Statement from FAMU President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D., on the Passing of Alumnus George E. Cooper, Ph.D.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and the Tallahassee community joins the White House, HBCU family, agricultural industry, family, and friends in mourning the loss of alumnus and advocate George E. Cooper, Ph.D.

Dr. Cooper served as the executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and recently returned to his alma mater to serve as the summer 2014 commencement speaker.

His contributions to the FAMU community and the nation at-large are underscored by his service as a senior fellow with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, chair of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities – Council of 1890 Universities, chair of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and his service on the HBCU and Limited Resource Institution Academic Advisory Group.

Dr. Cooper also spent 17 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and served five years at Alabama A&M University (AAMU) as vice president for academic affairs and as dean of the School of Applied Sciences at Tuskegee University. Cooper received his bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from FAMU, a master’s degree in animal science from Tuskegee University, and a doctorate in animal nutrition from the University of Illinois.

The entire nation will be forever impacted by the tireless and influential work of Dr. Cooper. He will be profoundly missed.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS