She sorts through hundreds of photos to find the best for the paper. She finishes her stories days before the deadline. She always brings a smile to the newsroom. And she graduates this May with her bachelor’s in English with a creative writing track. She is Jess Cooper, the Muleskinner’s Features Editor and Multimedia Coordinator!
“Jess is the kind of editor every newsroom hopes for: thoughtful, driven and always willing to do the work alongside her team,” Julie Lewis, Associate Professor and Muleskinner Faculty Adviser, said. “Her journey at the Muleskinner has been inspiring and we know she has so much more ahead.”
Cooper became involved in the Muleskinner her junior year, serving as a photographer and general assignment reporter. She was quickly promoted to Features Editor and Multimedia Coordinator, where she has served for the past two semesters. As Features Editor, she oversees the writing and editing of the features section. As the Multimedia Coordinator, she oversees all photography and videography for the paper.
“I’ve learned how to be a better leader,” Cooper said. “Starting off as a staffer and voluntarily writing reports and not really sure what I’m doing, to now, I have people coming to me for advice on how to write their stories or how to craft an email. It’s really nice to have that kind of experience and I’m really glad that I was able to learn that while being here.”
Cooper’s favorite memory at the Muleskinner is a game night hosted by the staff. Her favorite projects are her Central Missouri Speedway article and “Downtown Highlights” series.
“I have always been somebody who likes to find out the truth and I’m super nosy,” Cooper said. “There’s just this intuition, this gut feeling that I have, and I like using it for journalism.”
Along with the Muleskinner, Jess is deeply involved with the University of Central Missouri’s English department, serving as the social media intern for Pleiades, assistant poetry editor for Arcade, and president of the English Honors fraternity Sigma Tau Delta. She has also won numerous awards at UCM, including the G.B. Crump Scholarship Award and the Outstanding Bachelor of the Year Award for the English department.
“Jess is kind, intelligent, creative and an extremely hard worker,” Sadie Staker, Muleskinner Editor in Chief. “It has truly been a pleasure to work alongside such a wonderful human being for the past three semesters. Whatever she does, no matter the job or field, she will succeed.”
In her career, Jess hopes to continue being an editor, either in journalism, literature, or public relations. After graduation, she will earn her master’s degree in English at UCM.
“Watching her continue at UCM as a master’s student feels less like a goodbye and more like the next chapter of something special,” Lewis said.
