South Carolina State University President Dr. George E. Cooper will be officially inaugurated as the 10th president of the historically black institution on March 27.

Cooper assumed the presidency last July, leaving behind his post as an administrator at the United States Department of Agriculture.

Since joining S.C. State, Cooper has increased fund-raising efforts and lobbied state leaders to boost the university’s funding. He has also sought to partner with private sector corporations.

S.C. State Board Chairman Lumus Byrd said the inauguration will introduce Cooper to the community and legislators. Byrd touted Cooper’s previous experiences at the USDA and in higher education. He said he expects Cooper will “bring a degree of excellence we’ve never seen before.”

Elbert Malone, co-chair of the inauguration committee, says many constituencies will be represented during the ceremony. He anticipates officials from other universities, alumni groups and lawmakers will be present. The program and a list of speakers has not been finalized, Malone said.

He described the event as an “installation ceremony” that charges Cooper with the litany of tasks associated with running the university. He said he expects Cooper will address those tasks during his speech to university stakeholders.

Prior to his inaugural address, Cooper will be presented to the audience and receive a presidential robe. A member of the S.C. State Board will also present Cooper with the university charter, seal and mace. In addition, he will receive a medallion to be placed around his neck.

Malone said that will signify the entry of Cooper as president.

Response to the inauguration has received good responses, he said, and stakeholders are very excited about the ceremony, which will be held at 11 a.m. on March 27 at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

Cooper has a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree in animal science from Tuskegee University. He obtained his doctorate in animal nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana.

Cooper emerged from a field of more than 40 applicants for S.C. State’s top position. He took over the reins from interim president Dr. Leonard McIntyre last summer.

Cooper’s previous position was deputy administrator for science and education resources development with USDA. In this role, he was responsible for the coordination of more than $140 million in grant programs in the areas of education, research and extension for land-grant universities and other eligible institutions. S.C. State is an 1890 land-grant institution.

Cooper’s duties at the USDA also included coordinating projects in international development that promoted collaboration between partner institutions.

He has worked as vice president of academic affairs at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Ala. and was also a dean at Tuskegee University for eight years, where he supervised research and outreach for economics, construction, business and health programs.

Cooper has been married to his wife, Diane, for 40 years and has two children, Nikki and Carey. He is a member of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church in Orangeburg.

During his rare moments of free time, Cooper enjoys several hobbies. He is an avid photographer and picked up golf several years ago. He has also traveled extensively over the years, visiting every state in the country and several nations in Africa and South America.

When traveling, Cooper collects regional cookbooks and occasionally uses the recipes from them. An early-riser, he also enjoys getting up at 3 a.m. to walk.

“I try to have a balanced life,” he said last summer.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.

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