Cooper to Lead University Web Communications

September 30, 2002

University of Pittsburgh Senior Webmaster John Cooper, who has been largely responsible for the University of Pittsburgh's on-line image for the past seven years, has been named director of University Web Communications, effective Oct. 1

The appointment was announced today by Michelle Garraux, executive director of Pitt's University Marketing Communications (UMC), part of Public Affairs.

In his new position, Cooper will oversee Pitt's institutional Web communications program and continue to manage a four-person UMC Web team. The team provides Web site creation services to Pitt's academic and administrative units, ranging from free templates to high-end custom site development.

During the past six months, the UMC Web team has worked on approximately 30 projects, including Web sites for the Office of the Provost, the University Library System, and Information Technology Services. Other Web sites Cooper oversees include those of the Chancellor and University News, as well as the Virtual Tour.

"John's extensive knowledge of the University of Pittsburgh, his exceptional technical expertise, and his desire to make the latest and best Web technology available to the entire University community make him a tremendous asset to our department and the University as a whole," says Garraux.

Cooper is planning a comprehensive on-line events calendar and improved and expanded site development resources for Pitt. He also heads an internal Office of Public Affairs technology committee, which makes determinations on how best to utilize technology to enhance communications and productivity within the office.

Cooper earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in English writing at the University of Pittsburgh in 1995. In 1994, while he was still a Pitt student, Cooper created the first Pitt Alumni Association Web site, which was also one of the first university alumni Web sites in the nation.

Cooper won a 1996 Public Relations Society of America Renaissance Award (PRSA) for Pitt's A Place To Discover site. His Web team also won the 1999 Women in Communications Matrix Award for the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Web site, and a 2000 PRSA Renaissance Award for Pitt's Virtual Tour Web site.

Cooper lives in Monroeville.

###

9/30/02/tmw