James Wesley Cooper, Jr.
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Managerial Studies
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Contact
Building & Room:
UH 2202
Address:
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607
Office Phone:
Email:
CV Link:
About
Dr. James Wesley Cooper, Jr., MBA, SPHR, SHRM SCP, Ph.D., is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Managerial Studies at UIC Business, where he serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Human Resource Management. With a rich foundation in both academia and practice, Dr. Cooper also holds leadership as MED Teaching and Education Director within the Academy of Management framework.
Since joining the UIC faculty in 2012, Dr. Cooper has earned recognition for his innovative pedagogy, the Structured Improvisation Teaching approach that embeds reflective, moment-by-moment learning within business simulations and classroom dynamics. He was also awarded UIC’s prestigious Teaching Recognition Program Award in 2024 for his excellence in developing engaging learning environments.
Dr. Cooper’s scholarship focuses on three interlocking strands:
- Racialized and Learner Identity and Black Student Success: Investigating how African American and Black students navigate identity formation and academic resilience within business education, Dr. Cooper explores how institutional structures, pedagogical designs, and learning environments affect success outcomes.
- AI in Business Simulations and Learning: He studies the integration of artificial intelligence into business simulations and gaming tools, seeking to enhance engagement, feedback, and equitable learning pathways for diverse student populations.
- Structural Improvisation Learning and Teaching: Anchored in his structured improvisation model, Dr. Cooper emphasizes flexible instructional design that enables students to respond adaptively within real-time learning scenarios, building skills in leadership, decision making, and professional identity formation.
In his role as Director of Undergraduate Studies in HRM, he supports curriculum design, learning outcomes, and program effectiveness for the Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, and helps integrate the unique values of diversity, inclusion, and experiential learning that align with UIC Business’ commitment to advancing student success.
As a PhD candidate in Learning Sciences at UIC, Dr. Cooper bridges academic research and education practice, translating insights from identity studies into real-world teaching. His leadership at the Academy of Management as MED Teaching and Education Director further positions him at the intersection of educational innovation and professional developmental networks, shaping how business educators engage diverse learners across institutional contexts.
With a nuanced lens on identity and equity, alongside practical tools like business simulations and improvisational frameworks, Dr. Cooper’s work embodies UIC Business’s mission: to empower the next generation of inclusive leaders and to transform business education through research-grounded, learner-centered practice.
Selected Publications
- Teaching Methods in Business Series Chapter – Computers Simulations & Gaming Volume – Academy of Management, Edward Edgar Publishing–Publish Date: July 2022. ISBN 978-1-83910-242-4
- Cooper, Jr. J.W. (2013). Talent development of instructors in online higher education: A mixed methods study of instructor effectiveness. (Doctoral dissertation). ProQuest Dissertation and Theses.
- Cooper, Jr. J.W. (2009). Insights for a venture capital talent management model. Exploring the C-Suite for Sustainable, Socially Responsible Business Models. Midwest Academy of Management Proceedings.
Professional Leadership
MED Teaching and Education Director, Academy of Management
Notable Honors
2023-24, Teaching Recognition Program Award (TRP), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
2024, Honoring Our Professors Excellence Award (HOPE), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
2018, Dean’s Letter Recognition for Outstanding Teaching, UIC College of Business Administration
2017, Dean’s Letter Recognition for Outstanding Teaching, UIC College of Business Administration
Education
2018 – Present PhD – Learning Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
2013 PhD – Organizational Development and Change, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL.
2004 MBA – Human Resources Management, Cum Laude. DePaul University Chicago, IL.
1998 BBA – Finance, Magna Cum Laude. Loyola University, Chicago, IL.
Licensures and Certifications
- SPHR – Senior Professional Human Resources
- SHRM-SCP – SHRM Senior Certified Professional
Professional Memberships
- Academy of Management
- American Educational Research Association
- Society for Human Resources Management
- Chicago Society of Human Resources
- Future of Higher Education
- AI Frontier Network
Selected Presentations
- 2024, 84th Annual Meeting Academy of Management Conference (AOM) – Chicago, IL
Professional Development Workshop. Leveling Up Your Experimental Learning Methods, Management Education Division. August 2024 - 2024, Western Academy of Management (WAM)– Long Beach, CA.
Paper Presentation – Structural Improvisational Teaching – Management Education Division
Research Currently in Progress
African American Students Affirmational Changes in Radicalized and Learning Identities
Structural Improvisation AI/Symbiotic AI in Business Simulations Book Project. Structural Improvisational Teaching – Engaging Students Where They Are – A PDW text for students and teachers. Target Publish Date: Fall 2026.