Dan Cooper

Dan Cooper is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the Research Center for Child Well-Being. He holds a Ph.D. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota (specializing in Couple and Family Therapy and Prevention Science) and completed a T32 postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State University. His research focuses on reducing mental and physical health disparities for minoritized children affected by adversity through family-based prevention strategies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Family Social Science, University of Minnesota
• T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Penn State University

Research Interests:
Dr. Cooper prioritizes culturally sensitive interventions for marginalized populations, particularly Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities. His work addresses racism, trauma, and economic distress, emphasizing resilience-building through family-focused approaches. Current projects include qualitative studies on parenting strategies and scoping reviews of dual-focus prevention programs targeting social-emotional and lifestyle health.

Publications Highlight:
His recent work examines cultural differences in psychological responses to adversity among Latinx groups and explores family dynamics in trauma-affected populations. Articles emphasize systemic and ecological frameworks for intervention design.

Awards:

• AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program (PhD funding)
• T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship (Prevention and Methodology Training)

Advising and Grants:
While no specific advisees are listed, Dr. Cooper’s research involves community partnerships and implementation science to enhance intervention scalability. He collaborates with organizations to address equity gaps in preventive care delivery.

Labs/Teams:
Affiliated with the Research Center for Child Well-Being, focusing on interdisciplinary child health equity initiatives.