Robert A. Cooper Vice Provost for Planning and Budget

Robert A. Cooper was named vice provost for planning and budget in May 2009. In this role, he oversees academic budgeting – encompassing the budget activities associated with the university’s central administration as well as its schools and hospitals – and ensures that the priorities outlined in USC’s strategic plan direct the university’s budgetary planning. Cooper also holds a seat on the USC Hospitals Governing Board and the USC Care Board.

Cooper was USC’s budget director and associate senior vice president for budget and planning from 2000 to 2006, having previously served as executive director of the Office of Budget and Planning from 1995 to 2000. In both of these capacities, he provided conceptual leadership in resource planning, formulated USC’s annual operating budget, reported on the budget process to the Finance Committee of the USC Board of Trustees, and managed health-plans administration and institutional research analysis.

Before assuming those positions, Cooper served as chief financial officer and treasurer of the Doheny Eye Institute, and as USC’s associate comptroller and assistant comptroller.

Cooper earned a bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. from the USC Marshall School of Business, and holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.