Michelle Asha Cooper leads the development and implementation of state and federal policy initiatives for Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. She works to advance the foundation’s support for today’s students at community colleges and four-year colleges and universities.

Cooper is among the nation’s most influential voices in championing access and success for all students in education. Cooper previously served as deputy undersecretary, acting assistant secretary for postsecondary education, and deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs at the U.S. Department of Education. In these roles, she led higher education’s pandemic recovery efforts by managing $76 billion in pandemic aid for students and institutions; oversaw a $3 billion grantmaking portfolio supporting programs that built capacity at colleges and universities, including those that serve large numbers of under-resourced students. She also launched the Raise the B.A.R.: Bold + Action + Results campaign that celebrates reforms that drive social and economic mobility among U.S. students.

She also served as the president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, where she managed the organization’s expansive research portfolio and advocacy agenda. She has also held leadership positions at the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (U.S. Department of Education), the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the Council for Independent Colleges, and King’s College.