Navigating graduate school while balancing life, work, and personal aspirations is no easy feat. Yet for Dr. Denise Cooper, Program Director for the Doctorate of Nursing Practitioner (DNP) program at the University of Michigan Flint, it’s a path laden with challenges, rewards, and invaluable lessons. In this week's Victors in Grad School, Dr. Cooper shared her journey and provided insights for those considering or currently navigating the rigors of graduate education.
Dr. Cooper’s journey began as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan Flint, where she initially set her sights on becoming a nurse anesthetist. Despite her passion and preparation, shadowing professionals in the field revealed that her aspirations didn’t align with the realities of the role. She realized she yearned for deeper patient interactions, a value she felt would be better fulfilled by becoming a nurse practitioner.
“After shadowing, I’m so glad I did that because I decided that that definitely was not what I wanted to do,” Cooper shared. This pivotal moment highlighted the importance of real-world experiences in solidifying career decisions.
After obtaining her Master’s degree in Nursing, Dr. Cooper could have easily settled into her role as a practicing Nurse Practitioner. However, her commitment to education and teaching led her to pursue a terminal degree.
“The longer I was a nurse practitioner practicing, and I was also teaching, I started talking to some of the other faculty, and then the former director at the time encouraged me to go back,” explained Cooper. Her decision was fueled by a desire to grow both as an educator and a practitioner, and to enhance her capacity to contribute to her field.
Dr. Cooper’s educational journey was marked by significant life events. “Like many nurses, I was a mother, married, had family that I was tending to, trying to be the career nurse, also career as a student, managing the family,” she noted. Notably, she had all her children while in grad school, a tremendous challenge she does not recommend frivolously. The key to her success? “Perseverance and the willingness to pivot when needed.”
Her journey emphasizes that determination and adaptability are crucial to overcoming the myriad of obstacles that graduate students often face.
Transitioning into a full-time faculty role and eventually into administration, Dr. Cooper distills her growth into one word: exposure. Engaging with diverse colleagues, participating in committees, teaching varying courses, and attending conferences broadened her perspective and honed her problem-solving skills.
“Nursing is a lot of problem solving…there’s a lot of problem solving that goes on,” Dr. Cooper reflected. Embracing the philosophy that “everything is figureoutable” has been instrumental in her professional and personal growth.
To those embarking on a similar journey, Dr. Cooper advises a commitment to the process. “You have to really want it … be committed to gaining this degree and being a professional… there will be sacrifices to your family, and you have to go in understanding that.” This commitment, combined with the understanding that faculty are dedicated to their success, forms the bedrock of a graduate student’s journey.
Dr. Denise Cooper’s