Austin R. Cooper, Jr., is a consultant for Government and Public Relations for the IUGB Foundation. He also serves as the president of Cooper Strategic Affairs, Inc. In this capacity, he provides governmental and communications counsel to several organizations in Washington, DC.
Austin has an extensive legislative, political and communications background, including holding senior level positions at the federal, state and local levels of government. His employment history includes working for four members of Congress: Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman William H. Gray III, Congressman Louis Stokes and Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Austin has also worked on public affairs accounts for Hill and Knowlton Public Relations and Edelman Worldwide.
He served as a state lobbyist (pension, education and labor) to former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins and vice president of government affairs for the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS).
Prior to establishing Cooper Strategic Affairs, Austin served as the vice president of government affairs and communications for GoodWorks International, LLC. There, he served as the media representative for former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young.
Austin received a Bachelor or Arts (BA) in History & Government from Saint Augustine’s University and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
He is a member of the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and serves on the board of directors of the William O. Lockridge Community Foundation.
In addition, he writes a monthly political column for the Washington Informer newspaper and isa ewswire contributor to the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).