Jeff Cooper

For Jeff Cooper, a career in natural resources started with a love of being outside and a desire to help solve some of the complex challenges surrounding the resources we depend on. Now in his 13th academic year at CSI, Jeff teaches courses including Soils, GIS, Water Resource Management, Irrigation, Water Measurement, Water Quality, Physical Geography, and Natural Disasters.

Before coming to CSI, Jeff spent four years as a Senior Technician and Applied Research Scientist at Western Research in Laramie, Wyoming, followed by seven years with the Idaho Department of Water Resources in Twin Falls. His path into teaching began when his brother, who is also an educator, encouraged him to give higher education a try. After teaching Physical Science as an adjunct at CSI for a couple of semesters, Jeff says he fell in love with finding ways to engage students and help them learn.

Today, his courses give students hands-on experience, direct-to-work skills, and a strong foundation in natural resource management. He especially enjoys watching students grow in confidence and seeing them succeed both academically and professionally. When it comes to managing natural resources, Jeff reminds students that there isn't always a perfect formula. As he puts it, "The algorithm doesn't run the river." Natural systems have too many moving parts for every problem to have a clean equation.

Outside of the classroom, Jeff enjoys traveling with his family, hunting, fishing, traditional woodworking, and playing the bagpipes. He began taking lessons in 2009 and has now been playing for 17 years. He plays at weddings, funerals, and other events, including CSI's 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. For Jeff, playing at the ceremony carries special meaning. Bagpipes have been used for centuries to mark solemn occasions, and he values being able to continue that tradition here at CSI.

His advice to students considering natural resource management: it's a rewarding field with high job satisfaction and many different career paths.