Ryan Coop announces candidacy for SCC board of trustees

MT. PLEASANT — Wednesday, Sept. 20, Mt. Pleasant native Ryan Coop announced his intent to run for the first district seat on the Southeastern Community College Board of Trustees.

The first district seat will serve the Mt. Pleasant, WACO, Winfield-Mt. Union, and New London Community school districts.

Coop is eager to expand live classes and other educational opportunities at the SCC Mt. Pleasant Center and other regional SCC offices if elected to this position.

“After Iowa Wesleyan announced their closure this year, it became clear that Henry County was going to need a stronger higher education presence in the community,” said Coop. “While the Mt. Pleasant SCC office offers occasional classes, it is far from realizing its full potential. Our community has a rich educational heritage, and I am prepared to dedicate my time on the board of trustees to ensuring that Henry County continues to be a beacon of higher learning for generations to come.”

In 2022 Coop was elected to fill a vacancy on the Marion Township board of trustees in 2022 where he currently serves as Chairman.

For the past two years he's served as a clerk at the State Legislature. During the interim, engaged in political advocacy — encouraging voter turnout and other grassroots organizing, ensuring that Iowa’s elected representatives are engaging with their constituents.

Before his service in the State House, Coop graduated from Mt. Pleasant Christian School and worked at GrayBarn Industries, a local print shop.

Coop was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant and attends Wellspring Evangelical Church.