My name is Gary Cooper-Sperber and I’m a Senior Multicultural Student Success Coordinator/ Advisor in African American Student Services in the Office of Central Advising in the Division of Academic Affairs here at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).
I am a two-time UWM alumnus, completing both my Bachelors of Science in Educational Studies-Youth Leadership in May 2010 and the Masters of Science in Administrative Leadership-Higher Education Administration in May 2012.
I currently serve on the logistic team of the African American Male Initiative (which hosts the annual Summit on Black Male Youth-Milwaukee); and a senator-at-large for the Academic Staff Senate. The ‘techy’ in me have created and/or maintaining the following websites: Advisors & Couneslors Network (ACN), African American Male Initiative (Summit on Black Male Youth-Milwaukee), and Office of Central Advising (OCA).
In Student Affairs, I am an Ignite Institute Leadership Coach (Spring 2017, Summer 2017, Fall 2017, and Summr 2018 Classes) and an advisor for a Registered Student Organization: Students Of Color In Academic Life (S.O.C.I.A.L.).
I am currently the 2017-2018 President-Elect for the Wisconsin Academic Advising Association (WACADA) and a member of NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising. I am also a member of the Wisconsin College Personnel Association (WCPA).
Outside of my professional roles of academic advising and university service, I enjoy research relating to the phenomenology of the underrepresented student experience in higher education, particularly targeted historically racial/ethnic minority and/or LGBTQ+ identified students. These experiences relates to their varies interactions within higher education, particularly related to the matriculation process, academic advising, academic coaching, financial aid policies, and interactions within student affairs.
I also volunteer as part of the UWM LGBT+ Alumni Chapter, UWM African American Alumni Chapter and the UWM Education Alumni Chapter of the UWM Alumni Association.
In 2017, I was selected as one of 43 Statewide LGBTQ Leaders of Color in Wisconsin.
You may view my C.V. online. or check out other tabs above. #PantherProud