Hon. MacDella Mackie Cooper
“A united Liberia strengthened by education, opportunity, inclusive governance, and the full participation of its people.”
From her biography.
MacDella Mackie Cooper is a Liberian political leader, philanthropist, and advocate whose work has centered on education, women and youth empowerment, national unity, and public service.
Born into a political family in southeastern Liberia, Cooper’s early life was profoundly shaped by the Liberian Civil War. Forced to flee the country, she sought refuge in Côte d’Ivoire before relocating to the United States in 1993. There, she received a full academic scholarship to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where she studied Electronic Communications.
Philanthropy and development
After establishing a career in corporate America, Cooper turned her attention toward philanthropy and development in Liberia. She founded the MacDella Cooper Foundation (MCF) with a mission to educate, train, and create opportunities for vulnerable communities, particularly children, women, and young people.
In 2010, the Foundation opened the MCF Academy, a tuition-free boarding school created to provide underserved Liberian children with access to quality education and greater opportunities for their future. Building on that commitment, the Foundation has also advanced plans for a STEAM Academy for Girls focused on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.
Cooper’s work in humanitarian service has extended beyond her own foundation. She has served as an advisor and board member and has worked alongside international philanthropic and humanitarian organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Segal Family Foundation, and the Paul Allen Family Foundation. Her work has also taken her to platforms around the world as a speaker and advocate for education, development, and social progress.
Political leadership
Her commitment to Liberia eventually led her into national politics. In 2017, Cooper served as Standard Bearer of the Liberia Restoration Party and was the only woman among the 20 candidates contesting Liberia’s presidential election. She subsequently contested the 2019 Montserrado County senatorial by-election as an independent candidate.
Driven by a vision of broader political participation, Cooper later established the Movement for One Liberia (MOL), built around the principle that young people, women, older citizens, persons with disabilities, and historically underserved communities should have a meaningful voice in Liberia’s political process.
MOL later joined the Unity Party-led coalition known as the “Rescue Mission.” Cooper served as Chair of the Finance and Resource Mobilization Committee, helping coordinate fundraising and resource mobilization efforts in support of the coalition.
Following the coalition’s electoral victory, Cooper was appointed Senior Political Advisor to the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. She also serves as Chairperson of the Monrovia City Council.
A more inclusive Liberia, one in which women and girls can lead.
Vision for Liberia
Across philanthropy, politics, and public service, Cooper’s work reflects a consistent belief in a more inclusive Liberia: one in which women and girls can lead, vulnerable communities have access to opportunity, and citizens from every background can participate meaningfully in the country’s future.
Her journey from a childhood disrupted by civil war to national public service has shaped both her leadership and her vision: a united Liberia strengthened by education, opportunity, inclusive governance, and the full participation of its people.