Michelle Asha Cooper, Ph.D., is president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP). While leading one of the world’s premier research and policy centers, she oversees the organization’s expansive research portfolio and innovative programmatic activities focusing on access and success, accountability, diversity, finance, and global impact. In September 2008, Cooper became the second IHEP president, responsible for developing new ideas and strategic approaches that help historically underrepresented student populations gain access to and achieve success in postsecondary education.

Cooper has helped identify new solutions for the most pressing educational concerns as well as discover new strategies that address persistent student problems to college access and success around the world. She has expanded the organization’s global impact to ensure equal educational opportunities, particularly for historically underrepresented groups.

For example, Cooper has met with higher education leaders from Europe, Asia, and South American countries as well as developed and presented recommendations for collaboration between U.S. and Russian organizations during an event attended by President Barack Obama and Russian leaders.

Cooper previously served as the deputy director for the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, an independent, nonpartisan committee created by U.S. Congress to provide advice on higher education and student aid policy. In this position, she interacted with policymakers, oversaw all policy research activities, and managed day-to-day operations. Before joining the Advisory Committee, Cooper held various leadership positions at the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Council for Independent Colleges, and King’s College. She is also the 2002 recipient of the National Education Association’s Excellence in the Academy New Scholar Award.

A native of Charleston, S.C., Cooper received her B.A. from the College of Charleston, a M.P.S. from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park.