Donald Cooper
Donald T. Cooper earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Education and Supervision from Walden University, where his research focused on Black female professional counselors’ experiences of supervision. He holds a Master of Arts in Community Counseling with an emphasis on addictions from Marshall University Graduate College. Additionally, he earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Psychology and Human Services, along with a minor in Journalism from Davis and Elkins College. Dr. Cooper has led the development, implementation, and management of residential treatment programs as well as intensive and supportive outpatient counseling services for justice-involved individuals dealing with substance use, chronic mental health issues, trauma, and other forensic challenges. He has also collaborated extensively with law enforcement, offering on-scene crisis intervention and lethality assessments to assist individuals and their families facing severe psychotic, suicidal, or homicidal symptoms in Texas's most populous county.
Currently, he serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Walden University. He has taught Multicultural Counseling and Program Evaluation as a Teaching Assistant at Walden and was recognized for exemplary teaching by the faculty. Dr. Cooper is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and Pennsylvania. He is also a certified lead trainer in cognitive behavioral and substance abuse interventions. Additionally, he is a Board-Certified Counselor and certified to provide trauma treatment.
Dr. Cooper received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence of character and service to humanity. With over 20 years of clinical and leadership experience, he is passionate about teaching behavioral health professionals. His professional interests include researching, developing, leading, and evaluating counseling programs. His research interests focus on multicultural counseling and clinical supervision. He has presented on topics including multicultural counseling, crisis intervention, and substance use counseling with justice-involved individuals. Outside of his professional work, Dr. Cooper enjoys reading and writing poetry, with several poems published and awards such as Editor's Choice honors.
Education
PhD, Walden University
MA, Marshall University Graduate College
BA, Davis and Elkins College
Awards / Honors
Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award , Sullivan Memorial Committee, 2000
Chi Sigma Iota, Omega Zeta, 2021
Golden Key Award, Walden University , 2021
National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi, 2021
Presentations
Cooper, D. (2023). Multicultural Counseling Theories Panel. Walden University . Walden University
Cooper, D. (2016). Tackling Substance Abuse in Criminal Justice Populations. . University of Houston Downtown