User:Brian D. Cooper

Brian is currently a graduate student at the University of Nevada and is enrolled in a master’s program in business administration. Prior to attending the MBA program, Brian graduated with his bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in business administration at the University of Nevada. While earning his undergraduate degree, his undergraduate thesis project investigated college undergraduate student’s current emotional states and the role they play in the student’s academic performance. The study attempted to defuse college undergraduates from their negative thoughts and feelings about their academic performance by applying an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy mindfulness intervention that defused the student from their thoughts, thus increasing their academic performance. After successfully completing his thesis study, Brian applied for and received an International academic scholarship that took him down under to Sydney, Australia. In Sydney, he presented his research to the contextual behavioral science community at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science World Conference. Mr. Cooper was also a member of an International psychology honors society that gave him unique research opportunities working closely with researchers that have significantly contributed to the science and profession of psychology and society in general. In the broadest sense, Brian has a strong interest in contextual behavioral science and its application in business. More specifically, he wants to pursue using behavioral principles in the context of finance and entrepreneurship. Brian’s experience has brought on a new perspective on how to effectively and efficiently incorporate behavior analytic principles into the area of business and properly disseminate contextual behavioral science to professionals with in-person training’s in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The past three years Brian has worked closely with Dr. Steven C. Hayes as his executive assistant, managing his schedule, working on disseminating his work through workshops, speaking engagements, and day-to-day communication with the contextual behavioral science community Dr. Hayes’ research has shaped. While working for Dr. Hayes, Brian re-branded Dr. Hayes and Dr. Pistorello’s small business, Contextual Change, LLC into a successful psychological training company that offers in person training’s for human service professionals who are required to obtain continuing education in order to maintain their professional licenses. The company’s shared value is to disseminate evidenced-based practice and procedures in a systematic approach that builds a community of practitioners across all skill levels of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; this includes students and advanced practitioners of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Mr. Cooper is also currently working in the College of Business as a graduate assistant advisor under Robyn Davis working with college undergraduates developing successful academic plans in order to get off of academic probation and successfully graduate.