Barry L. Shoop

Barry L. Shoop serves as Dean of the Albert Nerken School of Engineering at The Cooper Union in New York City since January 2019. He holds a dual role as Professor of Electrical Engineering. Prior to this, he retired as a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army after a 39-year career, including leadership roles at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, such as Director of the Photonics Research Center and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

• Educations: B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Pennsylvania State University), Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Stanford University).
• Research Interests: Optical information processing, neural networks, image processing, disruptive innovations, and educational pedagogy.

As Dean, he has expanded the School of Engineering by introducing new minors (Computer Science, Bioengineering, etc.), VIP project-based courses, and increasing faculty diversity (42% women tenured/tenure-track by 2023). He also forged partnerships with institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Nokia Bell Laboratories. His leadership includes growing international programs and diversifying admissions (44% women, 16% underrepresented minorities in 2023 admitted class).

• Awards: National Academy of Engineering (2019), IEEE President (2016), Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award (2008).

Shoop holds a patent on photonic analog-to-digital conversion, authored 150+ publications, and 8 books. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Virginia and chairs initiatives like the John and Mary Manuck Distinguished Professor of Design endowment to advance interdisciplinary design education.