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About
At a Glance
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Independent scholar
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Learning evaluation consultant
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Mixed-methods researcher
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Research methods instructor
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Human-centered design thinker
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Co-founder, The Foster Scholars
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Keynote speaker & facilitator
Angela Hoffman-Cooper, PhD is a scholar–practitioner committed to human-centered research and evaluation that inform the design of more equitable educational and organizational systems. Her scholarship and applied efforts center identity development, belonging, and meaning-making, with particular attention to students and adults with experience in foster care across educational and organizational contexts.
Aging out of foster care shapes how Angela approaches inquiry and partnership—not as a deficit to be studied, but as a source of insight that informs how she engages in collaboration, co-design, and impact. Her approach is grounded in the belief that systems are most effective when they are designed and evaluated with people, not merely for them—particularly those whose voices are often marginalized or rendered invisible.
Systems are most effective when they are designed and evaluated with people, not merely for them.
As a scholar–practitioner, Angela conducts qualitative, mixed-methods, and participatory research and evaluation that translate evidence into meaningful action. She partners with institutions and organizations to examine how policies, programs, and learning environments shape identity, engagement, and outcomes—and to use those insights to strengthen practice, decision-making, and outcomes.
Angela’s research has contributed to understanding foster care identity development across the lifespan, the role of campus-based support programs, and how systemic discourse can validate—or undermine—belonging and agency. In professional contexts, she leads and supports evaluation efforts that help organizations assess impact, strengthen engagement, and make informed decisions about learning and development initiatives.
Angela has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, sociology, human-centered design thinking, scholarly writing, and qualitative and mixed-methods research. Her teaching emphasizes critical reflection, ethical inquiry, and the application of theory to real-world contexts. She is known for creating inclusive, intellectually rigorous learning environments that invite students to engage deeply with complex topics, draw on lived experience, and develop confidence as scholars and practitioners.
Dr. Hoffman-Cooper is incredibly passionate about teaching. She created a supportive, intellectually safe environment that allowed me to engage challenging work with honesty and confidence by offering thoughtful guidance, genuine encouragement, and truly exceptional feedback that was transformative for my growth as a writer and scholar.
— Doctoral Student, Scholarly Writing and Research Strategies Course
Angela has over 15 years of leadership experience in assessment and evaluation, learning and professional development, and systems-level program design, across diverse organizational contexts. She is a co-founder of The Foster Scholars, a national network of scholars with lived experience in foster care committed to advancing research, practice, and advocacy that improve educational outcomes and transform dominant narratives.
Across roles, Angela is known for building collaborative partnerships, designing research and evaluation grounded in lived experience, and communicating findings in ways that are accessible to academic, nonprofit, and organizational audiences. She regularly presents at regional and national conferences and delivers keynotes and workshops that bridge research, practice, and lived experience.
Angela’s work is informed by sustained engagement across research, advocacy, and community systems. She is a research team member with the National Conference for Hidden Populations (NCHP), a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and serves on the Board of Directors for Family Outreach, a nonprofit committed to supporting individuals and families with developmental disabilities.