Dr. Steven Cooper was raised on a livestock farm in the Texas panhandle. He received his B.S. in Animal Science from Texas Tech University in 1992 where he was a member of the wool and livestock judging teams , the horse judging team and the rodeo team. He received his M.S. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1994 and Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from Oklahoma State University in 1998. He began his career in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State in 1999 where he currently holds the Cline Family Equine Sciences Professorship.

Dr. Cooper currently serves as the faculty supervisor for the Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Facility, the Horseman’s Association and the Ranch Horse team. He teaches numerous courses in equine science, training and evaluation and has advised over 700 undergraduate students and 19 graduate students. Additionally, he has been a successful horse judging team coach at OSU for 25 years where he has coached eight AQHA World Champion teams. Steven has received numerous awards including the CASNR Outstanding Teacher Award (2017), the Golden Torch Faculty Award (2014), the CASNR Exemplary Faculty Award (2011), the Don M. Tyler Faculty Award (2008) and the NHJTCA Collegiate Leadership Award (2003).

Dr. Cooper was recently (April, 2025) recognized by the Department of Animal & Food Sciences at Texas Tech University where he received the Hall of Fame - Graduate of Distinction Award. 

Research interests include equine nutrition in the areas of mineral balance, growth and development and exercise physiology. More recent studies have focused on evaluation of price factors in yearling race-bred and show quality Quarter Horses. 

Steven and Emily, his wife of 28 years, are the proud parents of two sons. Their oldest son Braden is married to Caroline and they have two children, Colson (3) and Callie (1). Their younger son Bryce graduated from OSU in 2025 in Construction Engineering and Technology. In his spare time, Dr. Cooper enjoys hunting and team roping, spending time with his grandkids and camping and traveling with his family and friends.