University of South Florida
Civil (Water Resources) Engineering
We are excited to introduce our FY22 GradSWE Communications Mentoring Coordinator, Rachael Cooper, PE! Rachael also held this position last year, and she was the FY19 Eastern NC Section President and FY18 ENC Section Secretary.
Rachael Cooper is a second year PhD student in civil engineering with a concentration of water resources at the University of South Florida. She received her B.S. in Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University in 2012. After graduating from NC State, Rachael became licensed as a professional engineer working as a civil engineering consultant. Primarily working on stormwater infrastructure design as an engineer, she became motivated to return to an academic setting to learn more about stormwater management. She first joined SWE as a professional in Raleigh and served as secretary and president of her local Eastern NC section before relocating to Tampa, Florida.
Rachael’s research areas are Stormwater Management and Surface Water Quality & Quantity. She is motivated to improve and reverse the impacts of anthropological effects on water quality and quantity in our environment. Rachael’s long term goal is to collaborate on policy and practice to reduce risks due to water to humanity and the environment.
Rachael also enjoys all things water and storms outside of graduate school. She enjoys walks along the bay, watching thunderstorms in the ‘lightning capital’ of North America, and cheering on her favorite NHL teams (Hurricanes & Lightning).
Rachael’s hobbies include cooking, PC gaming, yoga, and road trips.
Fun fact: Her longest road trip was two weeks from Virginia to Alaska in 2010! Her quickest road trip was three days from Arizona to North Carolina in 2019.
Find Rachael on Instagram at @rachael.z.cooper!