Department of History
Faculty

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Dr. Marie Hooper
Professor of History
T: 405-208-5453
F: 405-208-5200
PCAS WC 228
mhooper@okcu.edu

Education:
B.A., Metro College of Denver
M.A., University of California at Davis
Ph.D, University of Pittsburgh

Background:
Dr. Hooper is the resident "non-Americanist" and has the enviable task of covering the world, although she is strongest in European history and the various "isms" associated with that fascinating sub-continent. Within European history, her primary interests center on the modern period (after 1789) with special focus on the Balkans and France. At OCU, she teaches a wide range of courses, from Ancient Cultures to Twentieth Century Europe to Terrorism.

Dr. Hooper's professional life has been diverse. A stint in the USAF took her to Texas, Okinawa Japan, Texas and Georgia. As a civilian, she then moved on to Texas, Oklahoma, Texas (again), Arizona, Colorado, California, Paris France, California, Pennsylvania and back to Oklahoma. Her career moves included banking, trust administration, real estate, telecommunications, medical equipment supply, builder's services, property management, office management, retail kitchen goodies (including gourmet coffees before they were cool), bookkeeping and accounting. Bored, she returned to school as a "non-traditional" student and found her element: learning! ??Fascinated by archaeology and paleoanthropology but constrained by reality, Hooper followed the advice of a mentor and took the "European route" to the study of ancient man: history. She found that idea appealing, but was once again confronted with the vagarities of academe when her college shut down its program in Ancient History and the anthropology program discontinued its program in physical anthropology and archaeology. Hmmm. Ever adaptable, Hooper shifted her focus to modern history. Deprived of the ability, talent and means to study ancient Greek, she decided to study modern Greece. Once in graduate school, she was informed that Greece was not part of Europe. Hmmmm. She negotiated with her professors, and agreed to shift her focus north if the professors would agree to shift theirs south. She opted for Yugoslavia, which they grudgingly accepted as marginally part of Europe. Hooper found herself hooked on Balkan history - not a particularly well-trodden path, but an interesting one. That path led to Paris, where she studied Franco-Yugoslav diplomacy in the Foreign Ministry archives and paid the bills by teaching English and American studies in various public and private university-style institutions.

In February 1999, after three Ph.D. programs, Hooper became Dr. Hooper. Much rejoicing and relief. And more reflection. Landing at Oklahoma City University was a dream come true: teaching history at a small liberal arts school that emphasizes teaching and direct contact with students! Bliss.

Personal Life? You are joking. Dr. Hooper's personal life is centered on the animals (two cats and two dogs) that call her their human, her friends, her home and her garden.