Alumni Spotlight: Faythe Cooper ’20

From Glenelg Country School’s classrooms to Stanford’s labs and Taipei’s vibrant streets, Faythe Cooper’s journey is extraordinary. As a dedicated scholar, researcher, and educator, Cooper embraces every opportunity with curiosity and determination, paving the way for a global health and scientific research career.

Building a Strong Foundation at Glenelg Country School

Cooper credits Glenelg Country School (GCS) for shaping her well-rounded approach. Reflecting on her time at GCS, Cooper says that “attending Glenelg Country made me well-rounded in music, arts, and sciences. The coursework was challenging and engaging,” she reflects. Moreover, her involvement in cross country, track, band, community service, and the honor committee honed her leadership skills and teamwork abilities.

Notably, a key influence was her Chinese language teacher, Hong Ding. “Mrs. Ding nurtured my love for learning Chinese and always challenged me. She made learning fun, and her class never felt like a chore.” Consequently, Cooper’s proficiency in Chinese became instrumental in her teaching and research abroad.

Academic and Professional Achievements

After GCS, Cooper attended Oberlin College, where she balanced Chinese and biology studies. Early on, she pursued research, working in a genetics lab during winter term. Furthermore, her scientific journey included a reproductive toxicology fellowship at Rutgers University and virology research at Stanford through the prestigious Amgen Scholars Program. Impressively, her proposal won the Best Poster Award, and she later presented at the New England Science Symposium at Harvard.

In addition, Cooper’s passion for education led to diverse roles. She served as a teaching assistant at Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School and worked at the Library of Congress. More recently, she fulfilled a dream by embarking on a Fulbright English teaching assistantship in Taipei. There, she taught and joined a local orchestra, continuing her love for music.

Lessons from GCS and Advice for Future Generations

Notably, Cooper values a growth mindset. “Surround yourself with good people who challenge you. Your friends are a reflection of you. Challenge yourself. Don’t follow the crowd.” She credits GCS for honing her writing skills, essential for research abstracts and grant proposals. Additionally, her critical thinking abilities, nurtured at GCS, have been vital in her scientific research.

For students pursuing research or global health, Cooper advises, “Go to a conference—it’s never too early. You’ll meet experts and find inspiration. Also, find an upperclassman mentor. Peer mentors understand the challenges you’ll face.” Ultimately, Faythe Cooper’s journey showcases the power of curiosity, determination, and lifelong learning—values rooted in her time at Glenelg Country School.