Mohave Today

Mohave Community College is pleased to announce the new Dean of Student and Community Engagement for the Bullhead City Campus is Gary Cooper.  

Mr. Cooper has an extensive background in higher education and K-12 education, and since July 2010 he has served as Director of College Readiness for Denver Public Schools.   

“The most exciting aspect for me is that I will be joining a student-centered team,” said Mr. Cooper. “It’s been a while since I’ve had that ‘All Are Welcome Here!’ feeling on a college campus, but when I visited the Bullhead City campus I could hear the excitement and the passion in each person and see the commitment to student success.”  

He began his professional career in higher education in 1988 and has served at several institutions of higher education in various student services roles including admission counselor, director of residential life and student services, academic advisor, recruitment coordinator, dean of students and student services, and director of pre-collegiate programs and academic advising.     

“Gary has a wealth of experience and we are very happy he’s joining us to help lead the Bullhead City campus,” said MCC Vice President of Student and Community Engagement Dr. Tramaine Rausaw. “This is an exciting time for students, employees and the community, with our new initiatives including the soccer program and the College’s first student housing effort based out of the Bullhead campus.”   

Mr. Cooper was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa and earned his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Northern Colorado, and his master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Central Missouri State University.   

He has family in Arizona and is looking forward to the Arizona weather, even the summer heat.  “I first started visiting the region when I was working for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the late 80’s. It was love at first sight, even when the temperature was well above 100 degrees, to me that just made it better. My brother also fell in love and made Mohave Valley a destination for his family for many years.”    

Mr. Cooper is currently moving from Denver to Bullhead City, and his first day at the Bullhead City campus be September 6.  

Original source can be found here.