New Leader Named to Head Cal State Fullerton's Irvine Campus

Veteran Educator Susan Cooper Moves Over From Irvine Valley College

July 22, 2008 :: No. 007

Susan Cooper

Susan M. Cooper of San Juan Capistrano is the newly appointed dean of the Cal State Fullerton Irvine Campus.

As chief academic and administrative officer, she is responsible for the overall administration of the campus, including the oversight of academic instruction and services, management of human and fiscal resources, coordination of student services and technology at the campus.

The branch campus, located about 20 miles from the university's Fullerton campus, opened in fall 2002 to provide upper-division, credential and graduate-level courses in a small, personal learning environment. The campus currently serves about 3,000 students living and working in central and south Orange County and is also home to the university's Community Learning and Literacy Center.

"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Cooper to the university," said Ephraim Smith, vice president for academic affairs at Cal State Fullerton. "The dean of the Irvine Campus is expected to develop and implement the vision for the campus, articulate the needs of the campus and surrounding areas, maintain strong communication with the Cal State Fullerton campus faculty and administration, and collaborate with local community colleges. I have no doubt that Dr. Cooper's extensive experience will enhance the university's presence in Irvine and south Orange County."

Prior to her appointment at Cal State Fullerton, Cooper served as dean of career technical education and workforce development at Irvine Valley College, where she led a consortium of tech prep schools designed to create career pathways between high schools and the community college. She also served as dean of mathematics, sciences and engineering, as well as dean of advanced technology and library services at Irvine Valley College. Before that, she was a tenured faculty member in the Department of Science, Math and Technology of the College of Education at Cal State San Bernardino, as well as director of distributed learning and director of academic computing and media. She has spent 35 years as an educator, including stints as a high school and junior high school teacher. In addition, she has administered numerous grant programs, including those dedicated to workforce development, distance learning and educational technology instruction.

"All of my previous teaching and administrative experience in universities and community colleges has led me to this position at Cal State Fullerton," said Cooper. "I am excited to be working with the Irvine Campus faculty and staff and looking forward to my association with our local communities."

Cooper earned an Ed.D. and an M.S. in secondary education at Northern Illinois University and is the author or co-author of numerous publications, as well as two textbooks. She succeeds George Giacumakis, founding director of the branch campus. He retired from that post to teach part time and serve as an administrator at Biola University.

Photo: Available online at www.fullerton.edu/newsphotos

Media Contacts:
Valerie Orleans, Public Affairs, 657-278-4540 or vorleans@fullerton.edu
Susan Cooper, CSUF Irvine Campus, 657-278-1605 or scooper@fullerton.edu

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