Elizabeth Cooper

Elizabeth Cooper is an Associate Professor and Director of the School for International Studies at Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on social anthropology, particularly the experiences of children and youth in Africa, with a strong emphasis on social justice, education, and protest. She holds a D.Phil. in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford and has conducted extensive fieldwork in Kenya since 2003.

Education:

• D.Phil., Social Anthropology, University of Oxford
• M.Phil., Social Anthropology, University of Oxford
• M.A., Planning (International Development), University of British Columbia
• B.A., International Relations, University of British Columbia

Research Interests:

Cooper’s work spans Kenyan youth activism, education systems, hiking tourism, and social justice. Her award-winning 2022 book Burning Ambition examines how youth use protest (e.g., school arson) to challenge power structures. Current research explores outdoor tourism’s role in addressing historical exclusion of Black Kenyans from mountain access. Earlier studies addressed HIV/AIDS impacts on families and refugee youth resilience.

Publications:

Her work appears in leading journals like African Affairs, Anthropology & Education Quarterly, and Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Recent articles analyze Kenya’s education crises and kinship dynamics in poverty-stricken regions.

Teaching & Engagement:

Cooper teaches courses on global inequality, refugee migration, and policy analysis. She previously worked as a political advisor in Canada and with the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam. Her research has informed UNHCR and CARE International initiatives.

Future Work:

In Fall 2025, she will teach IS 800 G100 Problems of International Policy and Practice. Current hiking research highlights decolonizing outdoor spaces in Kenya.