Dr. Mary Gendernalik Cooper has accepted the position of Dean of the School of Education at Sonoma State University effective July 15. She replaces Dr. Martha Rudell who is retiring from the position as interim dean.
Cooper comes to Sonoma State University from Georgia Southwestern State University, where she has been professor and dean of the School of Education since 2003. Cooper brings 30 years of experience to her new post, spanning K-12 and higher education. Her philosophy of education emphasizes collaboration and the professional development of teachers.
"Fostering collaboration among school systems, parents, teachers, the university and the community at large is critical to the field of education, and the highest quality preparation of educators," Cooper says.
"Teacher leadership is probably closest to my heart," she notes. "We must do more to 'professionalize' teaching. Teachers must assume more leadership positions in schools in order to make better use of their experience and knowledge, and further improve the educational process for students."
From 1996 to 2002, Cooper served as a tenured professor of Educational Administration and chair of the Department of Teacher Development at Augusta State University. She was also coordinator of the Central Savannah River Area P-16 Council and director of their nationally recognized Professional Development School Network. From 1993 to 1996, she directed the Master of Arts in Teaching Program at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va.
Cooper holds a B.A. from Michigan State University and a M.A.T. and Ph.D. from Wayne State University.
SSU's new Dean has been an active researcher supported by numerous grants. Most recently, she was awarded a three-year $400,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education program to develop a web-based data collection system documenting the effectiveness of Professional Development Schools in improving teaching and learning in K-12.
She also has an extensive scholarly record of publication and presentations, and a demonstrated ability to lead organizations in collaborative endeavors.
"With Dr. Gendernalik Cooper as dean, Sonoma State University's School of Education is poised to build on the accomplishments of CTC certification and NCATE accreditation to reach even higher levels of excellence," says Dr. Eduardo Ochoa, provost of SSU.
Cooper's husband, Wade, is a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel who also holds a doctorate from the University of Virginia.
