While pursuing an MA in English at Oklahoma State University, Cooper received an award from The Society of Professional Journalists for his column in OSU's O'Collegian concerning the need for federal hate crimes legislation. Cooper's essay on the 2013 tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma, "An Oklahoma Perspective on Tornado Alley," appeared in the Huffington Post. The Oklahoma Gazette published Cooper's 2011 two-part cover story on the history of OKC's LGBTQ community, "From Closet to Community." Advocate Magazine named Cooper one of its June 2020 "Champions of Pride." The New York Times profiled his 2019 campaign.

Cooper won re-election on Valentine's Day February 2023 to a second term with more votes during a traditional election than any OKC council candidate in, at least, 14 years. Currently, Cooper teaches English and Film Studies as the Artist in Residence at Oklahoma City University, where he's taught courses on writing and horror, focusing particularly the slasher and occult subgenres.