Rilla Cooper Joins ACEC Staff
Photos provided by Rampage student photographer Emily Sansalone.
Rilla Cooper has joined the Academic Center for Excellence and Careers (ACEC) as the director of student success.
Cooper comes to Bluefield University with 16 years of experience teaching high school juniors and seniors English and study skills, as well as helping them submit college applications. She also has experience at Ohio State University helping students transition into their first year of college. Cooper joins her husband, Joseph, who is the head coach for men’s basketball at BU. She said she enjoys working with students, something that she will undoubtedly do in the ACEC.
Cooper added that helping students transition into college life is something she relates to on a personal level. Growing up in a place similar to Bluefield, she understands the unique struggles that many BU students face.
“I also grew up in a small, rural, yet beautiful area much like Bluefield,” Cooper said. “So, many of my classmates were non-traditional or first-generation college students like our BU student body.”
Cooper said this experience, among her other passions, makes her a perfect fit for her new role.
“A lot of my experience lends to directly supporting a smooth transition for students,” Cooper said. “I enjoy working with students, smoothing out processes, and getting people connected — all things this role required.”
Cooper is also excited about working with students at a collegiate level and joining BU’s staff.
“I love the pace of university life and more facilitating and mentoring students as needed, versus working in a traditional classroom,” Cooper said. “I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to become a part of this exceptional staff. Students are truly blessed with the faculty and staff here at BU.”
Cooper also expressed how BU fits into her passion for helping college students and how remarkable BU was in her search for a new job.
“With an upcoming move to the Bluefield area, I began to research different opportunities and options, both locally and through remote work,” Cooper said. “When I met with Dr. Salmeier and the incredible faculty here, I knew that this is a wonderful, special place, and it would be an honor to transition to the university level.”
As the director of student success, Cooper will be working alongside students to help them with the services that ACEC provides.
“My title is ‘director of student success,’ but basically I’m just another person on campus who is rooting for you (students) and wants to help you do well,” Cooper said. “I work alongside Mr. Wayne Pelts to support with academic coaching, tutoring, and time management skills. I am also working to support students in making our resources and information available in one place and help (students) get to the resources or answers to the questions that (they) need.”
Cooper also boasts that while BU already offers much through the ACEC, new services and resources are being added.
“We are continuing to improve and build upon the great services that the university already offers,” she said. “We also work with Counseling, Student Development, faculty and advisors, and other university departments to coordinate a smooth student experience here at BU.”
Cooper spoke about other changes coming to the ACEC.
“We are trying to build upon existing services by making sure that athletic teams are aware of and utilizing the ACEC,” Cooper said. “Additionally, we are hoping to implement a university-wide system that lets existing products (like Canvas) be better utilized by faculty and staff to support students without adding tedious logins or to-dos. We are working to streamline our Early Alerts system for clear communication between students and professors and advocate on behalf of the students whenever possible.”
Cooper also spoke about efforts to make the ACEC more hospitable and more accessible.
“We’ve tried to make the ACEC a little homier,” Cooper said. “Mr. Pelts has carefully chosen thoughtful scriptures and designs to tie together with a beautiful facility, and we’ve incorporated drinks and snacks as well as extended hours to make using the ACEC more reasonable.”
Cooper encourages students to take advantage of on-site ACEC tutors during their scheduled hours and the free Canvas resource Brainfuse for online, live tutoring accessible to BU students at any time. She also reflected on the stigma around receiving help and how overcoming this stigma with the ACEC can lead to a successful college career at BU.
“I think there can be a stigma against asking for help, especially among capable young men and women entering college for the first time,” Cooper said. “However, if you look into the lives of any successful person, by whatever standard, no one gets there completely alone. There’s also the faith perspective that we are built to live in community and support one another. You see that in scripture time and again. BU is a special place that has developed and lived that out, and the ACEC is a part of that community.”
Wayne Pelts, assistant director of the ACEC, calls Cooper a “kindred spirit” while praising her care for students.
“Her sincere care for each student is so very obvious,” Pelts said. “Her deep faith and cheerful heart shine brightly.”
Pelts is also confident about students’ response to Cooper joining the ACEC staff.
“I know our students will genuinely respect, appreciate, and be thankful for her daily contributions to their lives through her teaching and through her partnering with them for their success,” Pelts said.