Don Cooper is the Director of Civic Initiatives at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation since July 2023. In that capacity he leads the civic and educational programs at the DeVos Learning Center (“DVLC”). These programs inspire a rising generation of Americans to active citizenship through initiatives that are rooted in our shared democratic values and exemplified by the lives of the President and Mrs. Ford.

Don brings 20 years’ experience in educational leadership and policy to the DVLC, and a passion for achieving great results for kids. His work has primarily focused on system-level change that empowers parents with more and better choices. His professional experience is diverse. It ranges from serving as an education policy advisor in the Michigan House of Representatives to senior-level public and government affairs positions for leading charter school organizations.

Don currently serves on the boards of directors of the Michigan History Foundation and the Greater Lansing Sports Fund, and on the board of advisors for the National Charter Schools Founders Library.

Don received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Hillsdale College and a Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Political Science at Wayne State University.

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