Brian Cooper is the Director of Research & Development for Pioneer Academics, helping to drive Pioneer’s innovation and learning delivery. Brian has nearly 30 years of education experience working with gifted and talented students. Prior to joining the Pioneer team, Brian spent 25 years at Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP), developing and managing innovative programs for talented students from around the world. Before transitioning to Duke TIP, Brian was an award-winning AP English Literature and Composition teacher. He’s passionate about creating educational experiences that engage bright, motivated students and enable them to forge meaningful connections with their peers and with dedicated instructors as they wrestle with big ideas and real-world problems.

Brian holds a B.A. in English and an M.A.T. in Secondary English Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an avid reader of fiction, history, and theology, and he is a big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He loves the North Carolina mountains and (mostly) enjoys playing disc golf (when he’s not hitting trees).