PHILADELPHIA –- Jeffrey Cooper, chief counsel for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and executive deputy general counsel in Gov. Edward Rendell’s administration, will become the University of Pennsylvania’s vice president for government and community affairs, Penn President Amy Gutmann has announced. He will assume his new position July 1.

Cooper will direct the University’s relationship with state, local and federal governments as well as with non-governmental groups at the community and national levels.

“Through his experience at the 14-university state system of higher education, Jeff has developed a deep understanding of the varied and complex issues confronting higher education today,” Gutmann said, “and is keenly aware of the important role that strong collaborative relationships with government and community play in the success of a university. He will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team.”

Prior to joining the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2003, Cooper was a partner in the law firm of Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis. Before that, he was an associate and then partner with Mesirov Gelman Jaffe Cramer & Jamieson.

He began his career as a deputy attorney general in the Commonwealth.

A 1975 graduate of Penn’s Law School, Cooper earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1972.