Louise Cooper first worked out of the IRAPP Office as an intern for the Appalachian Regional Commission. Cooper joined IRAPP as Staff Assistant during the spring 2000 semester and came on full time as Field Coordinator for the East Kentucky Regional GEAR-UP Project (a grant through the US Dept. of Education) in the fall of 2002. In addition to her work with GEAR-UP, Cooper is and has been involved with YouthBuild, KY AHED, the Appalachian Ideas Network, and other grant initiatives. Cooper earned her MBA through MSU’s online program, the first of its kind in the state of Kentucky.