When Dana Cooper first arrived at the 鈥萍鲂影稍 鈥痠n fall 2016, she wasn’t sure where her path would lead.
“I didn’t know what I was doing at first,” she said.
Like many students, Cooper explored several areas of study. First, nursing, then biochemistry, but neither quite fit. Instead of forcing a decision, she chose a different route: service. In 2018, she enlisted in the 鈥疷nited States Air Force, joining the Air National Guard. That decision changed everything.
Through military tuition benefits and the support of her supervisors, Cooper was able to continue her education. She worked full-time, often more than 40 hours a week, while steadily chipping away at her new major: the Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) program in the College of Education and Human Development. That shift allowed her to balance academic work with military service and motherhood to see new possibilities for her future.
Along the way, Cooper found support among her professors and advisors. She recalls one pivotal moment when she had to withdraw from a class after learning she was pregnant. Immediately, one of her HDFS instructors reached out to her.
“That made me feel like I mattered,” Cooper said.
Faculty members worked with her demanding schedule, helping her stay on track to graduate. Their guidance proved essential as she navigated competing responsibilities. For her HDFS internship, Cooper returned to鈥 Reed High School, her alma mater, where she worked alongside her former teacher, Roni Green.
“There is something so special about watching a former student come back and pour into the next generation, and Dana did that with grace and intention,” Green said. “What made her presence truly powerful for my students was watching her show up every single day with purpose while simultaneously serving in the Air National Guard, raising two small children, and finishing her bachelor’s degree.”
At Reed High School, Cooper supported students studying HDFS, helped run a campus food pantry in partnership with a local food bank and mentored students competing in SkillsUSA (four of whom advanced to the national competition). The experience strengthened her skills in leadership, communication and classroom management, but more importantly, it reinforced her purpose.
“It felt like a full-circle moment,” Cooper said. “Making a difference for other people, that’s what motivates me.”
One of Cooper’s most transformative experiences came 5,866 miles from Reno: studying abroad in 鈥疪eggio Emilia, Italy. Here, she was immersed in Reggio Emilia’s culture and approach to early childhood education by observing classrooms that emphasized creativity, independence and respect for children’s capabilities.
“The environment felt peaceful, bright and open,” she said. “It made me want to make a difference at home. I loved everything—the people, the food, the experience.”
Cooper’s journey hasn’t been easy. But through it all, she persisted.
Human Development and Family Science professor Jenna Dewar, M.S., had Cooper in three of her community-engaged courses, serving both as her internship coordinator and faculty lead for the Reggio Emilia trip.
“I’ve been honored to have a front row seat for Dana’s journey,” Dewar said. “She has balanced an extraordinary set of responsibilities with consistency and purpose, and she brings a steady, positive presence to every space she’s in. The way she invests in herself, her children, and the people around her speaks to the kind of impact she’ll continue to have - both in her family and in her work - and I’m proud of the path she’s shaped.”
After graduation, Cooper plans to continue advancing in her military career while exploring graduate school options. She’s particularly interested in pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling.
For now, she’s focused on the milestone in front of her: graduation. A milestone that once felt uncertain, but is now firmly within reach.
Her advice to others is simple, even if it sounds familiar: “Even when it gets overwhelming, just keep going,” she said. “It’s worth it.”
For Cooper, that persistence has led not only to her degree, but to a deeper sense of purpose. For this member of the Wolf Pack community, it is a purpose shaped by service, resilience and, ultimately, love for the journey she never expected to embark upon.
