Melissa L. Cooper

Melissa L. Cooper is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University, affiliated with the Departments of American Studies, Africana Studies, and History. Her research focuses on African American cultural and intellectual history, with a particular emphasis on the African Diaspora and Gullah communities.

• Education: Ph.D. in History, Rutgers University (2012)

Cooper's work investigates the historical intersections of race, cultural identity, and academic representation. Her publications analyze the emergence of Gullah identity in 20th-century scholarship and pedagogical approaches to African American history. Recent projects address legacies of Sapelo Island studies and cross-disciplinary methodologies in race and retail consumption.

Scientific Awards:

• Andrew Carnegie Corporation Fellowship (2019)
• Schomburg Scholars-In-Residence Fellowship (2020)

Her teaching includes undergraduate and graduate courses on African American history, spanning foundational narratives to advanced readings on racial dynamics and cultural preservation.