Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2012—Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) President Michelle Asha Cooper, Ph.D., is being recognized by the Black Women’s Agenda (BWA) for her outstanding “economic development contributions to advance, secure, and protect the rights of Black women and their families.” As a 2012 BWA Awardee, Cooper will accept the honor today during BWA’s 35th Annual Symposium Luncheon and Workshop being held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., and during the Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference Weekend.
“I will always support economic and educational opportunities that advance African-American women. I strive to help all women achieve educational excellence and truly believe that educational opportunity can empower women to better lead their families and communities,” said Cooper. “I am thankful to the Black Women's Agenda for recognizing efforts that uplift African-American women.”
The special guest for BWA’s 35th Annual Symposium Luncheon and Workshop is Valerie B. Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama, and chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls.
Other 2012 BWA Awardees include:
- Bright Future: Claire Crawford, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
- Education: Valerie Peterson Owens, Executive Director, Very Positive Outlook, Inc.
- Health: Rogsbert Phillips, M.D., Founder, Sisters by Choice
Cooper is a well-respected education policy leader who has spent a career dedicated to and rooted in the postsecondary community. Cooper has held various leadership positions at the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance at the U.S. Department of Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities, Council for Independent Colleges, and King’s College. She currently serves on several advisory boards of leading national higher education organizations. Additionally, Cooper is a regular contributor and highly sought-after speaker who often provides commentary to various media outlets including C-SPAN, FOX News, and NPR as well as The Chronicle of Higher Education, Forbes, The Hill, Huffington Post, Inside Higher Ed, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and many more. A native of Charleston, S.C., she received a B.A. from the College of Charleston, an M.P.S. from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Black Women’s Agenda, Inc., a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, exists to build bridges that create understanding and cooperation about issues affecting women and their families.
For more information about BWA and its 35th Annual Symposium Luncheon and Workshop, visit www.bwa-inc.org.
To learn more about Cooper, visit IHEP’s website at www.ihep.org.