Lois Cooper

Lois Louise Cooper (November 25, 1931 – January 26, 2014) was a transportation engineer and the second woman and first African American woman to pass the professional engineers license exam in California. During her career at Caltrans, Cooper worked on major highway infrastructure projects across California as well as early Carpool lanes and bikeways. or because she wanted to change to study mathematics.

In California she joined Los Angeles City College, and changed to studying mathematics She graduated in 1954, but continued her engineering studies at University of Southern California alongside her work. Many of the Interstate Highway construction projects at the time were being built through predominantly Black and low-income neighbourhoods. The Civil Rights Division at Caltrans, of which Cooper was a part, ensured that projects were mandated to hire minority construction workers from these communities.

Cooper was the second woman and first black woman pass the Professional Engineers License Exam in California, 1975-1976.

There are a number of scholarships and awards named in Cooper's honor: WTS-LA Lois Cooper Going the Distance Award Lois Cooper Scholars program at the University of Wisconsin