Joseph N. Cooper

Joseph N. Cooper is Professor and inaugural Dr. J. Keith Motley Endowed Chair of Sport Leadership and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Department of Counseling & School Psychology. Previously he served as associate professor at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, Department of Educational Leadership.

Education

• PhD, Kinesiology – Sport Management & Policy, University of Georgia
• MA, Exercise & Sport Science – Sport Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• BA, Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• BA, Recreation Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Focus

Joseph N. Cooper’s scholarship interrogates the intersection of sport, education, race, gender, and culture. Employing qualitative and critical methodologies, he examines how sport can serve as both a mechanism of oppression and a catalyst for holistic development, especially among Black male and female student-athletes. His work spans sport management policy, critical race theory, community cultural wealth, athlete activism, and educational equity.

Collectively, his recent publications explore themes of empowerment, exploitation, resistance, and holistic support structures. Studies compare experiences across historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly White institutions (PWIs), analyze anti-deficit frameworks, and propose best practices for enhancing educational outcomes for student-athletes of color.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• 2019 UConn NAACP Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2018 SSJ Outstanding Early Career Research Award
• 2018 H. Fred Simons African American Cultural Center University Faculty Award
• 2016–2017 UConn NAACP Faculty of the Year
• 2016 UConn Neag Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award
• 2014–2016 JIIA Article of the Year Finalist

Advising, Grants & Outreach

Cooper is faculty founder of Collective Uplift, a holistic development program designed to educate, empower, and support student-athletes beyond athletics. He has secured and managed grants supporting this initiative while mentoring numerous graduate researchers. He holds editorial roles on several journals, including Co-editor of Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, and is active in NASSS, NASSM, AERA, and ASHE.

Labs & Teams

Through Collective Uplift, Cooper leads an interdisciplinary team that integrates qualitative research, policy analysis, and community engagement to foster holistic athlete development and institutional change.