George Cooper, the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). As a native of Tallahassee, FL, George’s love of education and HBCUs began as a student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, continuing his education at Tuskegee University and receiving his Ph. D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana. George spent the majority of his life ensuring that students at our nation’s HBCUs were receiving a quality education and had the necessary resources to succeed and make their communities and our country better. He served on the faculty at several universities including Alabama A&M University, Tuskegee University and as President of South Carolina State University. His service extended beyond working with students at institutions.  For 17 years, he worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, ensuring that HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions were receiving adequate resources to strengthen research and academic programs. George’s passing is a great loss for my Administration, the HBCU and higher education communities and for everyone that knew him.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Diane, family and friends during this difficult time. – Barack Obama, President

Statement by the Secretary of Education on the Passing of Dr. George Cooper

Dr. Cooper made a tremendous contribution that has benefited countless students in a full and extraordinary career.  Throughout his life, Dr. Cooper was committed to promoting excellence, innovation, and sustainability across our nation’s HBCUs.  Dr. Cooper provided the wisdom and direction needed to form important partnerships between HBCUs and the federal government.  He was staunchly committed to student development and success. This Administration has truly benefited from Dr. Cooper’s leadership and will continue our service and advocacy for HBCUs in a manner that follows his passion, persistence, and humility.  Like everyone here who had the opportunity to work with him, I was touched by his kindness, integrity, wisdom, and commitment.  Although he will be sorely missed, his legacy will live beyond him.  On behalf of the entire Department, I send my deepest condolences to his wife, Diane, his children, and the entire Cooper family.  – Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education

Statement by the Chair, President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs on the Passing of Dr. George Cooper

Today we lost a leader, Dr. George Cooper.  My most heartfelt condolences are with his wife, Diane, with whom I spoke earlier today. I have known George for almost forty years.  When I was the Administrative Vice President at Tuskegee University, he was a member of the faculty in the School of Veterinary Medicine.  I asked him to serve on the team preparing for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ reaffirmation of accreditation.  George was a conscientious, energetic and dependable worker.  He was thorough, focused and no-nonsense.  After that, every opportunity I had to have him serve on a committee, I had him do so.  I knew we could count on him. Later, when Dr. Cooper became president of South Carolina State University, our paths crossed often.  His wife, Dianne, my wife, Norma, he and I became good friends. In his most recent role as Executive Director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs, we met just about every Wednesday by phone and attended meetings together in Washington.  George always had the best interests of HBCUs at heart; and as he did forty years ago, he worked hard and conscientiously during his tenure at the White House Initiative for the benefit of the institutions about which he cared deeply.   He will be sorely missed by the community he served. – Chair William Harvey

Statement by CBC Chairman on the Passing of Dr. George Cooper

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. George Cooper, a lifelong supporter of higher education and our country’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  As a former president of South Carolina State University and the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Dr. George Cooper understood well the role that HBCUs continue to play in providing access to higher education for many African American and minority students.  He was a Senior Fellow with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and served 17 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where he provided key oversight on programs and legislation impacting historically black land grant universities and other minority serving institutions.  Over the course of his life, Dr. George Cooper contributed great service to our country’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the impact of his legacy of service as a leader and champion in higher education will be remembered for generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. – Chair G. K. Butterfield